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 Dr. Youngjae You, Assistant Professor
Organic/Medicinal Chemistry
Phone: (605) 688-6905 (lab. 6904)
Fax: (605) 688-6364
E-mail Dr. Youngjae You
Dr. You's homepage
Education
* B.Pharm., 1994, Chungnam National University, Korea
* M.S., 1997, Chungnam National University
* Ph.D., 2001, Chungnam National University
Postdoctoral Appointments
* SUNY at Buffalo, 2004
Previous Position
* Research Assitant Professor 2005, SUNY at Buffalo
External Funding
* DOD |
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Research Summary
My research spans the identification, design, and synthesis of small molecules for medical and biological applications. Multidisciplinary knowledge and skills are practiced in natural products, organic, and medicinal chemistry. Current interest focuses on three areas:
Developing New Photosensitizers: Recently, I have been involved in a very exciting approach in treating cancer, called photodynamic therapy (PDT), where laser techniques are used in biological applications. PDT is an emerging treatment that is highly selective and relatively non-toxic compared to current therapeutics. In PDT, the damage on tumor occurs from the combination of a small molecule (photosensitizer), oxygen, and the light of near IR range (650-800 nm). PDT has been used successfully in the clinic for various types of diseases, especially surface cancers and macular degeneration. To improve efficiency and increase application, disease and molecular target-specific photosensitizers are necessary.
Dendrimeric Drug Delivery System Based on Nano-biophotonics: Due to the remarkable progress in synthetic chemistry and molecular biology, the generation of biologically active compounds toward known molecular targets is relatively straightforward. However, the activity of these compounds at a molecular level does not guarantee their practical application, mainly owing to the lack of selectivity. Most side effects come from a lack of selectivity for target tissues compared to normal tissues. To eliminate or minimize these side effects of small molecular drugs, cutting edge-optical techniques are applied in nano-scale drug delivery systems.
Rational Drug Design and Synthesis: In the past, drug development was a process of trials and errors. Large numbers of natural products were screened to find biologically active lead compounds. Then, organic synthetic techniques were used in obtaining a number of structurally diverse analogues to optimize the activity. In the current proteomics era, a more rational approach becomes realistic due to significant advances in computational chemistry and structural biology. In my drug discovery endeavor, chemo and bioinformatics are practically engaged in rational design and synthesis along with close collaboration with molecular biologists.
Recent Publications
You Y, Gibson SL and Detty MR: Core-modified porphyrins. Part 5: Electronic effects on photophysical and biological properties in vitro. Bioorg Med Chem 13: 5968-80, 2005.
You Y, Gibson SL, Hilf R, Ohulchanskyy TY and Detty MR: Core-modified porphyrins. Part 4: Steric effects on photophysical and biological properties in vitro. Bioorg Med Chem 13: 2235-51, 2005.
You Y: Podophyllotoxin derivatives: current synthetic approaches for new anticancer agents. Curr Pharm Des 11:1695-717, 2005.
Gibson SL, Holt JJ, Ye M, Donnelly DJ, Ohulchanskyy TY, You Y and Detty MR: Structure-activity studies of uptake and phototoxicity with heavy-chalcogen analogues of tetramethylrosamine in vitro in chemosensitive and multidrug-resistant cells. Bioorg Med Chem 13: 6394-403, 2005.
You Y, Kim Y, Nam NH, Bang SC and Ahn BZ: Alkyl and carboxylalkyl esters of 4'-demethyl-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin: synthesis, cytotoxic, and antitumor activity. Eur J Med Chem 39: 189-93, 2004.
Nam NH, Kim Y, You Y, Hong DH, Kim HM and Ahn BZ: New constituents from Crinum latifolium with inhibitory effects against tube-like formation of human umbilical venous endothelial cells. Nat Prod Res 18: 485-91, 2004.
You Y, Kim Y, Nam NH and Ahn BZ: Inhibitory effect of Adonis amurensis components on tube-like formation of human umbilical venous cells. Phytother Res 17: 568-70, 2003.
You Y, Kim Y, Nam NH and Ahn BZ: Antitumor activity of unsaturated fatty acid esters of 4'-demethyldeoxypodophyllotoxin. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 13: 2629-32, 2003.
You Y, Kim Y, Nam NH and Ahn BZ: Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of A-ring modified betulinic acid derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 13: 3137-40, 2003.
You Y, Gibson SL, Hilf R, Davies SR, Oseroff AR, Roy I, Ohulchanskyy TY, Bergey EJ and Detty MR: Water soluble, core-modified porphyrins. 3. Synthesis, photophysical properties, and in vitro studies of photosensitization, uptake, and localization with carboxylic acid-substituted derivatives. J Med Chem 46: 3734-47, 2003.
You Y, Ahsan K and Detty MR: Mechanistic studies of the tellurium(II)/tellurium(IV) redox cycle in thiol peroxidase-like reactions of diorganotellurides in methanol. J Am Chem Soc 125: 4918-27, 2003.
Ahsan K, Drake MD, Higgs DE, Wojciechowski AL, Tse BN, Beteman MA, You Y and Detty MR: Dendrimeric organotelluride catalysts for the activation of hydrogen peroxide. Improved catalytic activity through statistical and
stereoelectronic effects. Organometallics 22: 2883-2890, 2003.
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