Design, synthesis and theoretical studies of zinc-specific MRI contrast agent

INOR 129

Teodora Kaltcheva, kaltchev@usc.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, 840 Downey Way, LJS 270, Los Angeles, CA 90089 and Amy M. Barrios, Deparment of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Southern California, 30 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112.
Zinc plays a significant role in human health serving diverse functions including enzyme regulator, protein catalytic and structural center and neurotransmitter. The concentration of zinc varies in tissues due to both physiological and pathological processes. Because of this, a non-invasive probe for imaging biological zinc levels would be a useful diagnostic tool. The work reported here aims to design and characterize a zinc-selective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. A multidentate ligand, known to tightly chelate Gd(III), was monofunctionalized for zinc specificity. The synthesis was achieved in total of four steps with overall yield of 40%. Molecular modeling and computational studies of the desired gadolinium complex indicate that it is likely to be useful as a zinc-specific MRI contrast agent.
 

Bioinorganic Chemistry
7:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Division of Inorganic Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006