Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Design and Properties of Novel Materials –– Biomimetic Catalysis –– Investigating Biomolecular Interactions

Shuai Chen, Mohammad S. Hossain, Duy H. Cao, Frank W. Foss Jr. “Organocatalytic Dakin Oxidation: Mechanistic Insight into Nucleophilic Flavin Oxidations” (Submitted: Journal of the American Chemical Society)

Xiaojia Huang, Frank W. Foss Jr., Purnendu K. Dasgupta “Multilayer chitosan-based open tubular capillary anion exchange column with integrated monolithic capillary suppressor” Analytica Chimica Acta 2011, 707, 210-217 (doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2011.09.028).

Severin Schneebeli, Maria Kamenetska, Frank Foss, Hector Vazquez, Rachid Skouta, Mark Hybertsen, Latha Venkataraman, Ronald Breslow “The Electrical Properties of Biphenylenes” Organic Letters 2010, 12, 4114-4117 (doi: 10.1021/ol1017036).

Janet V. Cross*, Joshua M. Rady, Frank W. Foss Jr., Charles Lyons, Timothy L. Macdonald, and Dennis J. Templeton “Nutrient Isothiocyanates Covalently Modify and Inhibit the Inflammatory Cytokine Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)” Biochemical Journal 2009, 423, 315-321 (doi:10.1042/BJ20091170).

Frank W. Foss Jr., Thomas P. Mathews, Yugesh Kharel, Perry C. Kennedy, Ashley H. Snyder, Michael D. Davis, Kevin R. Lynch, Timothy L. Macdonald “Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Sphingosine Kinase Substrates as Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Prodrugs” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 2009, 17, 6123-6136 (doi:10.1016/j.bmc.2009.04.015).

Ronald Breslow, Frank W. Foss Jr.,Charge Transport in Nanoscale Aromatic and Antiaromatic Systems” Special Issue: Conductivity of single molecules and supramolecular architecturesJ. Phys.: Condens. Matter  2008, in press.

Huanyu Zhau, Frank W. Foss Jr, Ronald Breslow "Artificial Enzymes: Benzoin Condensations by Imidazolium and Thiazolium Catalysts" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, in press.

Qin Sun, Ran Zhu, Frank W. Foss Jr., Timothy L. Macdonald “In Vitro Metabolism of a Model Cyclopropylamine to Reactive Intermediate: Insights into Trovafloxacin-Induced Hepatotoxicity” Chemical Research in Toxicology 2008, 21, 711-719; advance online publication, February 26th, 2008 (doi:10.1021/tx7003085).

Advertised by Chem. Res. Tox. as one of five non-CYP450 metabolism studies from 2008.

Guy Cinamon, Marcus A. Zachariah, Olivia M. Lam, Frank W. Foss Jr., Jason G. Cyster “Follicular Shuttling of Marginal Zone B Cells Facilitates Antigen Transport” Nature Immunology 2008, 9, 54-62.  (Highlighted by Georg Kraal “Antigens Take the Shuttle” Nature Immunology 2008, 9, 11-12.)

Qin Sun, Ran Zhu, Frank W. Foss Jr., Timothy L. Macdonald “Synthesis and Chemical Oxidation of a Model Cyclopropylamine: Identification of a Reactive Intermediate and Implication of Responsible Enzymes for Hepatotoxicity of Trovafloxacin” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let. 2007, 17, 6682-6686.

Jordan R. Quinn, Frank W. Foss Jr., Latha Venkataraman, Ronald Breslow “Oxidation Potentials Correlate with Conductivities of Aromatic Molecular Wires” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 12376-12377.

Jordan R. Quinn, Frank W. Foss Jr., Latha Venkataraman, Mark S. Hybertsen, Ronald Breslow “Single-Molecule Junction Conductance through Diaminoacenes” J. Am. Chem. Soc.  2007, 129, 6714-6715.

Frank W. Foss Jr.,Ashley H. Snyder, Michael D. Davis, Michael Rouse, Mark D. Okusa, Kevin R. Lynch, Timothy L. Macdonald “Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of g-aminophosphonates as Potent, Subtype-Selective Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Agonists and Antagonists” Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2007, 15, 663-677;

(Top 50 cited BMC papers 2004-2008; and Recommended by Hugh Rosen: Faculty of 1000 Biology, 2 Feb 2007 http://www.f1000biology.com/article/id/1064759/evaluation.

Janet V. Cross, Frank W. Foss Jr., Joshua M. Rady, Timothy L. Macdonald, Dennis J. Templeton “The Isothiocyanate Class of Dietary Chemopreventives Inhibits the Catalytic Activity of the MEKK1 Protein Kinase by Covalent Modification of the ATP Binding Domain” BMC Cancer 2007, 7:183.

Alaa S. Awad, Hong Ye, Liping Huang, Frank W. Foss Jr., Li Li, Timothy L. Macdonald, Kevin R. Lynch, Mark D. Okusa “Selective Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P₁) Receptor Activation Reduces Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Mouse Kidney” Am. J. Physiol.: Renal Physiol. 2006, 290, F1516 - F1524.

Frank W. Foss Jr., Jeremy J. Clemens, Michael D. Davis, Ashley H. Snyder, Kevin R. Lynch, Timothy L. Macdonald “Synthesis, Stability and Implications of Phosphothioate Agonists of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptors” Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2005, 15, 4470-4474.

B.S., Chemistry, University of Richmond (1995-1999)

Ph.D., Organic/Medicinal Chemistry, 
University of Virginia (2000-2006)

Postdoctoral Fellow: Columbia University
Artificial Enzymes/Single-Molecule Electronic Devices
Breslow Research Laboratory (2006 – 2008)

Frank W. Foss Jr. joined the University of Texas at Arlington in September of 2008.  A native of Massachusetts, he completed a Bachelors of Science in chemistry at the University of Richmond.  He earned his Doctorate in organic and medicinal chemistry under the supervision of Timothy L. Macdonald from the University of Virginia.  His dissertation on the Synthesis of Biologically-Stable Phospholipids is entitled “Synthesis of Bioavailable Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Ligands: Structure-Activity-Relationships, Enzymatic Regulation, and Immunosuppression.”  After his graduate work, he undertook a Post-Doctoral Research position with Ronald Breslow, at Columbia University in the City of New York, to study natural catalysis by designing artificial enzymes. In addition to this biomimetic research, Frank was involved in collaborative efforts in the area of molecular electronics through the NSF-funded Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center.  Both fields challenge organic chemists to understand the fundamental properties of chemical structures in biology and material sciences in order to tailor new materials with desirable functions.

The Foss Laboratory at UT Arlington is currently involved in designing biomimetic redox catalysts that utilize sustainable oxidants, such as O₂ or H₂O₂, to perform these important synthetic transformations.  The laboratory also investigates a range of enzymes, through their interaction with small molecules, to understand their function and potential as tractable targets for new drug development.  Finally, numerous collaborations exist that allow the laboratory to design and synthesize natural and non-natural biomolecules for a range of purposes, from medicinal to biomaterial.