1989 Ph.D. and D.I.C., Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London
1986 B.Sc., The University of Liverpool, England

Research Interests

Prof. Jones’ research group has two main interests: the identification and synthesis of novel antitumor agents, and the development of new enantioselective catalysts. The group recently developed an expeditious synthetic route to the core functionality of the enediyne antitumor agents, and have been active in the preparation of enediyne conjugates. Enediynes, in addition to inducing DNA strand scission, are capable of interacting with regulatory proteins, and their potential against ER negative breast cancers are currently being investigated. The Jones group is also actively investigating a number of natural products as potential antitumor agents, including the meliavolkin family, isolated from the fruit of Melia volkensia. Antitumoral bioassays are performed in their own laboratories, which helps expedite the discovery process.

Development of new enantioselective catalysts remains a high priority in the pharmaceutical industry, and Prof. Jones has pioneered development of such catalytic systems containing arene chromium carbonyl complexes. His group has developed a number of promising catalysts, and applied them in key enantioselective cycloadditions and alkylations. To demonstrate their full utility, the catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of biologically active natural products is typically undertaken. Recent targets include the macrolides zeranol, zearalenone and lasiodiplodin.

In collaborative efforts with clinical groups, the Jones group is also applying synthetic chemistry to study the biological effects of numerous agents. Preparation of synthetic DNA adducts of the antiestrogen tamoxifen may provide insight to its byproducts in mammalian systems. Targeted analogs of the antitumor agent doxorubicin are being investigated, including systems which are activated in the prostatic microenvironment. Another project is developing synthetic analogs of AP4A, whose role in mammalian physiology includes regulation of NO synthase.

Jones, Graham B.; Crasto, Curtis F.; Mathews, Jude E.; Xie, Longfei; Mitchell, Miguel O.; El-Shafey, Ahmed; D'Amico, Anthony V.; Bubley, Glenn J.   An image contrast agent selectively activated by prostate specific antigen.    Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry  (2006),  14(2),  418-425.

Fouad, Farid S.; Wright, Justin M.; Plourde, Gary, II; Purohit, Ajay D.; Wyatt, Justin K.; El-Shafey, Ahmed; Hynd, George; Crasto, Curtis F.; Lin, Yiqing; Jones, Graham B..   Synthesis and Protein Degradation Capacity of Photoactivated Enediynes.    Journal of Organic Chemistry  (2005),  70(24),  9789-9797.

Lin, Yiqing; Jones, Graham B.; Hwang, Geum-Sook; Kappen, Lizzy; Goldberg, Irving H.   Convenient Synthesis of NCS-Chromophore Metabolite Isosteres: Binding Agents for Bulged DNA Microenvironments.    Organic Letters  (2005),  7(1),  71-74.