John Lukesh

Education

Ph.D., 2014, University of Wisconsin–Madison (Ronald T. Raines)
Postdoctorate, 2014–2017, The Scripps Research Institute (Dale L. Boger)

Research Description

The Lukesh lab uses synthetic organic chemistry in an effort to generate novel redox-active molecules with interesting biological properties. With a broad interest in molecular design and its application to biology and medicine, we are actively pursuing the following areas of research:

Chemical Biology: The design and synthesis of new investigative tools for probing the chemical biology of reactive sulfur and selenium species within a biological setting.

Medicinal Chemistry: The design and synthesis of novel selenium-containing scaffolds with useful redox properties and therapeutic applications.

Synthetic Methodology Development: New synthetic methods involving organoselenium reagents and catalysts for accessing privileged heterocyclic scaffolds via key C–C bond forming reactions.

Students participating in this research are exposed to a wide variety of topics and techniques at the ever-widening interface of chemistry and biology.

Selected Publications

“An ROS-Responsive Donor That Self-Reports Its H₂S Delivery by Forming a Benzoxazole-Based Fluorophore,” Hu, Q.; Zhu, C.; Hankins, R. A.; Murmello, A. R.; Marrs, G.; Lukesh, J. C., III. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 25486–25494. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c10446

“Enol-Mediated Delivery of Hydrogen Selenide from 𝛾-Keto Selenides: Mechanistic Insight and Evaluation,” Hankins, R. A.; Carter, M. E.; Zhu, C.; Chen, C.; Lukesh, J. C., III. Chem. Sci. 2022, 13, 13094–13099. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC03533B

“Intramolecular Thiol- and Selenol-Assisted Delivery of Hydrogen Sulfide,” Hu, Q.; Suarez, S. I.; Hankins, R. A.; Lukesh, J. C., III. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202210754. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202210754

“Arylselenyl Radical-Mediated Cyclization of N-(2-alkynyl)anilines: Access to 3-Selenylquinolines,” Zhu, C.; Nurko, M.; Day, C. S.; Lukesh, J. C., III. J. Org. Chem. 2022, 87, 8390–8395. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.2c00282

“Mitigating Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity with an H₂O₂-Activated, H₂S-Donating Hybrid Prodrug,” Hu, Q.; Yammani, R. D.; Brown-Harding, H.; Soto-Pantoja, D. L.; Poole, L. B.; Lukesh, J. C., III. Redox Biol. 2022, 53, 102338–102346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2022.102338

“An Innovative Hydrogen Peroxide-Sensing Scaffold and Insight Towards its Potential as an ROS-Activated Persulfide Donor,” Hankins, R. A.; Suarez, S. I.; Kalk, M. A.; Green, N. M.; Harty, M. N.; Lukesh, J. C., III. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 22238-22245. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202010530

INVITED COVER ARTICLE: “Selenosulfides Tethered to gem-Dimethyl Esters: A Robust and Highly Versatile Framework for H₂S Probe Development,” Suarez, I. S.; Ambrose, R.; Kalk, M. A.; Lukesh, J. C., III. Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 15736–15740. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201904133 

Awards and Accomplishments

• F. M. Kirby Family Faculty Fellowship (2022–2025)
• NSF CAREER Award (2022–2027)