Organic Seminar - Jessica Kramer
Jan
23
2026
Description
The Organic Seminar Series presents: Jessica Kramer
University of Utah
Host: Cassi Callmann
Title: Synthetic polypeptides and their diverse applications as mimics of mucins and antifreezes
Refreshments served at 3:15pm
Location: WEL 2.122
Polypeptides are unique materials that harness the synthetic advantages of traditional polymers with strategic chemical and structural properties of proteins. Advances in the chemistry of amino acid N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization offer access to diverse polypeptide structures in a scalable manner. The Kramer Lab uses NCA polymerization to prepare mimics of two fascinating and unique classes of proteins: mucins and antifreezes. Mucins are the key protein component of mucus, saliva, and tears and are valuable therapeutic targets for lubricants, anti-infectives, and cancer. Antifreeze proteins, found naturally in extremophile organisms, bind to the surface of embryonic ice crystals and inhibit their growth. These natural antifreezes have broad applications in cryopreservation for biomedical and food technologies. This seminar will highlight the Kramer Lab’s efforts in chemical synthesis of polypeptides and their application as mucins and antifreezes.