External Website:
http://chem.unl.edu/faculty/eachfaculty/dussault.shtml

We are interested in the application of organic synthesis to the study of biological problems. Recent and ongoing projects in this area include: 1) Elucidation of the structural features associated with farnesol-mediated quorum sensing in Candida albicans, including development of fluorescent analogs of quorum sensing molecules (with Ken Nickerson, School of Biological Sciences); 2) Improved synthesis of a transcarbamylase inhibitor (with Audrey Atkin, SBS); 3) The synthesis of intermediates able to "prime" individual steps within biosynthetic pathways and the use of synthesis to confirm structures of proposed biosynthetic intermediates (with Prof. Liancheng Du, Chemistry); 4) Investigation of the relationship of molecular structure and functionality on dietary uptake and processing of plant sterols (with Prof. Tim Carr, Nutrition and Health Sciences); 5) Development of inhibitors of holocarboxylase-synthaase promoted biotinylation (with Prof. Janos Zempleni, Nutrition and Health Sciences); 6) Preparation of unnatural analogs of fatty acids and investigation of their interactions within biological system (with Prof Raul Barletta-VBS, Prof. Robert Powers-Chemistry, Prof. Tim Carr-NHS, and Prof Concetta DiRusso-Biochemistry); 7) The investigation of new classes of antimalarial agents based upon organic peroxides (with Prof. Jon Vennerstrom, UNMC Pharmaceutical Sciences). We are also interested in reactions of ozone, singlet oxygen, and organic peroxides.