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Chemistry Department
Lee Pedzisa profile photo

Lee Pedzisa

Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
ISEC 259
(518) 388-6496
pedzisal@union.edu
Chemistry

Research interests

Our research revolves around the theme of drug discovery. Students can learn computer modeling techniques to identify compounds that are predicted to inhibit one of two proteins of interest: 1. CCR5 receptor (a protein involved in HIV viral infection of immune cells) and 2. Fatty Acid Synthase (an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of fatty acid and is upregulated in some cancers). In addition, we apply organic chemistry techniques to synthesize (solution and solid phase synthesis), purify (column chromatography, HPLC), analyze (NMR, Mass Spec, TLC), and modify the compounds of interest. We will collaborate with resident Biologists and Biochemists to test the efficacy of our promising compounds against CCR5 and Fatty Acid Synthase.

Teaching interests

CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry 1

CHM 101L Introductory Chemistry 1 Lab

Publications

  • Nilchan, N: Li, X; Pedzisa, L; Nanna, A. R.; Roush, W.R.; Rader, C. Dual-mechanistic antibody-drug conjugate via site-specific selenocysteine/cysteine conjugation. Antib. Ther., 2019, 2, 71-78.
  • Pedzisa, L.; Bannister, T. D. Natural product synthesis and drug discovery: Shortcomings and successes. Trop. J. Nat. Prod. Res. 2017, 1, 95-96.
  • Nanna, A. R.; Li, X.; Walseng, E.; Pedzisa, L.; Goydel, R. S.; Hymel, D.; Burke, T. B. Jr.; Roush, W. R.; Rader, C. Harnessing a catalytic lysine residue for the one-step preparation of homogeneous antibody-drug conjugates. Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 1112.
  • Pedzisa, L.; Li, X.; Rader, C.; Roush, W. R. A Survey of Reagents for Selenocysteine Conjugation and the Stability of Resulting Selenocysteine Adducts. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2016, 14, 5141-5147.
  • Li, X.; Patterson, J. T.; Sarkar, M.; Pedzisa, L.; Kodadek, T.; Roush, W. R.; Rader, C. Site- Specific Dual Antibody Conjugation via Engineered Cysteine and Selenocysteine. Bioconjugate Chem. 2015, 26, 2243-2248
  • Pedzisa, L.; Hay, B. P. Aliphatic C-H···Anion Hydrogen Bonds: Weak Contacts or Strong Interactions? J. Org. Chem. 2009, 74, 2554–2560
  • Pedzisa, L.; Vaughn, I. W.; Pongdee, R. Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of a-phosphoryloxy enol ethers with arylboronic acids. Tetrahedron Lett., 2008, 49, 4142-4144

Additional media

Academic credentials

B. A., The Colorado College; Ph.D.; The Scripps Research Institute; Postdoctoral Associate, The Scripps Research Institute.
An interior view of Ainlay Hall, Union College's Integrated Science and Engineering Complex

Integrated Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC)

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Fax: (518) 388-6789