(Photo : Dr. Yesu Addepalli)
In addition to studying the complex chemical and physical properties of living things, dissecting their cellular structures, and understanding how they interact with different compounds, biochemists play a key role in providing the foundational knowledge and science used to develop health treatments and medical drugs.
Dr. Yesu Addepalli is a renowned expert in the field of biochemistry, having played a critical role in the drug discovery and synthesis of biologically active small molecules. This work has the potential to be revolutionary for the biopharmaceutical industry, as our society battles a wide variety of viruses and diseases. The PHD holder has a unique and valuable perspective thanks to his multifaceted education in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology.
Dr. Addepalli was instrumental in the development of antiparasitic drugs for leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. When asked about his methods, he explains: "My efforts were geared towards the utilization of chemical derivatization and forward genetic approaches to study a class of compounds that selectively test derivatives for selective activity on Leishmania tubulin and trypanosomatids. [From there, I] assessed their stability, solubility, cell permeability, and in vivo PK properties. [I] performed proof-of-concept testing in the mouse model of leishmaniasis and used a modular synthetic strategy, and Cryo-EM techniques to discover the binding site of a class of pyrimidinone derivatives. [Finally I] optimized promising agents for oral administration and performed dose response testing in animal models."
This work, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center's Ready laboratory, will allow the development of compounds with a high therapeutic index for the treatment of trypanosomatid infections, based on the identification of molecules that inhibit targeting parasite tubulin polymerization. The newly found understanding of the drug target and mechanism brings promise for the treatment of these arthropod-borne diseases.
Dr. Yesu Addepalli earned his Master of Science degree in organic chemistry from the Government College (Autonomous), Rajahmundry in India before going on to complete his doctoral degree in organic chemistry under the guidance of Research Advisor Prof. Yun He at Chongqing University in China. Most recently, he has been working in a postdoctoral position with esteemed-researcher Professor Joseph Ready at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, which provides him with both the tools and community to evolve and deepen his studies.
"I find bioactive small molecules to be fascinating. The design, synthesis, purification, and characterization of viruses and [their] treatment drugs are a wonder to behold, study, and develop." Dr. Addepalli shares, "Some people find beauty in the world around [them], but I see beauty in the microscopic world of viruses and find great pleasure in being instrumental in halting the spread of viruses through synthesizing biopharmaceuticals."
Although the work is rewarding,Dr. Yesu Addepalli recognizes that it is also a great responsibility, as each challenge is fundamentally a battle between life and death. He is grateful for the diversity of knowledge and skills that his team holds, as it brings them closer to streamlined bioactive molecule development. He is also currently collaborating with biologists at UT Southwestern, and elsewhere, using high-throughput screening strategies to discover small molecules with promising biological activity in an effort to identify compounds and molecules that will push the boundaries of genetic studies. The characterization of biologically active small molecules is a breakthrough for the development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative and infectious diseases, as well as for cancer.
Dr. Addepalli's esteemed work has been featured in a variety of reputable publications, and he also has a US patent for his team's work specifically with novel antiparasitic compounds and methods. He is an active member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, as well as the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. In his free time, he also enjoys reviewing for publications such as Tetrahedron and Heterocyclic Chemistry.
His work revolves around molecules and compounds that are far too small to see with the naked eye, but the impact of his work has a very large scope. As our society has recently been reminded of the threat that these microscopic elements can bring, the work of Dr. Addepalli is perhaps more important than ever before. Gaining a stronger understanding of how these microscopic molecules create disease will help us to understand how to reverse and treat the disease. As they say, knowledge is power.
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