BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//132.216.98.100//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.20.4// BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20250802T003201EDT-6177oi5UJL@132.216.98.100 DTSTAMP:20250802T043201Z DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\n\nThe most prevalent form of DNA is the double helix (B-DNA)\, located in the cell nucleus. However\, this versatile biopolyme r can also take on other conformations\, such as guanine quadruplexes or t he i-motif\, each of which has utility in biology or nanotechnology. A new conformation discovered in 2016 by the Sleiman group is in a class by its elf. Indeed\, the dA/CAR triple helix is distinguished by the fact that it incorporates the small molecule cyanuric acid with polyadenine. The incor poration of this molecule is possible because it has three faces that rese mble thymine\, which allows it to bind to the Franklin-Watson-Crick and Ho ogsteen faces of adenine. Cyanuric acid acts as a glue between the adenine s of different DNA strands\, bringing them together in a DNA hybrid form. \n\nIt is this recent concept of DNA hybrids forms induced by small molecu les that has been the focus of my PhD research. The dA/CAR DNA hybrid stru cture has three characteristics that are very different from other DNA con figurations: it integrates a large number of small molecules in a supramol ecular way\; it self-assembles into long supramolecular fibers\; and\, as far as we know\, it is not found in Nature. In this talk\, we will demonst rate how we use each of these characteristics to expand the capabilities o f DNA nanotechnology. We will end with a widening of the DNA hybrid chemic al space with the newly discovered and still mysterious dA/X forms.\n\nCom e rediscover DNA from this new angle\; see it deviate from its classical b iological role to endorse a plethora of hybrid personalities each with the ir own use and charm.\n\n \n\n \n\nBio:\n\nChristophe Lachance-Brais did h is bachelor in chemistry at the University of Montréal. As an undergraduat e\, he had the chance to learn through internships in the laboratories of Pr. Alexis Vallée-Bélisle\, Pr. Garry Hanan\, Pr. Radu Iftimie and Pr. Mik aël Dollé. His studies ended in 2016 with an exchange at the École Polytec hnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland. For quality of his undergradua te dossier\, he was awarded the Prestige prize and the Lucien-Piché prize. \n\nFollowing his bachelors\, he spent 1 year tutoring chemistry\, physics and mathematics in a juvenile readaptation center before starting a PhD i n 2017 under the supervision of Pr. Hanadi Sleiman and funded by a Vanier scholarship.\n\nThe unifying thread of his doctoral research has been new induced forms of DNA and RNA. It was discovered that polyadenine can be re configured by the addition of small molecules mimicking thymine\, resultin g in the formation of unnatural hybrids. In collaboration with a diverse g roup of researchers\, Dr. Lachance-Brais elucidated the thermodynamic and structural properties of these DNA hybrids. This investigation ruled out m any proposed models for the hybrid structure\, providing the best understa nding to date of their assembly. Building on this fundamental understandin g\, Dr. Lachance-Brais created a method to protect DNA and RNA from biolog ical degradation\, as well as the stiffest hydrogels made of unmodified DN A to date\, setting new benchmarks in the field. Combined\, these led to a patent for a gene silencing DNA hydrogel. In addition to having expanded the application scope of DNA-hybrids\, Dr. Lachance-Brais has expanded the ir chemical landscape by discovering an entirely new class of molecules ca pable of reconfiguring DNA into novel and exotic shapes. For his thesis en titled “Nucleic Acid / Small-Molecule Hybrids and Their Use in Supramolecu lar Functionalization\, DNA Hydrogels\, Gene Silencing\, and Sequence Prot ection”\, he received his PhD in July 2023.\n\nIn his current postdoc posi tion\, he has moved to the University of Groningen in the Netherlands to w ork with Pr. Ben Feringa on using DNA nanotechnology to unite the motion o f molecular motors.\n DTSTART:20250107T180000Z DTEND:20250107T193000Z LOCATION:OM 10\, Maass Chemistry Building\, CA\, QC\, Montreal\, H3A 0B8\, 801 rue Sherbrooke Ouest SUMMARY:Chemical Society Seminar (Winkler Lecture): Christophe Lachance-Bra is- Nucleic acid hybrids – What to make of these exotic DNA forms URL:/chemistry/channels/event/chemical-society-seminar -winkler-lecture-christophe-lachance-brais-nucleic-acid-hybrids-what-make- 358418 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR