Chemistry Program

The chemistry program enables the use of chemical probes to understand biologic pathways and phenotype cellular states in health and disease. These probes may be directed at validated disease targets, or applied in a "forward genetic" approach that is systematic and less dependent on a priori assumptions. Platform activities encompass three interrelated efforts: 1) Synthetic chemistry, including the creation of novel small molecules, diversity oriented synthesis (DOS) and other libraries; 2) High-throughput screening and analysis, utilizing a variety of biochemical, metabolic, and high-content imaging measurements and 3) a Chemistry Core for the production and quality control of imaging probes that are not commercially available.

Recent Publications

  • Antolin AA, Aye Y, Bar-Peled L, De Vita E, Dudkina N, Jewett MC, Kiely-Collins H, Mazitschek R, Zhang ZJ What is chemical biology?. Cell Chem Biol. 2024;31(9):1562-1565 - PMID: 39303695 - DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.08.011

  • Hammel FA, Payne NC, Marando VM, Mazitschek R, Walker S Identification of a Polypeptide Inhibitor of O-GlcNAc Transferase with Picomolar Affinity. J Am Chem Soc. 2024;146(38):26320-26330 - PMID: 39276112 - PMCID: PMC11440498 - DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c08656

  • Quintana JM, Kang M, Hu H, Ng TSC, Wojtkiewicz GR, Scott E, Parangi S, Schuemann J, Weissleder R, Miller MA Extended Pharmacokinetics Improve Site-Specific Prodrug Activation Using Radiation. ACS Cent Sci. 2024;10(7):1371-1382 - PMID: 39071065 - PMCID: PMC11273447 - DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.4c00354

  • Quintana JM, Carlson JCT, Scott E, Ng TSC, Miller MA, Weissleder R Scission-Enhanced Molecular Imaging (SEMI). Bioconjug Chem. 2024;35(10):1543-52 - PMID: 39255972 - PMCID: PMC11488501 - DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00337

  • More publications ...

News

2019-11-25:

Kritika Singh (Mazitschek Lab), a bioengineering and chemistry student at Northeastern who has dedicated herself to tackling global health issues, has been named a 2020 Rhodes Scholar, considered the most prestigious academic honor for U.S. college students. Congratulations, Kritika!

2016-12-02:

Ralph Mazitschek, PhD received new patent for Compounds for Treating Infectious Diseases. Susan Lindquist, Catherine McLellan and Luke Whitesell, MD were co-inventors.

2013-07-15:

ChemistryViews.org highlights CSB paper on the Fastest and the Brightest Fluorescent Probe based on BODIPY-Tz components.

2013-05-23:

Novel imaging probe platform developed at CSB enables imaging - "BODIPY–Tetrazine Derivatives as Superbright Bioorthogonal Turn-on Probes"

2012-02-13:

"Secrets of ancient Chinese remedy revealed" - Harvard Gazette features latest work from Dr. Mazitschek. (pdf). It is also on the Top 10 Chart in Nature Chemical Biology (pdf)