- Associate Professor, Chemistry, College of Science
Our research group is actively characterizing the biosynthetic genes of this pathway, which involves a variety of techniques and strategies including: cloning and overexpression of genes, disruption/knockout of genes, enzymology, as well as chemical synthesis/isotopic labeling studies. Functional characterization of the genes of the pathway will not only shed light on the mechanism of azabicycle formation but will also pave the way for genetic engineering of the pathway and the development of new therapeutic methodologies.
We have also been investigating the biosynthesis and cellular effects of cycloterpenals and their derivatives. Cycloretinal (all-trans retinal dimer), a representative member of this family of natural products is attributed to causing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of blindness in adults over the age of 50 that can lead to the loss of central vision. One of the most common early characteristic features of AMD (the dry form) is the accumulation of yellow deposits in the eye called drusen. A more severe form of the disease, the wet form, is characterized by neovascularization (abnormal blood vessel formation). Our research group aims to study the role of beta-lactoglobulin in cycloretinal synthesis in the eye as an environmental (dietary), non-genetic contributor of AMD. This involves tracking BLG in the eye, monitoring the formation of cycloretinal, and elucidating the mechanism of cycloretinal formation. Research strategies include: chemical synthesis, enzymology, fluorescence/confocal microscopy, PET imaging, dual modality OCT/fluorescence lifetime imaging.
- Ph.D. in , Johns Hopkins University - (Baltimore, Maryland, United States) 1998
- B.S. in , University of Hawaii at Manoa - (Honolulu, Hawaii, United States) 1992
Academic Articles28
- Kelly, G. T., Washburn, L. A., & Watanabe, C. (2019). The Fate of Molecular Oxygen in Azinomycin Biosynthesis. J Org Chem. 84(5), 2991-2996.
- Gowda, V., Foley, B., Du, J., Esteb, M., & Watanabe, C. (2018). Biocatalysis with the milk protein β-lactoglobulin: Promoting retroaldol cleavage of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY. 16(13), 2210-2213.
- Mori, S., Williams, H., Cagle, D., Karanovich, K., Horgen, F. D., III, S. R., & Watanabe, C. (2015). Macrolactone Nuiapolide, Isolated from a Hawaiian Marine Cyanobacterium, Exhibits Anti-Chemotactic Activity. Marine Drugs. 13(10), 6274-6290.
- Nepal, K. K., Lee, R. P., Rezenom, Y. H., & Watanabe, C. (2015). Probing the Role of N-Acetyl-glutamyl 5-Phosphate, an Acyl Phosphate, in the Construction of the Azabicycle Moiety of the Azinomycins. BIOCHEMISTRY. 54(29), 4415-4418.
- Simkhada, D., Zhang, H., Mori, S., Williams, H., & Watanabe, C. (2013). Activation of cryptic metabolite production through gene disruption: Dimethyl furan-2,4-dicarboxylate produced by Streptomyces sahachiroi. Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. 9, 1768-1773.
Conference Papers2
- Bench, B. J., Suarez, V. H., & Watanabe, C. (2008). An efficient one-pot synthesis of tethered cyclohexadiene enaminonitriles from methyl-ketones: An effective route to quinazolines. BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS. 18(10), 3126-3130.
- Rimbach, G., Wolffram, S., Watanabe, C., Packer, L., & Gohil, K. (2003). Effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761 (R)) on differential gene expression. PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY. 36, S95-S99.
- CHEM228 Organic Chemistry Ii Instructor
- CHEM456 Chemical Biology Instructor
- CHEM491 Research Instructor
- CHEM640 Lab Methods In Biol Chem Instructor
- CHEM681 Seminar Instructor
- Mori, Shogo (2015-12). Biosynthesis and Cellular Actions of Bioactive Natural Products. (Doctoral Dissertation)
- Lee, Rachel Pokei (2014-05). Evaluation of the Azinomycin B Biosynthetic Pathway: The Azabicycle Formation. (Master's Thesis)
- Agbo, Hillary (2012-08). Functional Characterization of Azinomycin Biosynthetic Enzymes. (Doctoral Dissertation)
- Foulke-Abel, Jennifer (2010-12). Natural Product Biosynthesis: Friend or Foe? From Anti-tumor Agent to Disease Causation. (Doctoral Dissertation)
- Bench, Bennie John (2009-12). Investigations of the Biological Roles of Substituted Cyclohexadienes. (Doctoral Dissertation)