Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg is one of the most renowned and top ranked scientific centers. The group of PD Dr. Andriy Mokhir, which participates in this project, is associated since 2013 with the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy of this university and has broad expertise in nucleic acid chemistry, mass spectrometry, chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. Specific interests include development of cellular assays for monitoring metal ions, nucleic acids and proteins. This group actively participates in both national and international networking activity. In particular, it
- is a member of the national network “functional analysis of non-coding RNAs in living cells” (7 academic groups and two industrial partners), recently funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research;
- participates in the bilateral cooperation with biomaGUNE, Spain (the group of Dr. V. Pavlov), funded jointly by the German Academic Exchange Service and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science; the project “detection of mRNAs in living cells using Cu(I) catalyzed reactions”
- participates in the bilateral cooperation with iNano center at the Aarhus University, Denmark (the group of Prof. K. Gothelf); funded jointly by the Aarhus University and the University of Heidelberg; project “chemical reactions on DNA-based nanostructures”.
Prof. Andriy Mokhir
Expertise: Nucleic acid chemistry, mass spectrometry, chromatography and NMR spectroscopy; development of cellular assays, e.g. to monitor gene expression and to study proteins/enzymes activity.
Role: 1) Conjugates of metal complexes (“cages”, prepared by other groups) with nucleic acids and their mimics (e.g. peptide nucleic acids, phosphorothioate DNAs and 2’-OMe-RNAs) will be prepared and tested in a variety of cellular assays; 2) supervision of the UHEI group.
Dr. Larisa Mokhir-Kovbasyuk
Expertise: Coordination (photo)chemistry, conjugation of chemically unstable moieties to nucleic acids and their mimics, reagents for controlling gene expression with light, enzyme kinetics.
Role: Synthesis of nucleic acid conjugates with photoactive and biologically active metal complexes (“cages”) and their testing in cellular assays. Enzyme inhibition assays.
