Welcome to Chemistry at ANU

Our research interests are concerned primarily with methods and strategies for the synthesis of complex natural products that have interesting biological properties. Within this context, members of the group have successfully completed syntheses of numerous complex natural products and developed a number of useful synthetic procedures. We are also interested in the molecular basis of plant growth regulation, using organic synthesis as an enabling technology, with special reference to the gibberellins (GAs). Gibberellins affect numerous aspects of plant growth and development including, for example, germination, induction of stem growth and flowering, and there are several commercially valuable applications. Studies pursued in collaboration with groups in the CSIRO and the University of Calgary have led to the discovery of semi-synthetic derivatives that interfere with the plant’s natural production of phytohormones, thereby inhibiting growth.

Publications

Research Activities include:

Biosynthesis of the Galbulimima Alkaloids

Several decades after the isolation and structural elucidation of the Galbulimima alkaloids there has been renewed interest in their synthesis and biosynthesis. Of particular interest is the biosynthetic relationship between the various structural types. We have therefore commenced a search for minor alkaloids that may prove to be “missing links” between the various skeletons.

The Search for Gibberellin Receptors

In order to understand more fully the molecular basis of gibberellin bioactivity, we are presently attempting to identify receptors in barley. In October 2005, a paper in the journal Nature reported the isolation and expression of a protein from rice with evidence that it was a gibberellin receptor. With the sequence information from this report we have been able to clone and express an analogous protein (GSE 1) from barley. The availability of this protein has allowed us to undertake in vitro binding studies with gibberellins. We have demonstrated binding between the GSE 1 protein and 14C-labelled GA1, whereas no binding was observed with the bio-inactive GA20, as would be expected. We have also prepared a series of gibberellins linked to biotin but they proved to be biologically inactive.

Lewis Mander completed his BSc and MSc at the University of Auckland and received his PhD at the University of Sydney. He has since held positions at the University of Michigan (1964-1965), Caltech, Pasadena (1965-1966), the University of Adelaide (1966-1975), Cambridge University (1971-1972) before his appointment as Senior Fellow at The Research School of Chemistry. He was elected to the Royal Australian Institute of Chemistry (1990), the Australian Academy of Science (1983), and the Royal Society (London)(1990) and made honorary fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (1991).He was awarded the David Craig Medal (2002), the Archibald Olle Prize (1995), the Birch Medal (1994), the Royal Society of Chemistry CIBA Award (1994) and the Jeffery Medal (1993). He was appointed to Professor at the Research School of Chemistry in 1980.