On May 29th, Professor Steven E. Rokita from the Department of Chemistry of Johns Hopkins University visited the School of Chemistry and Molecular Science of Wuhan University. Professor Rokita taught the section on nucleic acid in biochemistry for undergraduate students and some graduate students in 2014, and explained the central principle and the importance of nucleic acid as an important genetic material in simple terms. In addition, combined with his own research interests, the professor introduced the knowledge that DNA cross-linking agent, as a potential drug, can regulate the transcription process of nucleic acid. Students have said that it is a great honor to be able to visit the class of professors in internationally renowned universities, and they have gained a lot through this study. After the course, some students also actively asked the professor questions.
On the morning of 30th, Professor Rokita gave an academic report entitled "Bipedal Migration of a Dynamic and Covalent Crosslinker". The report was presided over by Professor Zhou Xiang, Dean of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Science, and teachers, graduate students and undergraduates of related majors actively participated in the report. Professor Rokita introduced in detail the recent achievements of his research group in the field of nucleic acid chemistry and biology, especially DNA cross-linking. This paper focuses on a strange phenomenon that they discovered for the first time: the bipedal nucleic acid crosslinking agent will migrate in a certain direction on the DNA double strand. This report is rich in content, which not only broadens students' understanding of the mechanism of DNA crosslinking, but also further mobilizes students' enthusiasm for scientific research and strengthens their confidence in the road of scientific research.
On the afternoon of 30th, Professor Tian Song, Xiao Heng, Chen Yuqi, Hong Tingting, Wang Yafen and Fu Bo Zhi, members of Professor Zhou Xiang's research group, respectively reported on the recent research progress. After listening to the report, Professor Rokita greatly affirmed his work, gave many constructive suggestions and had a heated discussion on some issues in the subject. After the meeting, everyone said that they benefited a lot.
Professor Steven E. Rokita received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1979, and later became a professor at University of Maryland. Since 2012, he has been a professor at Johns Hopkins University. Professor Rokita has long been engaged in the research of 1. reductive dehalogenation in nature, 23. DNA photochemistry and electron transfer, 3. reversible alkylation of DNA quinone methyl intermediates, and has made a series of important achievements in bioorganic chemistry of nucleic acids, such as in Nature Commun., J.AM.Chem.SOC., Angew.chem.int.ed. and other important journals have published more than 100 papers, Wiley Series on Reactive Intermediates in Chemistry and Biology has been edited, and many monographs have been written, and many patents have been applied.
