The synthesis of phytoestrogens (isoflavones, lignans and flavones) labelled with stable isotopes (¹³C, ¹⁵N, ²H), phytoestrogen metabolites and novel phytoestrogens. Used to study the health effects of phytoestrogens, which have anti-cancer activity, via analytical, metabolic and bioavailability studies.^1,2,3 General interest in the devleopment of novel methodologies for the ¹³C-labelling of polyphenols.

Studies on the synthesis, isotopic labelling, biological activity, metabolism and bioavailability of glucosinolates, important dietary constituents found in Brassica vegetables and potential cancer chemopreventative agents.^4,5

Development of novel nitric oxide (NO) donor drugs

Design of new catalyst systems via immobilisation of enzymes in novel mesoporous materials.^6,7

Mechanistic studies on enzyme catalysed reactions and the design and synthesis of inhibitors as drug candidates. Current enzymes of interest include, kynureninase and quniolinate phosphoribosyltransferase (QPRTase), key enzymes on the tryptophan metabolic pathway and potential target for neuroprotective drugs ^8,9

SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. The synthesis of [3,4,8-¹³C₃]daidzein, M. F. Oldfield, L. Chen and N. P. Botting, Tetrahedron, 2004, 60, 1887-1893.
2. The synthesis of [2,3,4-¹³C₃]glycitein, Q. Zhang and N. P. Botting. Tetrahedron, 2004, 60, 12211-12216.
3. Synthesis of multiply ¹³C-labelled furofuran lignans using ¹³C-labelled cinnamyl alcohols as building blocks, K. Haajanen and N. P. Botting, Steroids, 2006, 71, 231-239.
4. Synthesis, Analysis and Rearrangement of Novel Unnatural Glucosinolates, N. E. Davidson, T. J. Rutherford and N. P. Botting, Carbohydrate Res., 2001, 330, 295-307.
5. The Synthesis of [phenyl-²H₅]Gluconasturtiin and its Metabolites for Metabolic Studies, J. J. Morrison and N. P. Botting, J. Labelled Compounds and Radiopharm., 2005, 48, 897-907.
6. Enzyme Immobilisation using Siliceous Mesoporous Molecular Sieves with Functionalised Surfaces, H. H. P. Yiu, P. A. Wright and N. P. Botting, J. Mol. Catal. B; Enzymatic, 2001, 15, 81-92.
7. Size Selective Protein Adsorption on Thiol-functionalised SBA-15 Mesoporous Molecular Sieve, H. H. P. Yiu, C. H. Botting, N. P. Botting and P. A. Wright, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2001, 3, 2983-2985.
8. A Comparative Study on The Inhibition of Human and Bacterial Kynureninase by Novel Bicyclic Kynurenine Analogues, D. H. Fitzgerald, K. M. Muirhead and N. P. Botting, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2001, 9, 983-989.
9. Purification and biochemical characterisation of some of the properties of recombinant human kynureninase, H. A. Walsh and N. P. Botting, Eur. J. Biochem., 2002, 269, 2069-2074.