Webinar: DNA-Encoded Chemistry

October 22nd, 2026 11:00 AM EDT丨October 22nd, 2026 9:00 AM MDT

Dr. Ratmir Derda

Professor

Faculty of Science - Chemistry

University of Alberta

A central dogma of biology is a cornerstone of genetically-encoded library (GEL) technologies such as mRNA, phage, and yeast display that gave rise to diverse preclinical candidates. Nature employs post-translational modification (PTM) to increase diversity exponentially; however, central dogma does not extend to PTM, thus, limiting DNA-encoded diversity in GEL. Organic chemistry on DNA-encoded precursors forms DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) and overcome this problem; however, DEL necessitates bottom-up building of molecular complexity. We combine benefits of genetically-encoded natural diversity with DNA-encoded chemical post-translational modifications (cPTM). Published examples like Genetically-encoded fragment based discovery and DNA-encoded topological reshaping of libraries that access billion-scale molecular diversity that evades standalone GEL or DEL technologies [1].

The second half of the talk addresses a major barrier to studying molecular interactions in vivo by introducing one-to-one correspondence between DNA and virtually any molecule displayed on the surface of M13 phage. Liquid Molecular Array (LiMA) is DNA-encoded display of diverse Glycans (LiGA, [2]), complex multidomain proteins and glycan-binding Lectin domains (LiLA [3]), mirror-image biomolecules [4], small molecules and heterologous display of any clinical candidates discovered by any platform and composed of any unnatural building blocks. Displayed libraries can be injected in live animals and distribution of molecules to specific organs and cells can be decoded by routine NGS of DNA barcodes.

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