Jason M. Belitsky,

Research Interests:
Bioorganic Chemistry, Peptides, Biological Pigments, Nanotechnology

A bioorganic chemist by training, Dr. Belitsky has had the opportunity to work with nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and proteins, and now in his independent career is focusing on a class of biomolecules which have been far less explored – melanins, the pigments in human hair, skin, eyes, etc. While almost everyone has heard of melanin, it is not very well understood on a chemical level. Undergraduates working with Dr. Belitsky are doing synthetic chemistry to create model systems to understand the natural pigment and its biological roles. Another project looks to exploit the interesting properties of this material for non-biological applications. For example, melanin is known to bind to many chemical entities, including heavy metal ions and a variety of organic compounds. We are using synthetic melanin and melanin extracted from human hair to construct filters for removing environmental toxins, such as lead and organic dyes, from water.
Through the synthetic branch of the melanin project, we have become interested in palladium-catalyzed chemistry, particularly the Suzuki reaction, are currently exploring variants of this reaction. A separate research project in the Belitsky lab involves the development of a reaction that will be useful in peptide chemistry for the construction and labeling of biomolecules. Overall, our work combines aspects of organic synthesis, molecular recognition, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, and nanotechnology. 

Teaches:
Biochemistry, General Chem

Contact Information:
PH: 440 775 8303
FAX: 440 775 6682 
jason.belitsky@oberlin.edu
Science Center Office: N371

Feature Article: One-Billionth of a Meter
Feature Article: UCLA project, Participant

BS, Amherst
PhD, Caltech

Representative Works:

• Belitsky, J.M.; Nelson, A.; Hernandez, J.D.; Baum, L.G.; Stoddart, J.F. “Multivalent Interactions between Lectins and Supramolecular Complexes: Galectin-1 and Self-Assembled Pseudopolyrotaxanes” Chemistry & Biology 2007, 14, 1140-1151.*
• *See Commentary: Disney, M.D.; Childs-Disney, J.L. “‘Supra-Molecular Recognition of Galectin 1” Chemistry & Biology 2007, 14, 1095-1097.
• Hsu, C.F.; Phillips, J.W.; Trauger, J.W.; Farkas, M.E.; Belitsky, J.M.; Heckel, A.; Olenyuk, B.Z.; Puckett, J.W.; Wang, C.C.C., Dervan, P.B. “Completion of a Programmable DNA-Binding Small Molecule Library” Tetrahedron 2007, 63, 6146-6151.
• Belitsky, J.M.; Nelson., A.; Stoddart, J.F. “Monitoring cyclodextrin-polyviologen pseudopolyrotaxanes with the Bradford assay” Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2006, 4, 250-256.