Stage 6 mois : Peptide chemical ligation directed by charge transfer interaction
Research internship (6 months) in
peptide chemistry
Start of contract: January 2026
Host institution: Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM)
Team: Peptides https://ibmm.umontpellier.fr/en/amino-acids-heterocycles-peptides-proteins/
Location: IBMM, Pôle Chimie Balard, 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier, France.
Subject:
Peptide chemical ligation directed by charge transfer interaction
The goal of the CHAMELEON project is to develop an innovative, traceless and more importantly universal, templated ligation strategy that proceeds at low concentration under aqueous conditions for the generation of DNA-DNA, peptide-DNA and peptide-peptide constructs. This research internship focuses only on the generation of peptide-peptide conjugates. Our strategy relies on electrostatic complementarity (charge-transfer) interactions between the electron-rich dialkoxynaphthalene (DAN) donor and the electron-deficient naphthalene-tetracarboxylic diimide (NDI) acceptor units. Our team recently developed new water-soluble poly(DAN/NDI) oligomers and proved their supramolecular assembly. Based on this expertise, we will use these tags, covalently attached via a cleavable linker to two peptide sequences to induce templated ligation in aqueous media (figure 1).
In this context, the team ‘Peptides’ at the Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules (Montpellier) proposes for this research internship to increase the strength of the charge transfer interaction by adding an ionic interaction in between the two complementary moieties DAN & NDI. Realization of the CHAMELEON project will open new avenues for the construction of complex bioconjugates at low concentration with high specificity in aqueous media.
Main mission:
reinforcement of the charge transfer interaction between the DAN & NDI units allowing the co-localization of the 2 peptides sequences and thus their ligation in aqueous and diluted solution.
Tasks:
– Synthesis, purification & characterization of modified α-amino acid in solution
– Solid phase supported peptide synthesis & purification
– Supramolecular assembly characterization of the peptide sequences
– Ligation tests in aqueous solution of the peptide sequences
– Chemical analysis (NMR, LC/MS, UV-vis)
Candidate profile / Required skills
Qualifications / Field of training required: Organic chemistry
– Experience in chemical synthesis and analysis
– Knowledge in solid phase synthesis would be appreciated
– Rigor, organization, communication, autonomy