UCLA

Organic Student Seminar 248: Georgia Scherer
2023-01-30 15:00 - 15:50 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Dolores Bozovic
2023-01-30 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof. Bozovic Flyer
Title: Physics of the Auditory System
Abstract: Hair cells of the auditory system constitute a remarkable biological sensor that exhibits nanometer-scale sensitivity of mechanical detection. Our experiments explore the active nonlinear processes behind the detection of very weak signals. We demonstrate the presence of chaos in the innate motility of active bundles, and explore both theoretically and experimentally its role in enhancing the sensitivity of detection. We further show that these cells utilize weakly chaotic dynamics to combine sensitive response with high temporal resolution. The presence of chaos in individual hair bundles also aids in the synchronization between coupled hair cells, and gives rise to new dynamical states. Finally, we explore the neural mechanisms that reduce and control the responsiveness of the cell. Specifically, we show that the efferent neurons serve as a gain control system, which can strongly affect the very compliance of the mechanosensory cells.

Special Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Soumitra Athavale
2023-01-31 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Tales in Molecular Evolution: From Chiral Symmetry Breaking to New-to-Nature Biocatalysis

The evolutionary journey of chemistry on our planet, from small molecules to genetic polymers, presents fascinating opportunities for the organic chemist. At one end, mysterious early steps evoke grand questions at the foundations of chemistry, while at the other, biology’s extraordinary machinery lies primed for creative manipulation.
An illustration of the former is the riddle of the origin of biological homochirality, inspiring the general query, ‘can asymmetric synthesis transpire without any chiral intervention’? The Soai reaction – diisopropylzinc alkylation of pyrimidine carbaldehydes – remains a singular, celebrated example where this is possible and has received widespread attention from diverse chemical fields. I will present structural, experimental, and computational investigations which reveal the first comprehensive mechanistic picture of this iconic transformation.
For the latter case, I will showcase how the principles of directed evolution can be applied to develop new enzymes for promoting processes never seen in nature. The engineering of heme proteins enables enantioselective catalysis of challenging nitrene C–H insertion reactions for accessing nitrogen containing compounds from feedstock chemicals. This example of ‘new-to-nature biocatalysis’ is emblematic of a modern age of protein biochemistry that promises to revolutionize the use of enzymes for molecular construction.

Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Zachary Wickens
2023-02-02 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof. Wickens Flyer
Selective Synthesis via Light and Electricity
Abstract: We are investigating how organic radical ions–typically thought of as fleeting intermediates–can be tamed and exploited as a new family of organocatalysts and small molecule reagents. We identified selective generation of such species as a key hurdle stymying exploration these electronically-destabilized systems. To address this problem, we have leveraged electrochemistry to develop new synthetic transformations driven by organic radical ions. Electrochemistry offers not only an environmentally benign approach to promote redox events but also substantially simplifies the study of these unusual systems by enabling the exclusion of byproducts from oxidation or reductive generation of the key radical ion promoters.
This seminar will describe two new platforms for synthetic reaction development based on electrogenerated persistent organic radical ions. In the first system, we describe the development of a new family of radical anion photoredox catalysts over a volt more reducing than conventional photocatalyst systems. These potent catalysts have enabled abundant but classes of arene substrates to now act as general aryl radical precursors for diverse radical coupling reactions. In the second system, we will discuss a new approach to oxidatively functionalize alkenes via a metastable dielectrophilic intermediate derived from reaction with thianthrene radical cation. This strategy has enabled new synthetic methods to construct high value aliphatic amine products by coupling amines and feedstock hydrocarbons.

Biochemistry Seminar Series - Prof. Zhipeng Lu
2023-02-03 15:30 - 16:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Zhipeng Lu Flyer
Title: What does RNA look like in cells? Structures, interactions and modifications.
Abstract: RNA in living cells are in constant motion, form dynamic structures, and interact with many molecules, including other RNAs. Direct determination of RNA structures and interactions in vivo is essential to understanding their functions, and developing new RNA-based and RNA-targeting therapeutics, but has been challenging in the past. We developed a number of novel chemical and computational tools to capture the 2D and 3D RNA structurome and interactome in cells, providing a comprehensive view of RNA conformations that underlie their roles in gene regulation and human diseases. In particular, our recent applications of these methods revealed new mechanisms in lncRNA functions and RNA modifications.

Norma Stoddart Prize - Grad Student Q&A with Sir Fraser Stoddart
2023-02-06 09:00 - 10:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Grad Student Q&A with Nobel Laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart
Norma Stoddart Prize Flyer – Dr. Marco Messina

Norma Stoddart Prize - Around the World in 80 Years by Sir Fraser Stoddart
2023-02-06 10:00 - 23:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Around the World in 80 Years, a presentation by Sir Fraser Stoddart
Norma Stoddart Prize Flyer – Dr. Marco Messina

Norma Stoddart Prize - Marco Messina
2023-02-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Title: Tandem Activity-Based and Labeling Approaches to Monitor Transient Analytes in Biological Systems
Norma Stoddart Prize Flyer – Dr. Marco Messina

Organic Student Seminar 248: Daniel Min
2023-02-06 15:00 - 15:50 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: David Ginger
2023-02-06 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Ginger Flyer
Title: Probing Ion Injection and Transport in Conjugated Polymers: From Bioelectronic Brains to Energy Storage
Abstract: Ion injection and transport in conjugated polymers affects the performance of devices ranging from organic electrochemical transistors (OECT) for bioelectronic signal transduction, and from aqueous polymer batteries to next generation neuromorphic computing architectures. The performance of conjugated polymers in these applications is due to the ability of the polymer to accommodate ionic countercharge throughout the device volume during redox processes. For instance, in OECTs, the resulting volumetric capacitance allows for very large modulations of the charge density in the transistor channel and large transconductance values. Using OECTs as a testbed, we explore measurements on different polymers with different counterions. At the nanoscale, we use electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM) to probe local swelling resulting from ion uptake, and photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM) to probe the IR fingerprints of ion injection which we correlate with ensemble measurements such as electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (eQCM), spectroelectrochemistry, and in operando synchrotron structure measurements. We correlate these methods to gain insight into how local polymer structure governs ion uptake and transport and how the chemical nature of the counterion and associated structural changes impact electronic charge transport. We show that the counterion polarizability strongly affects both ion injection kinetics, as well as the mechanism of charge compensation (contrasting counterion expulsion vs. and counterion injection). In the process we observe non-Fickian ion “diffusion” in a conjugated polymer which show can be explained as a propagating phase change front. We discuss microscopic insights into these processes and propose new material design rules.

NSF Center for Integrated Catalysis Webinar Series: Frank A. Leibfarth
2023-02-07 13:00 - 14:30
Title: Stereoselective Cationic Polymerization of Prochiral Monomers
Abstract: The stereochemistry of vinyl polymers, known as polymer tacticity, is intimately linked to their resultant material properties. Despite the well-developed stereoselective methods for the polymerization of propylene and other nonpolar -olefins, general approaches to the stereoselective polymerization of polar vinyl monomers are not well developed. In this lecture, we will discuss the design of chiral counterions that systematically tune the reactivity and chain-end stereochemical environment during cationic polymerization. This approach overrides conventional chain-end stereochemical bias to achieve catalyst-controlled stereoselective polymerization of prochiral vinyl monomers through a cationic mechanism. We demonstrate that chiral counterion catalysis is a general conceptual approach that can be leveraged for the stereoselective polymerization of both vinyl ethers and N-vinyl carbazoles. The properties of the isotactic polymers will also be described, with a focus on how unique function can be derived from stereocontrol.

Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Nicholas Ball
2023-02-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Ball Flyer
Unlocking Fluorine: Activation of Sulfur(VI) Fluorides for New Sulfur-Fluorine Exchange (SuFEx) Reactions
Abstract: Sulfur-fluoride exchange (SuFEx) chemistry is emerging as a promising synthetic tool in chemical biology, material science, and synthetic chemistry. In synthesis, sulfur (VI) fluorides show unique promise as synthons in organic chemistry due their stability versus other sulfur (VI) halogen analogues. Key to the adoption of SuFEx chemistry is the development of efficient modes to synthesize and react sulfur (VI) fluorides. Research initiatives employing group 2, and transition-metal chemistry toward the synthesis of sulfonyl fluorides will be described. New SuFEx methods that react a broad set of S (VI) fluorides with carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen-based nucleophiles towards structurally diverse S(VI) compounds will also be presented.
A focus will be on a new SuFEx reaction to synthesize nitrogen-based sulfonylated compounds from a variety of S(VI) fluorides mediated via a Lewis acidic calcium salt will be described. Under a unified set of reaction conditions, sulfonyl fluorides, fluorosulfates, and sulfamoyl fluorides can be coupled with a variety of amines to synthesis a wide array of aryl and alkyl sulfonamides, sulfamides, and sulfamates in good to excellent yield. Computational and NMR kinetic studies that aim to elucidate the mechanism of Ca-activation will be discussed. Lessons learned from the mechanistic studies have led to preliminary data suggesting Ca-catalysis is possible.

Biochemistry Seminar Series - Prof. Linlin Zhao
2023-02-10 15:30 - 16:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Title: Exploiting Abasic Site Chemistry to Decipher Mitochondrial Genome Biology
Abstract: Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes 37 essential genes and plays a critical role in mitochondrial and cellular functions. Compared to nuclear DNA (nDNA), mtDNA is more susceptible to chemical modifications by endogenous and exogenous factors partly due to its proximity to the oxidative phosphorylation system and the lack of certain DNA repair pathways. Our research aims to understand the chemical and molecular mechanisms by which DNA modifications are processed in the mitochondrial genome and their implications in human diseases. In this seminar, I will discuss our recent efforts to probe the role of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in damaged mtDNA degradation. We focus on a prevalent type of DNA modification, i.e., abasic (AP) sites, formed by the loss of nucleobases during natural depurination or depyrimidination and DNA repair. We used biochemical and cellular assays to demonstrate that TFAM accelerates DNA scission at AP sites. The reaction produces chemically reactive entities at the DNA terminus and leads to secondary products, such as TFAM-DNA cross-links and glutathionylated DNA single-strand breaks, which could serve as triggers for mtDNA degradation and the recruitment of additional proteins. We have also identified the cross-linking amino acids of TFAM using mass spectrometry. Together, our research demonstrates the involvement of TFAM in processing AP DNA damage in mitochondria. Last but not least, I will discuss how we exploit the chemistry of AP sites to develop specific chemical probes to label and enrich AP-DNA. We have successfully used the workflow to map AP sites and DNA alkylation modifications using next-generation sequencing in cultured human cells.
Linlin Zhao Flyer

Organic Student Seminar 248: Brady Dehnert
2023-02-13 15:00 - 15:50 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Anton Van der Ven
2023-02-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Van der Ven Flyer
Title: From Electronic Structure to Battery Thermodynamics and Kinetics
Abstract: Most electrochemical processes can be modeled with powerful phenomenological theories that describe ion transport, interface reactions and mechanical responses. Phenomenological descriptions, however, rely on materials specific coefficients and free energies, which are quantities that are often difficult to measure in isolation. An alternative to an experimental approach is to predict these quantities from first principles. Since electrochemical processes are thermally activated, temperature and entropy play an important role. The prediction of materials properties, therefore, requires a statistical mechanics approach. In this talk I will describe a generalized framework with which to connect the electronic structure of crystalline solids to their equilibrium and kinetic properties at the macroscopic scale. I will illustrate how the application of first-principles statistical mechanics can generate crucial ingredients for phenomenological models of electrochemical processes, including composition dependent free energies and open circuit voltage profiles, ionic transport coefficients and chemo-mechanical response functions. The capability to predict thermodynamic and kinetic properties of electrode materials is allowing us to explore and design new battery chemistries and concepts. Electrode materials for Li, Na and Mg ion batteries undergo a series of phase transformations as a result of large changes in concentration during each charge and discharge cycle. While the mechanisms of these phase transformations remain poorly characterized, they can to an extent be understood with first-principles multi-scale approaches.

Chem 218 Student Exit Seminar: Ashley Shin
2023-02-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Wei Liu
2023-02-16 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Liu Flyer
Copper-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions: Mechanism, Catalysis, and Applications in Life Sciences
Abstract: Owing to their many attractive characteristics, copper catalysts represent appealing alternatives to precious metal catalysts, although various limitations remain in copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Recently, we and others recognized that copper catalysis presents a powerful strategy to functionalize sp3 hybridized carbon radicals for the construction of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. In this talk, I will discuss our group’s recent efforts in understanding the mechanism of copper catalysis and developing new copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.

Biochemistry Seminar Series - Prof. Jonathan Abraham
2023-02-17 15:30 - 16:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Title: Mechanisms of immune evasion by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
Jonathan Abraham Flyer

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar Series: Seth Cohen
2023-02-22 16:00 - 17:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Prof. Seth Cohen Flyer
Title: Exploring MOF-Polymer Hybrid Materials
Abstract: Hybrid materials of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and polymers have gained interest as processible composites that might be suitable for a wide range of applications. A number of approaches have been pursued to create MOF-polymer composites, including mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) prepared with MOFs, polymer-decorated MOF particles, and MOFs constructed from polymer buidling blocks referred to as polyMOFs. The design, synthesis, and unusual properties of these MOF-polymer composite materials will be presented and discussed.

Special Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Jörg Enderlein
2023-02-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Young Hall 2033
Enderlein Flyer Updated
Title: Metal and Graphene Induced Energy Transfer
Abstract: Metal-Induced Energy Transfer (MIET) Imaging is a recently developed method [1] that allows for nanometer resolution along the optical axis. It is based on the fact that, when placing a fluorescent molecule close to a metal, its fluorescence properties change dramatically, due to electromagnetic coupling of its excited state to surface plasmons in the metal. This is very similar to Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) where the fluorescence properties of a donor are changed by the proximity of an acceptor that can resonantly absorb energy emitted by the donor. In particular, one observes a strongly modified lifetime of its excited state. This coupling between an excited emitter and a metal film is strongly dependent on the emitter’s distance from the metal. We have used this effect for mapping the basal membrane of live cells with an axial accuracy of ~3 nm. The method is easy to implement and does not require any change to a conventional fluorescence lifetime microscope; it can be applied to any biological system of interest, and is compatible with most other super-resolution microscopy techniques that enhance the lateral resolution of imaging [2-4]. Moreover, it is even applicable to localizing individual molecules [5-6], thus offering the prospect of three-dimensional single-molecule localization microscopy with nanometer isotropic resolution for structural biology [7]. I will also present latest developments of MIET where we use a single layer of graphene instead of a metal film that allows for increasing the spatial resolution down to a few Ångströms [8-10].

Chem 218 Student Exit Seminar: Anthony Sica
2023-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Houk-Jung Organic Colloquium 247: Emily Balskus
2023-02-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Balskus Flyer

Title: Deciphering the Human Microbiome with Chemistry

Abstract: The human body is colonized by trillions of microorganisms that exert a profound influence on human biology, in part by providing functional capabilities that extend beyond those of host cells. In particular, there is growing evidence linking chemical processes carried out by the human gut microbiome to diseases such as colorectal cancer. However, we still do not understand the vast majority of the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Major obstacles faced in surmounting this knowledge gap include the difficulty linking functions associated with the human gut microbiota to specific microbial enzymes and the challenge of controlling these activities in complex microbial communities. This talk will discuss my lab’s efforts to characterize gut microbial metabolic activities that are linked to colorectal cancer, including a gut microbial genotoxin called colibactin. Gaining a molecular understanding of cancer-associated gut microbial activities will not only help to elucidate the mechanisms by which these organisms contribute to carcinogenesis but should also enable efforts to treat and prevent disease by manipulating this microbial community.

Biochemistry Seminar Series - Prof. Lillian Fritz-Laylin
2023-02-24 15:30 - 16:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Lillian Fritz-Laylin Flyer
Title: The evolution and specification of the cytoskeletal networks
Abstract: Cells physically manipulate their environments; swimming through liquids, crawling across surfaces, and actively ingesting objects large and small. Inside eukaryotic cells lies a seething mass of cytoplasm through which thousands of different objects are pushed and pulled to specific cellular locations. These and other dynamic processes are controlled by polymer systems called the cytoskeleton. The two most common cytoskeletal polymers—actin and microtubules—evolved over a billion years ago and are still used today by animals, plants, and their unicellular relatives. Although the proteins that comprise actin and microtubule polymers themselves are surprisingly similar across species, the hundreds of different proteins that regulate their dynamics are wildly variable, contributing to aspects of organismal diversity critical to human health and agriculture. My laboratory combines cell biology, comparative genomics, and phylogenetics to understand the evolution, diversification, and regulation of actin and microtubule networks. This research program harnesses the burgeoning wealth of fully sequenced genomes and molecular tool development to (1) identify the molecular mechanisms that specify distinct cytoskeletal functions, and (2) determine how and when the cytoskeleton changed during evolution.

Organic Student Seminar 248: Jacqueline Bustamante
2023-02-27 15:00 - 15:50 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Knobler Lecture: Vinothan Manoharan
2023-02-27 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Manoharan Knobler Lecture Flyer
Title: The Self-Assembly of Simple RNA Viruses
Abstract: Self-assembly is the process by which molecules or particles spontaneously form ordered structures, driven by interactions and thermal fluctuations. The term “self-assembly” was originally coined to describe the formation of simple RNA viruses, which consist of RNA and coat proteins that form an icosahedral shell (called a capsid) that protects the RNA. Some of these viruses can be assembled in vitro, in the absence of any host cell factors. This result suggests that we can understand RNA virus self-assembly from the perspective of statistical mechanics. The central question is how a random process like self-assembly can lead to a high yield of well-formed viruses. I will discuss some potential answers to that question based on experiments that measure the kinetics of assembly of individual viruses — experiments that began as a result of a collaboration with UCLA.

Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar Series: Tatiana Bronich
2023-03-01 16:00 - 17:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Flyer: Prof. Tatiana Bronich Flyer
Meet the Speaker: 11 a.m., YH 3096
Title: Amphiphilic copolymers mediated therapeutics in cancer
Abstract: Amphiphilic block copolymers, in particular self-assembled block copolymer micelles, have been utilized in pharmaceutics for development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic modalities. Advantages of the polymeric micelles include their small size, long circulation in bloodstream, ability to circumvent renal excretion and extravasation at sites of enhanced vascular permeability. They can be designed to facilitate the incorporation of a variety of compounds or even particles through a combination of electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrogen bonding interactions. Combining drugs cargos with synergistic activities in a single polymer micelle emerged as an attractive strategy for the development of cancer treatment modalities with enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced adverse side effects. We have adopted a polypeptide-based polymer platform as the biodegradable construction material for design of micellar nanocarriers for combination therapy in cancer.

Chem 218 Student Exit Seminar: Shreya Patel
2023-03-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States

Biochemistry Seminar Series - Prof. Shana V. Stoddard
2023-03-03 15:30 - 16:30 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Shana Stoddard Flyer
Title: Molecular Recognition: The Keys to Design of Biotools
Abstract: My lab, the “Molecular Immunotherapeutics Research” (MIR) lab studies systems which are involved in cancers, neurological disorders, coronaviruses, and autoimmune diseases. Utilizing both computational and experimental methodologies work in the MIR lab explores the basic molecular details of structure and design and its implications on the development of biotools and therapeutics. Current work in the MIR lab involves investigation of structure/function relationships in the thrombospondin repeat (TSR) domain containing super family of proteins known to be heavily involved in binding interactions in the extracellular matrix (ECM) promoting functions such as angiogenesis, cell migration, and tissue remodeling. Development of both three-dimensional protein homology models and biotools to selectively target the TSR domains would advance our ability to evaluate both structure function relationships and how these proteins participate in molecular interactions that influence ECM organization. A second project the MIR lab is pursuing is development of optimization guidelines for drug development antiviral targeting coronaviruses. This talk will detail key findings that may contribute to the study of the TSR domain containing super family of proteins, design of biotools to target TSR domains to further study of ECM reorganization and the development of both small molecule and protein based therapeutic options for coronavirus antivirals. The advancements discussed will highlight new directions for understanding ECM reorganization and binding partner interactions, and key structural parameters for development of high affinity drug candidates for COVID-19 antiviral treatments

Physical Chemistry Seminar 228: Jagjit Nanda
2023-03-06 16:00 - 17:00 | Mani L. Bhaumik Centennial Collaboratory, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Prof Nanda Flyer
Title: Next Generation Solid-Electrolytes and Cathode Design for All Solid-State Batteries
Abstract: Lithium-metal based solid-state batteries (SSB) are considered to the holy-grail of the next generation battery technology for their promise of higher energy density (500 Wh/Kg), safety and providing a flexible platform for integrating a number of promising solid-electrolytes (SE) with high capacity cathodes using either a thin lithium metal or anode free configuration. The design rule for achieving high energy and fast charge SSB will be discussed with specific focus on sulfide and halide based solid-electrolytes. Most of the sulfide-based SE compositions such as Li3PS4 and Argyrodite (LiPS5X; X= Cl, Br) are thermodynamically unstable against high voltage cathodes such as NMC and hence are not best catholyte for solid-state cathodes. On the contrary, halide SEs have higher oxidative stability but poor stability with respect to Li-metal. The talk will also cover development of thin SE membranes (50 micron) for integration with cathodes and development of Na-ion based SE.

NSF Center for Integrated Catalysis Webinar Series: Long Luo
2023-03-07 13:00 - 14:30
Flyer: Prof. Long Luo Flyer
Title: Rational Design of Alternating Current Electrolysis (ACE) for Organic Synthesis
Abstract: In this presentation, I will talk about the history of alternating current electrolysis (ACE) for organic synthesis and our recent work on exploring and quantitatively understanding the unique reactivity of ACE, including mimicking the redox-neutral environment of photoredox catalysis, controlling the one- or two-electron oxidation for selective amine functionalization, and site-selective hydrogen isotope exchange reactions.
