Neurodegenerative diseases pose a large medical and societal challenge. The etiology of these diseases is still poorly understood, which makes drug discovery for these diseases difficult.

Promotores: H.S. Overkleeft, G.A. van der Marel, Co-Promotor: R.G. Boot

This thesis describes the development and optimization of the first molecular tools to study the enzyme PLA2G4E.

The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) is associated with several inflammatory diseases with an unmet medical need (e.g. Alzheimers, multiple sclerosis, reumatoid arthritis). Development of new chemical biology strategies to study this protein is essential to aid future development of drugs for these…

Synthesis and application of chemical biology tools to study immunomodulatory signaling lipids.

Drug development is a time- and resource-consuming process that starts with the discovery and validation of a (protein) target that contributes to pathogenesis or disease progression.

In this thesis, the discovery and optimization is described of chemical tools to study the N-acylethanolamine (NAE) biosynthetic pathway.

Carbohydrates, alongside proteins and nucleic acids, constitute a crucial and versatile family of biomolecules present in all life forms. They manifest as monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, covalently bonded to proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are integral to plant and arthropod…

Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. J.G.E.M. Fraaije, Co-promotor: A. Kros

This thesis describes the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of a variety of cyclophellitol based activity-based probes and inhibitors targeting various endo- and exo-acting retaining glycosidases. In the last two decades a variety of probes and inhibitors for (hemi)cellulose degrading enzymes have…

Wetenschappers van de Universiteit Leiden hebben een doorbraak bereikt in de bestudering van de erfelijke stofwisselingsziekte van Pompe. Samen met hun Yorkse collega’s ontwierpen zij een molecuul dat zich bindt aan het enzym dat aan de basis staat van het ziekteverloop. De bevindingen zijn gepubliceerd…

The adenosine receptors are proteins that reside in the extracellular membranes of cells. Activation of adenosine receptors plays a role in many physiological and pathological processes, such as immune responses and cancers.

Hoe dragen vetten en enzymen in de hersenen bij aan multiple sclerose? In zijn promotieonderzoek combineerde Daan van der Vliet chemie en neurowetenschap om nieuwe inzichten te krijgen in het ontstaan van hersenziekten.