Department of Medicinal & Biological Chemistry : Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich

Institutions/Degrees

BS, 1990     North Carolina Central University
MS, 1992     Duke University
Dr. rer. Nat,
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 1997     Ruprecht Karls Universität, Heidelberg, Germany
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1997     Universität Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Organic, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, Nucleic Acid Damage

Research Interests

Nucleic Acids play a seminal role in maintaining the proper function of cells and organisms. Due to their key functions a full understanding of their damage and repair is critical in elucidating the causes and finding treatments for many chronic diseases. The role that nucleic acids damage plays in cancer, heart disease, chronic inflammation and macular degeneration makes this topic significant to those seeking to improve human health. Our laboratory contributes to the understanding of the biological process of oxidative damage to nucleic acids through the synthesis of organic molecules capable of generation free radical species in and around DNA and RNA. Through these chemical entities the mechanisms by which nucleic acids are oxidized can be determined and the fate of their subsequent damage products investigated. Our laboratory is involved in several different approaches to obtain the information needed to understand this biological process.

• Site-specific modification of DNA and RNA oligomers for the generation of free radical intermediates.
• Spin-trapping of DNA and RNA radicals for the characterization of these reactive intermediates.
• Development of analytical techniques for the identification, detection and validation of biomarkers of oxidative stress.
• Synthesis of DNA and RNA binding chromophores as drugs and tools for molecular biology.

DNA Damage Products Derived from the C-3’-Thymidinylradical

Our laboratory has successfully used the site-specific modification of oligonucletides for the identification of oxidative damage products of the C-3’-thymidinylradical. We are currently involved in collaborative projects to determine the suitability of these products as biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Representative Publications

• G. Lahoud, A. Hitt, A. Bryant-Friedrich, "The aerobic fate of the C-3'-thymidinyl radical in single stranded DNA", submitted to Chem. Res. Toxicol., 2006,19,1630-1636.
• Georges Lahoud, Jesse Fancher, Sanda Grosu, Breyanna Cavanaugh, and Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, "Automated Synthesis, Characterization and Structural Analysis of Oligonucleotide C-3’-Radical Precursors", Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2006, 14, 2581-2588.
• A. Bryant-Friedrich "Generation of a C-3'-Thymidinyl Radical in Single-Stranded
• D. Becker, A. Bryant-Friedrich, C. Trzasko, M. Sevilla, "Electron Spin Resonance Study of DNA Irradiated with Argon Heavy Ion Beams: Evidence for Formation of Sugar/Phosphate Radicals", Radiation Research, 2003, 160, 174.
• S. Körner, A. Bryant-Friedrich, B. Giese, "C-3’α and β Branched 2’-Deoxythymidines as Precursors for the Selective Generation of C-3’-Nucleoside Radicals", J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 1559.