Arun K. Ghosh

Professor

Organic Chemistry

Born 1958; BSc (Honors), Calcutta University, 1978; MSc, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 1981; PhD, University of Pittsburgh, 1985; Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 1985-1988; Research Fellow, Merck Research Laboratories, 1988-94.

Exploration of chemistry and biology of naturally occurring organic molecules with therapeutic potential is an important part of my group's research. These interests include the development of new synthetic methodologies, general strategies for synthesis and the study of important structure-function relationships. As part of our ongoing program, we are investigating the chemistry and biology of hapalosin, nucleotide antibiotic sinefungin and peptide antibiotics madumycin and nikkomycin B. My research group is further involved in the development of new and efficient asymmetric reactions based upon various intermolecular or intramolecular metal chelation. Of particular interest, we are investigating a variety of asymmetric syntheses including syn- and anti- selective aldol reactions, inter- and intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions, conjugate addition and asymmetric reductions. Another important research area in my group is the design and synthesis of molecular probes for various biologically active peptides and proteins. We are currently studying various critical ligand-binding site interactions of the proteolytic enzyme, HIV protease whose clinical effectiveness for the treatment of AIDS has been recognized recently. We are also involved in the design of nonpeptidal turn-mimics for biologically active peptides and proteins. Our present target is the tripeptide, L-prolyl-L-leucylglycinamide (PLG) which has recently been shown to prevent and in many cases reverse neuroleptic drug-induced tardive dyskinesia in animal studies.