Peter B. Dervan | |
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 Dervan in 2017 | |
| Born | (1945-06-28)June 28, 1945 (age 80) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Boston College Yale University |
| Spouse | Jacqueline Barton |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Organic chemistry |
| Institutions | Yale,Stanford,Caltech |
| Thesis | The stereochemistry of the thermal rearrangements of trans- and cis-1,2-dialkenylcyclobutanes (1973) |
| Doctoral advisor | Jerome A. Berson |
| Doctoral students | |
| Other notable students | Post-docs: |
| External videos | |
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 "Science is the most fun in the whole wide world",Medal of Science 50 Videos -- Peter Dervan and Jacqueline Barton,National Science Foundation |
Peter B. Dervan (born June 28, 1945) is the Bren Professor ofChemistry at theCalifornia Institute of Technology. The primary focus of his research is the development and study of small organic molecules that can sequence-specifically recognizeDNA.[1][2] The most important of these small molecules arepyrrole–imidazole polyamides.[3]Dervan is credited with influencing "the course of research in organic chemistry through his studies at the interface of chemistry and biology" as a result of his work on "the chemical principles involved in sequence-specific recognition of double helical DNA".[4]He is the recipient of many awards, including theNational Medal of Science (2006).[5][6]
Peter B. Dervan was born on June 28, 1945, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in a family of six inDorchester, a working-class suburb of Boston.[7] Dervan attendedBoston College High School and received his B.S. degree fromBoston College in 1967,[7][8] where professor Francis Bennett sparked his interest in organic chemistry.[5] He began graduate studies at theUniversity of Wisconsin then moved withJerome A. Berson's research group toYale University where he completed his graduate research in physical organic chemistry,[9] studying ways in which chemical bonds are created and broken apart.[5] He received hisPh.D. degree fromYale University in 1972, forThe Stereochemistry of the Thermal Rearrangements of Trans-1,2-Dialkenylcyclobutanes and Cis-1,2-Dialkenylcyclobutanes.[10][11] He then became an NIH postdoctoral fellow atStanford, working withEugene van Tamelen.[8]
Dervan became an assistant professor of chemistry atCaltech in 1973,[8] joiningJohn D. Roberts,Robert G. Bergman and Robert Ellsworth Ireland in the organic chemistry group.[3] He became an associate professor in 1979, and professor in 1982. He was appointed as the first Bren Professor ofChemistry in 1988.[12][8] He served as Chair of Caltech's Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from 1994 to 1999.[13] Dervan has published more than 360 papers and taught hundreds of students.[9]
Dervan is a member of theNational Academy of Sciences (1986),[14] theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences (1987),[15] and theAmerican Philosophical Society (2002).[16] He is an elected member of theFrench Academy of Sciences (2000)[17] and theDeutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina (2004- ).[18]
Dervan is a co-founder and founding member of the Scientific Advisory Board forGilead Sciences (1987).[19][20][21][22] He served on the Board of Directors forBeckman Coulter beginning in 1997.[23] He served as a Trustee of Yale University (2008-2017).[13][9] He served as a member of the Board of Scientific Governors of TheScripps Research Institute.[24] In 2014, he presented theACS Chemical Biology Lecture.[25] As of 2016[update] he became chair of the scientific advisory board of theRobert A. Welch Foundation.[26]
While teaching a class at Caltech in Advanced Organic Chemistry, Dervan came to a realization that would guide his future career: rather than working to "close" a classic problem that had been previously defined, he would seek to define and "open" a new research area that could be studied for many years.[3] The problem he chose was molecular recognition in biological systems.[5] At the time, DNA sequencing was in its infancy and the human genome project was undreamt of. Dervan chose to apply ideas from synthetic chemistry to biology and the study of DNA, creating novel binding molecules to be used for DNA recognition.[3]
By studying weak intermolecular interactions and creating novel synthetic molecules specific to particular DNA sequences, Dervan has been able to explore the complex biological systems underlying DNA's structure and function.[9] A human cell contains approximately 20,000 genes, whose expression is controlled by the binding of protein transcription factors in the promoter region of each gene.[3] Through pioneering work in DNA recognition,[9] Dervan has determined many of the chemical principles underlying sequence-specific recognition of DNA,[3] and enabled researchers to better understand the mechanism of action of many anti-tumor, anti-viral and anti-biotic drugs.[12]
Dervan determined that small molecules could be synthesized and used to selectively bind DNA at the transcription factor/DNA interface, effectively rewriting the biological codes controlling transcription by acting on the promoters of selected genes.[5] The creation of synthetic small molecules with affinities and sequence specificities for predetermined DNA sequences makes it possible to design cell-permeable molecules for the regulation of gene expression.[8]The use of small molecules to regulate gene expression in living cells has possible application to human medicine.[3][27]
The most important of these small molecules are pyrrole–imidazole polyamides.[27][28] Dervan's lab has identified pairing rules to control the DNA sequence specificity of minor-groove binding polyamides that contain the aromatic ring amino acids hydroxypyrrole (Hp), imidazole (Im), and pyrrole (Py).[29][27][30]
Dervan has received a number of awards for both research and teaching,[8] including those listed below. He was awarded the 2006National Medal of Science in 2007 from President George Bush at the White House for “his fundamental research contributions at the interface of organic chemistry and biology” as well as contributions to education and industry.[6][31][5] A minor planet has been named in his honor,4314 Dervan.[32]
In 1990, Dervan marriedJacqueline Barton, a fellow chemist and professor atCaltech. He has a son, Andrew, from a previous marriage, and a daughter, Elizabeth, from his marriage with Barton.[49][13] All four hold degrees from Yale University.[9]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)"Professor Dervan is an internationally renowned chemist and recognized pioneer in chemical biology."
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