Faculty Profiles in Faith

Carston “Rick” Wagner, Medicinal Chemistry

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (1977 – 1981), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (1982 – 1987), Duke University Department of Chemistry, Durham, North Carolina

Selected Publications: Chou, Tsui-fen and Wagner, Carston R.," Lysyl-tRNA Synthetase Generated Lysyl-Adenylate is a Substrate for Histidine Triad Nucleotide Binding Proteins (Hints)", Journal of Biological Chemistry, 282, 7, 4719-4727 (2007). Carlson, Jonathan T. C., Jenna, Sidhartha, Flenniken, Michelle, Chou, Tsui-fen, Siegel, Ronald, and Wagner, Carston R.,“Chemically Controlled Self-Assembly of Protein Nanorings,” Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128, 7630-7638, (2006). Ghosh, Phalguni, Park, Chunkyung, Peterson, Mark A., Bitterman, Peter B, Polunovsky, Vitaly A., Wagner, Carston R., "Synthesis and Evaluation of Potential Inhibitors of eIF4E Cap Binding to 7-mehyl GTP," Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 15, 2177-2180 (2005).

Place of Worship: St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral

Favorite Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Matthew 25:35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Testimony: I have always had an interest in science and religion and have read and studied both. I decided at a fairly early age to become a scientist of some type. The life sciences attracted me, but I soon realized while in college that the future of biology would be whetted to chemistry. I obtained my BS in Chemistry at the University of North Carolina and PhD in Organic Chemistry at Duke University. Wanting a different and more biological experience, I obtained an NIH Post-doctoral Fellowship and studied biochemistry and enzymology at Penn State University. From there, I moved to the Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry in the College of Pharmacy of the University of Minnesota, where I am now a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Chemistry. I teach pharmacy students as well as biochemistry and chemistry students. My research is multidisciplinary and is primarily focused on the design of new antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer drugs and drug delivery devices. You can find out more about the classes I teach and my research by going to the below link. http://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/faculty/wagner_carston/home.html

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