Degrees

Ph.D., 1997, University of Heidelberg, Germany
M.S., 1992 Duke University
B.S., 1990 North Carolina Central University
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1999, University of Basel, Switzerland

Our research combines the areas of synthetic organic and physical organic chemistry with bioorganic and biophysical methods to investigate several biological processes that involve nucleic acids.

Our primary focus is the investigation of nucleic acid damage processes utilizing the independent generation of reactive intermediates in nucleosides and nucleotides. Our investigations at present center around the generation of a variety of C-3'-nucleoside radicals and the elucidation of the fate of these species. To facilitate the independent generation of radical intermediates in these biological systems a variety of modified nucleic acids are required which have the ability to function as radical precursors. These modified derivatives can be synthesized using modern synthetic organic techniques and incorporated into DNA and RNA either chemically or enzymatically. By elucidating the mechanisms and consequently the fate of these species several questions can be addressed concerning the role of nucleic acid damaging agents in the development of disease and the aging process.

Another area of research in our laboratories seeks to decipher the rules governing the sequence specific binding of polyaromatic chromophores to DNA through intercalation. The proposed mechanism of action of many different types of currently used pharmaceuticals agents involves the intercalative binding of an aromatic system to DNA. Even though these molecules have been used to treat diseases like cancer for decades they are not as effective as desired. By gaining a better understanding of the interactions between these molecules and DNA enhanced therapeutic agents could be developed for the treatment of cancer and other maladies.

"Aerobic Fate of the C-3'-Thymidinyl Radical in Single-Stranded DNA", Georges A. Lahoud, Anne L. Hitt and Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich, Chem. Res. Toxicol., 2006, 19, 1630-1636.

T. Berry and N. Mizelle, eds. 2006 “From Oppression to Grace: Women of Color and Their Dilemmas Within The Academy”, Stylus Publishing, LLC, Virginia.(contributing author).

“Automated Synthesis, Characterization and Structural Analysis of Oligonucleotide C-3’-Radical Precursors”, Georges Lahoud, Jesse Fancher, Sanda Grosu, Breyanna Cavanaugh, and Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2006, 14, 2581-2588.

“Generation of a C-3'-Thymidinyl Radical in Single-Stranded Oligonucleotides under Anaerobic Conditions”, A. Bryant-Friedrich, Org. Lett. 2004, 2329-2332.

“Electron Spin Resonance Study of DNA Irradiated with Argon Heavy Ion Beams: Evidence for Formation of Sugar/Phosphate Radicals”, D. Becker, A. Bryant-Friedrich, C. Trzasko, M. Sevilla, Radiation Research, 2003, 160, 174.

"C-3'-a- and b-Branched 2'-Deoxythymidines as Precursors for the Selective Generation of C-3'-Nucleoside Radicals", S. Körner, A. Bryant-Friedrich, B. Giese. J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 1559.