Overview

The Singleton Laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular basis for the develoment and transmission of microbial drug resistance and the discovery and exploitation of new strategies for controlling drug-resistant microorganisms.  We develop and adapt synthetic chemistry and synthetic biology methods to provide new molecular tools – both biologically active small molecules and innovative platforms – for hypothesis-driven biological research and pharmaceutical discovery.  This important foundation of our program offers both chemically-oriented and biologically-oriented researchers new opportunities for the development of integrated, multi-disciplinary knowledge and technologies.

Tools

• chemical synthesis
• synthetic biology
• combintorial biochemistry
• molecular biophysics
• high-throughput screening

To Study

• synthetic nucleotide analogs, designed peptides, organometallic complexes
• DNA repair and recombination related to drug resistance
• genomic approaches for revealing antibacterial drug targets
• designed genetic selections for directed evolution of unnatural enzymes

To Understand

• molecular mechanisms related to the evolution of drug resistance
• protease inhibitor resistance in human viruses

To Discover

• new antimicrobial targets and strategies
• new paradigms for antimicrobial drug development
• new lead compounds via HTS
• new macromolecular therapeutics
• new enzymes