Dennis Wright, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry University of Connecticut
- Storrs CT
Prof. Dennis Wright is an expert in medicinal pharmacy, therapeutic development for infectious disease and cancer.
Biography
Areas of Expertise
Education
Ohio University
Ph.D.
Chemistry
West Liberty State College
B.S.
Chemistry
Links
Media
Articles
The furan route to tropolones: probing the antiproliferative effects of β-thujaplicin analogs.
Organic Bimolecular Chemistry2012
A direct route to analogs of the naturally occurring tropolone β-thujaplicin has been developed in just four steps from furan. Using this method, a series of derivatives were synthesized and evaluated. Several of these compounds demonstrated very high levels of potency against bacterial and fungal pathogens with good selectivity over mammalian cells.
Acetylenic linkers in lead compounds: a study of the stability of the propargyl-linked antifolates.
Drug Metabolism & Disposition2012
Propargyl-linked antifolates that target dihydrofolate reductase are potent inhibitors of several species of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. This novel class of antifolates possesses a relatively uncommon acetylenic linker designed to span a narrow passage in the enzyme active site and join two larger functional domains.
Toward new therapeutics for skin and soft tissue infections: propargyl-linked antifolates are potent inhibitors of MRSA and Streptococcus pyogenes
PloS One2012
Hospital- and community-acquired, complicated skin and soft tissue infections, often attributed to Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, present a significant health burden that is associated with increased health care costs and mortality. As these two species are difficult to discern on diagnosis and are associated with differential profiles of drug resistance, the development of an efficacious antibacterial agent that targets both organisms is a high priority.
Structural analysis of the active sites of dihydrofolate reductase from two species of Candida uncovers ligand-induced conformational changes shared among species
Bioorgic & Medical Chemistry2013
A novel strategy for targeting the pathogenic organisms Candida albicans and Candida glabrata focuses on the development of potent and selective antifolates effective against dihydrofolate reductase. Crystal structure analysis suggested that an essential loop at the active site (Thr 58-Phe 66) differs from the analogous residues in the human enzyme, potentially providing a mechanism for achieving selectivity. In order to probe the role of this loop, we employed chemical synthesis, crystal structure determination and molecular dynamics simulations.
The tandem ring opening/ring closing metathesis route to oxaspirocycles: an approach to phelligridin G
Molecules2013
Phelligridin G is an unusual natural product that contains an embedded spiro-fused furanone core. We have investigated two furan-based synthetic approaches towards the spirocyclic core structure of this natural product from readily available 2-phenylfurans.
