B.S., 1997, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Ph.D., 2002, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
2002-2004, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

We are interested in using chemistry to understand biological processes. Central to our theme is organic chemistry as a tool that intersects with molecular life sciences such as molecular and cell biology. Our primary focus is the development of chemical toolboxes to address problems in biology. Currently, our work is aimed at discovering and developing novel molecular entities that can be used as probes or as therapeutics for disease states that are not efficiently addressed using conventional small molecule drugs. We are also interested in the search for new strategies in combating infectious diseases such as malaria and influenza.

In organic chemistry, we are employing a chemical biology approach in evolving nucleic acid polymers such as RNA to discover molecular scaffolds that can catalyze chemical reactions. One of our goals is to use modular RNA to perform the total synthesis of natural products, where one product can arise from a complex pool of starting materials.

1. "Disulfide trapping and structural characterization of an early intermediate in the pathway of damage search by MutM", A. Banerjee, W.L. Santos, G.L. Verdine, G.L. Science 311, 1153 (2006).
2. "Interaction between HIV-1 integrase Q148 and a viral DNA cytosine is required for strand transfer", A.A. Johnson, W.L. Santos, C. Marchand, R. Amin, G.L. Verdine, Y. Pommier, J. Biol. Chem. 281, 461 (2006).
3. "Synthesis and biological evaluation of phosphonic and thiophosphoric acid derivatives of lysophosphatidic acid", W.L. Santos, B.H. Heasely, R. Jarosz, K.M. Carter, K.R. Lynch, T.L. Macdonald, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 14, 3473 (2004).
4. "Lysophosphatidic acid induced mitogenesis is regulated by lipid phosphate phosphatases and is Edg-receptor independent", S.B. Hooks, W.L. Santos, D-S. Im, C.H. Heise, T.L. Macdonald, K.R. Lynch, J. Biol. Chem. 276, 4611 (2001).
5. "Activity of 2-substituted lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) analogs at LPA receptors: discovery of a LPA 1 /LPA 3 receptor antagonist", C.E. Heise, W.L. Santos, A.M. Schreihofer, B.H. Heasley, Y.V. Mukhin, T.L. Macdonald, K.R. Lynch, Mol. Pharm. 60, 1173 (2001).
6. "The chemistry and toxicology of 4-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazaperhydroin-2-one: a reactive metabolite in felbamate bioactivation", C.M. Dieckhaus, W.L. Santos, T.L. Macdonald, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 14, 958 (2001).