Elisabetta Fasella, PhD
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Elisabetta Fasella
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Organic Chemistry
Columbia University, 1997
Bioorganic Chemistry
Biochemistry
Medicinal Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Griffith Hall 359A
(215) 596-7514
e.fasell@usp.edu
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Research Interests
- Bioorganic chemistry
- Enzyme catalysis
Research Summary
Broadly speaking our objective is to gain a better understanding of molecular recognition and of enzymatic catalysis through the design, preparation and evaluation of synthetic models of the usually complex structures involved in these important biological processes.
At present our attention is focused on the elucidation of the role of the cofactor 4-methylidene-5-imidazolone (MIO) in the deamination of the amino acids histidine and phenylalanine. The transformation promoted by this cofactor is unprecedented with synthetic reagents and it constitutes a potential pathway for the reduction of blood phenylalanine levels in phenylketonurics.
Students involved in this project will gain experience in the design, synthesis and characterization of organic compounds, as well as develop an an understanding of the metablolic processes involved.
Recent or Representative Publications
- “Synthesis of Substituted Imidazolones as Analogs of the Cofactor of Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase,” E. Fasella, E. V. Price, and B. M. Schmiege, Abstr. Pap. Amer. Chem. Soc., 2004, 228, 190.
- “Synthesis of lpha-Galactosyl-Lipid Conjugates for Assessment of Anti-Gal Antibody Binding,” Y. He, J. Xu, E. Fasella, and L. L. Kiessling, Abstr. Pap. Amer. Chem. Soc., 2001, 222, 475.
- “Synthesis of galactosyl-alpha (1-3)-galactosyl epitopes for Use in Immunological Studies,” E. Fasella, F. J. Boehm, and L. L. Kiessling, Abstr. Pap. Amer. Chem. Soc., 2000, 219, 97.
- “Reversal of Optical Induction in Transamination by Regioisomeric Bifunctionalized Cyclodextrins,” E. Fasella, S. Dong, and R. Breslow, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 1999, 7, 709–714.