Here we reported the first fluorescent analog of a Yariv reagent, a widely used probe for identifying AGPs, a critical component of plant cell walls.

A Functionalizable Analog of the Yariv Reagent for AGP Imaging using Fluorescence Microscopy

S Rueda, TJ McCubbin, M Shieh, R Hoshing, DM Braun, A Basu Bioconjugate Chem. 2023, 34, 1398–1406.

Selected as ACS Editor’s Choice Article

Targeting cell wall division with small molecules provided an opportunity to develop agents with activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Inhibition of Streptococcus pneumoniae autolysins highlight distinct differences between chemical and genetic inactivation

BA Haubrich, S Nayyab, M Gallati, J Hernandez, C Williams, A Whitman, T Zimmerman, Q Li, Y Chen, C-Z Zhou, A Basu, & CW Reid Microbiology 2022, 168:001182

We used circular dichroism spectroscopy to show that the Yariv reagents, a widely used class of plant cell wall binding dyes, exist as helical aggregates, providing new insights into their mode of action.

The Chirality of Aggregated Yariv Reagents Correlates with Their AGP‐Binding Ability

R Hoshing, BW Leeber, H Kuhn, D Caianiello, B Dale, M Saladino, R Lusi, N Palaychuk, S Weingarten, & A Basu ChemBioChem 2022, 23, e202100532

Selected as cover feature artwork

We developed a method for detecting the binding of small molecules to glycopolymers, widely used model systems for studying carbohydrate recognition, using saturation transfer NMR spectroscopy.

Detection of Ligand Binding to Glycopolymers Using Saturation Transfer Difference NMR

J Muzulu, A Basu Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2021, 23, 21934–40.

We report detailed characterization data and optimized methods for the synthesis of Yariv reagents, important tools for characterizing plant cell walls.

An Improved Protocol for the Synthesis and Purification of Yariv Reagents

R Hoshing, M Saladino, H Kuhn, D Caianiello, RF Lusi, A Basu J. Org. Chem. 2020, 85, 16236−42.

The first synthetic small molecule inhibitor of an autoysin, enzymes involved in bacterial cell wall processing.

Diamide inhibitors of the Bacillus subtilis N-acetylglucosaminidase LytG that exhibit anti-bacterial activity

S Nayyab, M O’Connor, J Brewster, J Gravier, M Jamieson, E Magno, R Miller, D Phelan, K Roohani, P Williard, A Basu, CW Reid ACS Infect. Dis. 2017, 3 421–427.

One-pot oligomerization of a glycosyl donor/acceptor moiety provided access to multiple oligosaccharides with high efficiency.

Galactan synthesis in a single step via oligomerization of monosaccharides

M Dräger, A Basu Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2014, 10, 2658–2663.

We used aglycone profiling to identify a small molecule inhibitor of bacterial cell division.

Anti-bacterial glycosyl triazoles – Identification of an N-acetyl glucosamine derivative with bacteriostatic activity against Bacillus

H Kuhn, D Gutelius, E Black, C Nadolny, A Basu, C Reid Med. Chem. Comm. 2014, 5, 1213-1217.


Chemical Biology Reveals Involvement of N-acetylglucosaminidase LytG In Cell Elongation and Division J Hernandez, J Duval, T Rauff, E Hall, M Gallati, B Haubrich, M Thoma, E Aponte, A Basu, JA DeGiorgis, C Reid ChemRxiv Preprint

Glycopolymers Prepared by Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Followed by Glycoconjugation Using a Triazole-Forming “Click” Reaction R Okoth, A Basu Methods in molecular biology. 2016 1367 29-37.

A rapid, inexpensive, and semi-quantitative method for determining pollen tube extension using fluorescence E Hartman, C Levy, DM Kern, M Johnson, A Basu Plant Methods 2014, 10:3

End-Labeled Amino Terminated Monotelechelic Glycopolymers Generated by ROMP and Cu(I)-Catalyzed Azide – Alkyne Cycloaddition R Okoth, A Basu Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 608-612.

Carbohydrate-coated fluorescent silica nanoparticles as probes for the galactose/3-sulfogalactose carbohydrate-carbohydrate interaction using model systems and cellular binding studies. J Zhao, Y Liu, H-J Park, JM Boggs, A Basu Bioconjugate Chem. 2012, 23, 1166-1173.

Photo- and Biophysical Studies of Lectin-Conjugated Fluorescent Nanoparticles: Reduced Sensitivity in High Density Assays Y Wang, JC Gildersleeve, A Basu, MB Zimmt J. Phys. Chem. B, 2010, 114, 14487-14494.

Participation of Myelin Glycosphingolipids, Galactosylceramide and Sulfatide, in Glycosynapses between Oligodendrocyte or Myelin Membranes JM Boggs, W Gao, J Zhao, H Park, Y Liu, A Basu  FEBS Letters 2010, 584, 1771-1778.

Core Functionalization of Hollow Polymer Nanocapsules X Liu, A Basu. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 5718-5719.

Probing the lactose•GM3 carbohydrate-carbohydrate interaction with glycodendrimers N Seah, PV Santacroce, A Basu Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 559-562.

Cross-linked polynorbornene-coated gold nanoparticles – Dependence of particle stability on cross-linking position and cross-linker structure X Liu, A Basu Langmuir, 2008, 24, 11169-11174.

Colorimetric Sensing and Biosensing using Functionalized Conjugated Polymers A Basu Molecular Recognition Using Polymers. John Wiley & Sons. 2008 Ed. V Rotello & S Thayumanavan

Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions N Seah, A Basu Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology, John Wiley & Sons. 2008 Ed. T. Begley.

Reagentless functionalization of gold nanoparticles via a 3 + 2 Huisgen cycloaddition W Limapichat, A Basu J. Coll. Interfac. Sci. 2008, 318, 140-144.

Model Systems A Basu, J Schneider Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2006, 10, 527–528.

Olefin Metathesis on Nanostructures X Liu, A Basu J. Organomet. Chem. 2006, 691, 5148-5154. Invited Submission, Special Issue on Alkene Metathesis

Two Polymerizable Derivatives of 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) J Fei, A Basu, F Xue, GTR Palmore Org. Lett. 2006; 8, 3-6.

Glycosidase Inhibition by 1-Glycosyl-4-Phenyl Triazoles LL Rossi, A. Basu Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2005, 15, 3596-3599.

Synthesis of the glycosphingolipid b-galactosyl ceramide and analogs via olefin cross metathesis AN Rai, A Basu J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 8228-8230.

Studies of the Carbohydrate-Carbohydrate Interaction Between Lactose and GM3 using Langmuir Monolayers and Glycolipid Micelles PV Santacroce, A. Basu Glycoconjugate J. 2004. 21, 89-95. Invited Submission, Special Issue on Carbohydrate-Carbohydrate Interactions

Sphingolipid synthesis via olefin cross metathesis: Preparation of a differentially protected building block and application to the synthesis of D-erythro-ceramide AN Rai, A Basu Org Lett. 2004, 6, 2861-2863.

Lipopolysaccharide identification with functionalized polydiacetylene liposome sensors M Rangin, A Basu.  J. Am. Chem. Soc.  2004, 126, 5038-5039.

3-Methoxycarbonyl-5-nitrophenyl boronic acid: High affinity diol recognition at neutral pH HR Mulla, NJ Agard, A Basu Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2004, 14, 25-27.

A Rapid and Efficient Method for para-Methoxybenzyl Ether Formation with Lanthanum Triflate AN Rai, A Basu Tetrahedron. Lett. 2003, 44, 2267-2269.

Probing Specificity in Carbohydrate-Carbohydrate Interactions with Micelles and Langmuir Monolayers PV Santacroce, A Basu Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2003, 42, 95-98.

Configurational Stability and Stereoinformation Transfer in the Reactions of Enantioenriched Organolithium Reagents A Basu, S Thayumanavan Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2002, 41, 716-738.