Ph.D. (“Summa Cum Laude”). University of Vienna, Austria
Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Prof. S.J. Danishefsky, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York City.
Dirk Trauner
Janice Cutler Professor of Chemistry
Chemical Biology, Chemical Neurosciences, Natural Product Chemistry, Chemical Synthesis
Neuroscience is one of the most exciting areas of research and synthetic chemistry can contribute much to its further development. Our current focus lies on the functional manipulation of ion channels and GPCRs using synthetic photoswitches, usually azobenzenes. The artificial photoreceptors so obtained can be inserted into neurons and other cell types and can be used to control various biological pathways with light (Photopharmacology). One of our major biological goals is the restoration of vision in the blind using synthetic photoswitches. The reach of photopharmacology, however, goes well beyond applications in neuroscience and sensory physiology. It is already clear that this approach is particular useful to controlling the highly dynamic systems that underlie cell motility, cell division and (unwanted) proliferation. As such, photopharmacology provides powerful tools for cell biology and could open a new direction in targeted cancer chemotherapy.
As our program in chemical biology grows, we remain are dedicated to chemical synthesis and natural product chemistry. We are convinced that the vast majority of natural products have not yet been found and that a wealth of interesting chemistry and biology awaits discovery. As synthetic organic chemists, we are intrigued by the structural beauty and functional sophistication of these molecules. Through total synthesis, we gain insight into their mechanism of action and biosynthetic origin. In addition, the total synthesis of complex natural products provides an ideal platform for the invention or discovery of new synthetic methodology or the validation of modern reactions in a challenging environment.
Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience and Physiology, Langone School of Medicine
Member, Leopoldina - German Academy of Sciences
Corresponding Member, Austrian Academy of Sciences
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Member, American Chemical Society
Member, German Chemical Society (GDCh)
Member, Austrian Chemical Society (GOeCh)
Otto Bayer Award (2016)
Emil-Fischer-Medal of the German Chemical Society (2016)
George Büchi Lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2016)
Novartis Chemistry Lectureship (2014-15)
Kitasato Microbial Chemistry Medal (2013)
Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (2007)
NSF Career Award (2003).
"Optical Control of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Formation and Function" Morstein, J.; Hill, R.Z.; Novak, A. J. E.; Feng, S.; Norman, D. D.; Donthamsetti, P. C.; , M.; Frank, J. A.; Harayama, T.; Williams, B. M.; Parrill, A. L.; Tigyi, G. J.; Riezman, H.; Isacoff, E. Y.; Bautista, D. M.; Trauner, D. Nature Chem. Biol. 2019, 15, in press.
"Mapping the Azolog Space Enables the Optical Control of New Biological Targets" Morstein, J.; Awale, M.; Reymond, J.-L; Trauner, D. ACS Central Sci. 2019, DOI:10.1021/acscentsci.8b00881.
"Optical Manipulation of Sphingolipid Biosynthesis Using Photoswitchable Ceramides" Kol, M.; Williams, B.; Toombs-Ruane, H.; Franquelim, H. G.; Korneev, S.; Schroeer, C.; Schwille, P.; Trauner, D.; Holthuis, J. C. M.; Frank, J., A elife 2019; 8:e43230.
"Concise Asymmetric Synthesis of Kweichowenol A" Konrad, D.; Kincin, B.; Trauner, D. Synlett 2019, 30, 383-386.
"A Biomimetic Approach Toward Enterocin and Deoxyenterocin" Rizzo, A.; Mayer, R.; Trauner, D. J. Org. Chem. 2019, 84, 1162-1175.
"Light-Controlled Lipid Interaction and Membrane Organization in Photolipid Bilayer Vesicles" Urban, P.; Pritzl, S., D.; Konrad, D., B.; Frank, J., A., Pernpeintner, C.; Roeske, C., R.; Trauner,* D.; Lohmüller, T.* Langmuir 2018, 34, 13368-13374.
"Optical Tools for Understanding the Complexity of β-Cell Signalling and Insulin Release" Frank, J. A.; Broichhagen, J.; Yushchenko, D., A.; Trauner, D.; Schultz, C.; Hodson, D., J. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2018, 14, 721-737.
"Biomimetic Synthesis of (+)‐Aspergillin PZ" Reyes, J., Winter, N., Spessert, L., Trauner, D., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 15587-15591.
"Manipulating midbrain dopamine neurons and reward-related behaviors with lightcontrollable nicotinic acetylcholine receptors" Durand-de Cuttoli, R.; Mondo,loni, S.; Marti,F.; Lemoine, D.; Nguyen, C.; Naude, J.; D'Izarnt-Gargas, T.; Pons, S.; Maskos, U.; Trauner, D.; Kramer, R., H.; Faure, P.; Mourot, A. elife, 2018, e37487.
"Optical Control of a Delayed Rectifier and a Two-Pore Potassium Channel with a Photoswitchable Bupivacaine" Leippe, P.; Winter, N.; Sumser, M., P. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2018, Article ASAP.
“A Versatile Bis-Allylboron Reagent for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Chiral Diols” Hetzler, B. E.; Volpin, G.; Vignoni, E.; Petrovic, A. P.; Proni, G; Chunhua, T, H.; Trauner, D.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, accepted article.
"Optical Control of L-Type Ca2+ Channels Using a Diltiazem Photoswitch" Fehrentz, T.; Huber, F. M. E.; Vrielink, N.; Bruegmann, T.; Frank, J. A.; Fine, N. H. F.; Malan, D.; Danzl, J. G.; Tikhonov, D. B.; Sasse, P.; Hodson, D. J.; Zhorov. B. S.; Klöcker, N.*; Trauner, D.* Nature Chem. Biol. 2018, 14, 764-767.
"In Vivo Photopharmacology" Hüll, K.; Morstein, J.; Trauner, D. Chem. Rev. 2018, 118, 10710-10747.
"Total Synthesis of (±)-Exotine B" Cheng, B.; Volpin, G.; Morstein, J.; Trauner., D. Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 4358-4361. Toward (−)-Enterocin: An Improved Cuprate Barbier Protocol To Overcome Strain and Sterical Hindrance" Rizzo.A.: Trauner, D. Org. Lett. 2018, 20, 1841–1844
"Total Synthesis of the Norhasubanan Alkaloid Stephadiamine" Hartrampf, N.; Winter, N.; Pupo, G.; Stoltz, B.; Trauner, D.* J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 8675-8680.
"Azomethine Ylide Cycloaddition Approach toward Dendrobine: Synthesis of 5-Deoxymubironine C" Williams, B. M.; Trauner D. J. Org. Chem. 2018, 83, 3061-3068.
"Conditional and Reversible Activation of Class A and B G Protein-Coupled Receptors Using Tethered Pharmacology" Podewin, T.; Ast, J.; Broichhagen, J.; Fine, N. H. F.; Nateska, J.; Leippe, P.; Gailer, M.; Buenaventura, T.; Kanda. N.; Jones, B. J.; M’Kadmi, Z.; Baneres, J.-L.; Marie, J.; Tomas, A.; Trauner, D.;* Hoffmann-Röder, A.,* Hodson, D. J.*ACS Cent. Sci. 2018, 4, 166-179.
"A Predictive Approach for the Optical Control of Carbonic Anhydrase II Activity" DuBay, K. H.; Iwan, K.; Osorio-Planes, L.; Geissler, P. L.; Groll, M.; Trauner, D.; Broichhagen, J. ACS Chem. Biol. 2018, 13, 793-800.
"SNAP-Tagged Nanobodies Enable Reversible Optical Control of a G Protein Coupled Receptor via a Remotely Tethered Photoswitchable Ligand" Farrants, H.; Acosta Ruiz, A.; Gutzeit, V. A.; Trauner, D.; Johnsson, K.; Levitz, J.; Broichhagen, J. BioRxiv 2018, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/266247.
"Optical Control of a Biological Reaction–Diffusion System" Glock, P.; Broichhagen, J.; Kretschmer, S.; Blumhardt, P.; Mücksch, J.; Trauner, D.*; Schwille, P.* Ange. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 2362-2366.
"Reversible Optical Control of F1F0-ATP Synthase Using Photoswitchable Inhibitors" Eisel, B.; Hartrampf, F. W. W.: Meier, T.;* Trauner, D.* FEBS Letters 2018, DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12958.
"Thiocarbonyl Ylide Chemistry Enables a Concise Synthesis of (±)-Hippolachnin A " Liu, S.-A.; Trauner, D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 239, ASAP.
"Total Synthesis of Lycopladine A and Carinatine A via a Base-Mediated Carbocyclization" Hartrampf, F.; Trauner, D. J. Org. Chem. 2017, 82, ASAP.
"Development of a Photoswitchable Antagonist of NMDA Receptors" Hartrampf, F. W. W.; Barber, D. M.; Gottschling, K.; Leippe, P.; Hollmann, M.; Trauner, D. Tetrahedron 2017, 73, 4905-4912.
"Asymmetric Synthesis of the Antiviral Diterpene Wickerol A" Liu, S.-A.; Trauner, D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 239, 9491-9494.
"Primary Target of α-Synuclein Toxicity at Glutamatergic Synapses" Eguchi, K.; Taoufiq, Z.; Thorn-Seshold, O.; Trauner, D.; Hasegawa, M.; Takahashi, T.; J. Neurosci. 2017, 37, in press.
"Structure and Biosynthesis of Crocagins: Polycyclic Posttranslationally Modified Ribosomal Peptides from Chondromyces crocatus". Viehrig, K.: Surup, F.: Volz, C.: Herrmann, J.: Abou Fayad, A.: Adam, S.; Köhnke, J.; Trauner, D.: Mūller, R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 7407-7410.
"Photopharmacological Control of Bipolar Cells Enables the Restoration of Visual Function" Laprell, L.; Tochitsky, I.; Kaur, K.; Manookin, M. B.; Stein, M.; Barber, D. M.; Schoen, C.; Michalakis, S.; Biel, Kramer R. H.: Sumser, M.; Trauner, D.; * Van Gelder, R. N. * J. Clin. Invest. 2017, DOI:10.1172/JCI92156.
"A Photoswitchable Inhibitor of a Glutamate Transporter" Cheng. B.; Shchepakin, B.; Kavanaugh, M.;* Trauner, D.* ACS Chem Neurosci. 2017, article ASAP, DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00072.
"Light-Controlled Membrane Mechanics and Shape Transitions of Photoswitchable Lipid Vesicles" Pernpeintner, C.; Frank, J. A.; Urban, P.; Roeske, C. R.; Pritzl, S. D.; Trauner, D.;* Lohmüller, T.* Langmuir, 2017, 33, 4083-4089.
"Optical Control of a Receptor-linked Guanylyl Cyclase Using a Photoswitchable Peptidic Hormone" Podewin, T.; Broichhagen, J.; Frost, C.; Groneberg, D.; Ast, J.; Meyer-Berg, H.; Fine, N. H. F.; Friebe, A.; Zacharias, M.; Hodson, D. J.; Trauner, D.;* Hoffmann-Röder, A.* Chem. Sci. 2017, 8, 4644-4653.
"Dual Optical Control and Mechanistic Insights Into Photoswitchable Group II and III Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors" Levitz, J.; Broichhagen, J.; Leippe, P.; Konrad, D.; Trauner D: Isacoff, E. Y. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2017, 114, E3546–E3554.
"Selective Lithiation, Magnesiation and Zincation of Unsymmetrical Azobenzenes Using Continuous Flow" Ketels, M.; Konrad, D.; Karaghiosoff, K.; Trauner, D;* Knochel, P.* Org. Lett. 2017, 19, 1666–1669.
"Remote Control of Glucose Homeostasis in vivo Using Photopharmacology" Mehta, Z. B.; Johnston, N. R.; Nguyen-Tu, M.-S.; Broichhagen, J.; Schultz, P.; Larner, D. P.; Leclerc, I.; Trauner, D;* Rutter, G. A.;* Hodson, D. J.* Sci. Rep. 2017, 7, 291, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00397-0.
"Furans as Versatile Synthons: Total Syntheses of Caribenol A and Caribenol B" Hao, H.; Trauner. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 239, 12981-12986.
"Unravelling Photochemical Relationships Amongst Natural Products from Aplysia dactylomela" Matsuura, B. S.; Kölle, P.; de Vivie-Riedle, R.*; Trauner, D.*; Meier, R.* ACS Central Sci. 2017, 3, 39-46.
"A Conia-Ene-Type Cyclization Under Basic Conditions Enables an Efficient Synthesis of (−)-Lycoposerramine R" Hartrampf, F.; Furukawa, T.; Trauner, D. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 893-896.
"Enantioselective Synthesis and Racemization of (–)-Sinoracutine" Volpin, G; Veprek, N. A.; Bellan, A. B.; Trauner. D. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 897-901.
"Optical Control of GIRK Channels Using Visible Light" Trads, J. B.; Burgstaller, J.; Laprell, L.; Konrad, D. B.; de la Osa de la Rosa, L.; Weaver, C. D.; Trauner. D.*; Barber, D.* Org. Biomol. Chem. 2017,15, 76-81.
Contact Information
Dirk Trauner
Janice Cutler Professor of Chemistry dirktrauner@nyu.edu Silver Center100 Washington Square East, Room 712
Phone: (212) 998-3747