Full Section Calendar of Events
March 2023 Meeting
THE PHILADELPHIA SECTION, AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESENT THE
2023 EDGAR FAHS SMITH MEMORIAL LECTURE
Dr. Squire J. Booker
Evan Pugh University Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The Pennsylvania State University
A Radical Solution for C(sp3)–C(sp3) Bond Formation during the Biosynthesis of Macrocyclic Membrane Lipids
Archaea synthesize isoprenoid-based ether-linked membrane lipids, which enable them to withstand extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high salinity, and low or high pH values. In some archaea, such as Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, these lipids are further modified by forming carbon–carbon bonds between the termini of two lipid tails within one glycerophospholipid to generate the macrocyclic archaeol or forming two carbon–carbon bonds between the termini of two lipid tails from two glycerophospholipids to generate the macrocycle glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT). GDGT contains two 40-carbon lipid chains (biphytanyl chains) that span both leaflets of the membrane, providing enhanced stability to extreme conditions. How these specialized lipids are formed has puzzled scientists for decades. The reaction necessitates coupling two completely inert sp3-hybridized carbon centers, which has not been observed in nature. Here we use X-ray crystallography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, chemical synthesis, and biochemical analyses to show that the gene product of mj0619 from M. jannaschii, which encodes a radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme, is responsible for biphytanyl chain formation during synthesis of both the macrocyclic archaeol and GDGT membrane lipids.
For details and registration, please visit https://pacs-efs2023.eventbrite.com/
A D V A N C E N O T I C E
APRIL MEETING
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Awards Ceremony for Student Scholastic Achievement, Excellence
in Pre-College Teaching and Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Awardees to be featured in the April issue of the Catalyst
Grey Towers Castle, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA
Registration is now open at https://pacs-tssaa2023.eventbrite.com/
See the APRIL issue of the Catalyst for details, call the Section Office at (267) 485-1792 or email PhilaACS@gmail.com.
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