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FRISC: The Faculty Research Interests Science Comparator |
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Professor of Biochemistry and Pharmacology
Biological Chemistry
Cell Regulation
Office: (214) 648-2406
FAX: (214) 648-6455
Email: jfalck@biochem.swmed.edu
The main theme of our research is the application of synthetic and bioorganic chemistry
to problems of biochemical and medicinal relevance. All of the techniques of contemporary
organic chemistry, spectroscopy, and chromatography are utilized in a highly interactive,
multi-disciplinary environment supported by state-of-the-art instrumentation. Several
projects involve collaborations with laboratories specializing in pharmacology,
physiology, internal medicine, nephrology, and oncology at UT Southwestern and other
institutions. Current projects include:
Natural Products Total Syntheses - (a) Halomon , a chiral,
poyhalogenated marine terpenoid with potent and differential anti-cancer properties; (b) Fostriecin ,
a unique phosphate-containing lactone with a triene appendage; and (c) Constanolactones
A-F , a family of marine eicosanoids, characterized by an unusual cyclopropyl- d -lactone, which inhibit
sodium/potassium-ATPase. A distinguishing characteristic of these syntheses is the
development and exploitation of novel synthetic methodologies and strategies.
Eicosanoids - Oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid that function as local
mediators or autacoids. They are involved in a wide variety of homeostatic and/or
pathophysiologic processes including gene expression, ion and water transport, hormone
secretion, hypertension, vasomodulation, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Our
investigations encompass isolation and structure elucidation, chemical synthesis,
regulation, and pharmacology. Emphasis is placed on (a) the structural diversity arising
from the participation of cytochromes P450 in the arachidonic cascade; (b) secondary
metabolic routes leading to novel, bioactive metabolites; and (c) non-enzymatic pathways
that generate iso-eicosanoids.
Organometallics- A variety of chromium-, tin-, and boron-containing reagents are
under development. These projects are often initiated in response to a synthetic challenge
found within the context of a proposed total synthesis and are usually directed at
the control of stereogenic centers or for the introduction of sensitive functionality that
would be difficult to prepare by other methods.
Inositol-derived Cellular Regulators- These molecules function as cellular signal
transduction or second messengers, inter-/intra-cellular regulators, and, possibly, as
high potential phosphate donors. While they all incorporate an inositol core, their
structures vary widely to encompass inositol polyphosphates (IPPs), phosphoinositides, GPI
anchors, inositol pyrophosphates, and putative insulin mediators (PIMs). Our interests
involve the elucidation of their structure, absolute configuration, SAR, and physiological
role(s) as well as the development of unique molecular agonist/antagonist entities as
biochemical tools.
Selected Publications:
Baati, R., Barma, D.K., Falck, J.R., and C. Mioskowski (2001) Chromium
Vinylidene Carbenoids: Generation, Characterization, and Reactivity. First
Evidence for an Internal Proton Return Phenomenon with Vinylidene Carbenoids.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123: 9196-9197
Falck, J.R., Barma, D.K., Baati, R., and C. Mioskowski (2001)
Differential Cleavage of Arylmethyl Ethers: Reactivity of
2,6-Dimethoxybenzyl Ethers. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed 40: 1281-1283
Mohapatra, S., Capdevila, J.H., Murphy, R.C., Hevko, J.M., and J.R. Falck
(2001) Efficient Total Synthesis of 5-oxo-6(E),8(Z),11(Z),14(Z)-Eicosatetraenoic
Acid (5-oxo-ETE), a Potent Proinflammatory Autacoid. Tetrahedron Lett.
42: 4109-4110
Falck, J.R., Reddy, Y.K., Haines, D.C., Reddy, K.M., Krishna, U.M., Graham,
S., Murry, B., and J.A. Peterson (2001) Practical, Enantiospecific
Syntheses of 14,15-EET and Leukotoxin B (Vernolic Acid). Tetrahedron
Lett. 42: 4131-4133,
Zou, G., and J. R. Falck. Suzuki-Miyaura (2001) Cross-Coupling of
Lithiumn-Alkylborates. Tetrahedron Lett. 42: 5817-5819
Page maintained by Stephanie
Robertson
Last updated: 25 Sep 2001
Extraction Method: Expand using Medical Synonyms-
Eliminated words list: MedlinePlus List
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Similarity Method: Weighted keyword count
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Database: Medline abstracts (1967 - Present)
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Publication Type: All
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Score Calculation Method: Cosine Similarity Method
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Sort by: Score
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Show: Top 100 hits
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Results computed on: 6/9/2006