Cheng-Wei Tom ChangCheng-Wei Tom Chang

Associate Professor
Organic Chemistry
B.S., 1988, Tunghai University, Taiwan
Ph.D., 1997, Washington University, Missouri
Postdoctoral, 1997-99, University of Minnesota
435.797.3545 chang@cc.usu.edu
web page

Our laboratory is interested in the design and synthesis of novel unusual sugar-containing antibiotics or anticancer agents that have potential therapeutic uses. Using modern synthetic techniques, we have developed methods for the efficient synthesis of a structurally diverse library of unusual sugars. These designed unusual sugars can be incorporated onto various aglycons and used as probes for structure- activity relationship studies. The information provided by the structure-activity relationship studies can be used for the development of novel therapeutic agents effective against the threat of drugresistant bacteria. We are currently focusing on the diversificaiton of a new class of aminoglycoside antibiotic, pyranmycins that show prominent antibacterial activity against strains of Esherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureau, Bacillis subtilis, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. In addition to the optimized antibacterial activity of our developed pyranmycins, we hope to incorporate structural motifs for the intended purposes of lowering the cytotoxicity common to aminoglycoside type drugs as well as avoiding resistance from certain strains of aminoglycoside resistant bacteria.

Selected Publications

Wang, J.; Li, J.; Chen, H.-N.; Chang, H.; Tanifum, C. T.; Liu, H.-H.; Czyryca, P. G.; Chang, C.-W. T., Glycodiversification for Optimization of the Kanamycin Class Aminoglycosides.” J. Med. Chem. 2005, 48, 6271-6285.

Deng, S.; Chang, C.-W. T. “Acyl Migration for the Construction of Disaccharides.” Synlett. 2006, 756-760.

Li, J.; Chang, C.-W. T. “Recent Development in the Synthesis of Novel Aminoglycoside Antibiotics” Anti-Infective Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2006, 5, 255-271.

Rai, R.; Chen, H.;  Czyryca, P. G.; Li, J.; Chang, C.-W. T. “Design and Synthesis of Pyrankacin: A Pyranmycin Class Broad Spectrum Aminoglycoside Antibiotic.” Org. Lett. 2006, 8,887-889.

Deng, S.; Gangadharmath, U.; Chang, C.-W. T. “Sonochemistry: A Powerful Way of Enhancing the Efficiency of Carbohydrate Synthesis.” J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 5179-5185.