Synthesis of Zinc Photocaged Thioester Molecules and their Biological Applications

The downstream goal of the group’s research is to combine neuroscience and chemistry to determine the role of zinc ions in the brain. The role of this MQP is to construct a new type of cage molecule that can reversibly bind to zinc and bring it into human cells. The project has consisted mainly of the synthetic construction of that cage molecule. The synthetic route proved to give sufficient product for analysis and serves as a baseline of data for thiol-containing photocleavable cages. In addition to that main focus, supplementary analytical and biological research was done for the previously developed XDAPdeCage and DAPdeCage molecules. Imaging and RT-PCR of XDAPdeCage and DAPdeCAge demonstrated promise for these cages, with increased zinc metabolism in cages induced with cage complexes

Paraguay D-21 Extending the Poverty Stoplight to More Paraguayan Businesses

The project team worked with Fundación Paraguaya’s coordinator of their Empresas sin Pobreza program, Guido Ruiz Díaz. This program focuses on solving a major issue in Paraguay: the elimination of employee poverty within businesses. We conducted interviews virtually to gather success stories from businesses participating in the program. With the recorded interviews, the team developed and delivered new promotional materials for the program. These promotional materials will help Empresas sin Pobreza reach more Paraguayan businesses