Dr Olga Zubkova
Dr Zubkova is a Senior Scientist and Project Leader at the Ferrier Research Institute.
She dedicated 21 years of full-time service to the Carbohydrate Chemistry Team at
IRL/CI/The Ferrier. Her field of expertise is the design and synthesis of Heparan
Sulfate (HS) glycomimetics and oligosaccharides as well as synthesis of Chondroitin
Sulfate fragments, labeled Tn antigens and ST substrates, allosamidin-based
chitinase inhibitors and heterocycles. She is an author of 24 journal publications, 15
refereed conference proceedings and 18 commercial projects reports. She has been
named an inventor on 5 patent applications.
Dr Zubkova conceived the idea of HS Glycomimetic Clusters synthesis and led
studies since 2008, designed and synthesized compounds and published findings in
the Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed. in 2015 (impact factor of 11.336). This paper
described a novel targeted library of single entity glycomimetic clusters capped with
varied Heparan sulfate (HS) saccharides, prepared for the first time.
Oligosaccharides from HS can mimic or interfere with HS functions in biological
systems but exploitation has been hindered by the complexity of their synthesis.
Polyvalent displays of small specific HS structures on dendritic cores offered more
accessible constructs with potential advantages as therapeutics. HS Clusters have
the ability to mimic longer natural HS saccharides in their inhibition of the Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) protease BACE-1. Novel HS glycomimetic clusters are potential drug
leads for AD.
This research resulted in a collaboration in the field of HS Glycomimetics with the
world leading expert in biochemistry of Heparan Sulfates, Prof Jerry Turnbull
(University of Liverpool, UK).
Dr Zubkova has been a Key scientist on New Methodologies for Heparan Sulfate
Oligosaccharide Synthesis programme since 2007. This work resulted in the
publication in Chem. Eur. J., impact factor of 5.696. The group developed a
successful synthetic approach that enables the general synthesis of specific HS
oligosaccharides of a range of sizes and structures and synthesized one of the
largest targeted library of HS fragments (16 final products) of its type reported to
date. New compounds have been tested for inhibition of angiogenesis and inhibition
of beta-secretase (treatment of Alzheimer’s) as a part of collaboration with Prof. J.
Turnbull at the Liverpool University.
The Wellington Branch is pleased to nominate Dr Olga Zubkova (Ferrier Research
Institute of Victoria University of Wellington) to a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute
of Chemistry in 2015.
In addition to her current research in the area of HS Chemistry, during her 25 years
as a practising researcher Dr Zubkova has:
 Developed a number collaborations with biologists both nationally and
internationally – VUW, The Otago, UoC, A*STAR, Singapore, L’Oreal/Paris.
The research is on-going.
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Managed 4 commercial projects with "Biomarin, USA" company in 2008-2009
(USD 182,000) to deliver disaccharide sulfated standards, treatment of MPS
IVA (Morquio A syndrome). She led a team of scientists on this project, wrote
technical reports and demonstrated the synthetic skills and problem solving
skills at the high level. Developed new synthetic routes to selectively sulfated
LacNAcs.
Led Project “Synthesis of Chondroitin Sulfate (CS) repeating units”, completed
synthesis of CS fragments as inhibitors of HLE and inhibitors of angiogenesis.
Collaboration with IBT, IRL and Wellington Med School. Presented results as
an invited lecture at ComBio in Sydney.
Undertook extensive work on US National Cancer Institute Project, Resyntheis
of Compounds for Screening. Completed 13 multi-step organic syntheses and
submitted preparation reports.
Led Deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) commercial project (NZD 100,000).
Developed a new synthesis route and synthesis of DMJ.tartrate in multi-gram
quantities and submitted 8 preparation reports for Targeted Therapy, USA.
Prepared inhibitors of Human purine nucleoside phosphorylase and
Plasmodium falciparum PNP. Synthesis of novel inhibitors resulted in
academic publication in J. Biol.Chem. and a patent application as a part of
collaboration with Prof. Vern L. Schramm, Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
NY, USA.
Led synthetic work to develop new tetramethylrhodamine-labeled acceptors as
substrates for sialyltransferases. Managed collaboration with IBT, IRL and coauthored an academic publication.
Synthesized novel azasugar-containing mimics of heparan sulfate fragments
what resulted in collaboration with Dr G. Norris, Massey University,
Palmerston North and an academic publication in Carb. Res.
Developed new methods of pyridines and pyrimidines syntheses from ketones
and nitriles, PhD thesis and postdoctoral work at Rostov State University,
Rostov-on-Don, Russia. This led to a strong IP position on the synthesis of
pyrimidines and 15 academic publications on new methods of heterocycles
preparation under one-pot synthesis conditions.
Dr Zubkova has been a member of NZIC since 2011.
A summary of Dr Olga Zubkova’ career achievements is given below:
1. Academic Qualifications
1991, PhD, Chemistry –
Rostov-on-Don University, Russia
1988, BSc (Hons), Chemistry - Rostov-on-Don University, Russia
2. Professional Positions Held
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Jan 2014 – present
Project Leader, Senior Research Scientist, The Ferrier
Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington
2013 – 2014
Project Leader, Senior Research Scientist, Carbohydrate Chemistry
Group, Callaghan Innovation
2003 – 2013
Senior Research Scientist, Projects leader, Carbohydrate
Chemistry Group, Industrial Research Limited
1994 – 2003
Research Scientist, Carbohydrate Chemistry Group, Industrial
Research Limited
1993 – 1994
Research Scientist, Rostov-on-Don University, Russia
1991 – 1993
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Research Institute of Physical and
Organic Chemistry, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
3. Awards, Distinctions and Membership of Societies
2012
Representative of New Zealand at the International Carbohydrate
Organization (acting as proxy on behalf of Dr Peter Tyler) at the 26th
International Carbohydrate Symposium (ICS-2012) in Madrid, Spain
2010
Representative of New Zealand at the International Carbohydrate
Organization (acting as proxy on behalf of Dr Richard Furneaux) at the
25th International Carbohydrate Symposium (ICS-2010) in Tokyo, Japan
2008-2012
Recipient of 5 IRL Capability Grants to explore design and synthesis of
Heparan Sulfate Glycomimetic clusters for therapeutic applications.
2011
NZIC member
1998-1999
Recipient of an IRL Grant to explore design and synthesis of
Insecticidal sulfur-containing allosamidin analogues.
1992-1993
George Soros’s Research Grant for Young Russian Scientists
1988-1991
Rostov University, Russia - PhD Scholarship (3 years)
1983-1988
Rostov University, Russia – Student Scholarships (5 years)
4. Major Publications
1. P.C. Tyler, S.E. Guimond, J.E. Turnbull and O.V. Zubkova*. Single-entity
heparan sulfate glycomimetic clusters for therapeutic applications. Angew. Chem
Int. Ed., 2015, 54, 2718-2723.
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2. G.J. Gainsford, R. Schwörer, P.C. Tyler and O.V. Zubkova, Crystal packing in
three related disaccharides: precursors to heparan sulfate oligosaccharides, Acta
Cryst., Section E, 2015, 71, 582-587.
3. R.L. Miller, W. Wei, R. Schwörer, O.V. Zubkova, P.C. Tyler, J.E. Turnbull and
J.A. Leary, Composition, sequencing and ion mobility mass spectrometry of
heparan sulfate-like octasaccharide isomers differing in glucuronic and iduronic
acid
content,
Eur.
J.
Mass
Spectrom.,
2015,
doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1255/ejms.1337.
4. R. Schwörer, O.V. Zubkova, J.E. Turnbull and P.C. Tyler. Synthesis of a
Targeted Library of Heparan Sulfate Saccharides as Inhibitors of beta-Secretase:
Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease. Chemistry- a European Journal,
2013, 19 (21), 6817-6823.
5. K.A. Allen, R.L. Brown, G. Norris, P.C. Tyler, D.K. Watt and O.V. Zubkova;
Syntheses of novel azasugar-containing mimics of heparan sulfate fragments as
potential heparanase inhibitors, Carbohydrate Research, 2010, 345 (13), 18311841.
6. Gainsford G.J., Tyler P.C. and Zubkova O.V.; p-Tolyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl4,6-O-benzylidene-1-thio-α-L-idopyranoside, Acta Cryst., Section E, 2010, 66,
1598-1599.
7. Hawse W.F., Hoff K.G., Fatkins D.G., Daines A.M., Zubkova O.V., Schramm
V.L., Zheng W. and Wolberger C., Structural insights into intermediate steps in
the Sir2 deacetylation reaction, Structure, 2008, 16, 1368-1377.
8. Lewandowicz, A.; Taylor Ringia, E.A.; Ting, L.-M.; Kim, K.; Tyler, P.C.; Evans,
G.B.; Zubkova, O.V.; Mee, S.; Painter, G.F.; Lenz, D.H.; Furneaux, R.H.;
Schramm, V.L. Energetic Mapping of Transition State Analogue Interactions with
Human and Plasmodium Falciparum Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylases. J. Biol.
Chem., 2005, 280, 30320-30328.
9. G.-C. Zhou, S.L. Parikh, P.C. Tyler, G.B. Evans, R.H. Furneaux, O.V. Zubkova,
P.A. Benjes and V.L. Schramm; Inhibitors of ADP-ribosylating bacterial toxins
based on oxacarbenium ion character at their transition state, J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2004, 126, 5690-5698.
10. U. Hubl, G.C. Slim and O.V. Zubkova; Thin-layer chromatography and
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-based assays for sialyltransferases using
tetramethylrhodamine-labeled acceptors, Analytical Biochemistry, 2000, 285, 9299.
11. S.M. Lukyanov, A.V. Koblik, E.S. Lukyanov, L.A. Muradyan, O.V. Zubkova, and
S.V. Borodaev, Electrophilic reactions of carbonyl compounds and their
derivatives. XI. Interaction of aldehydes and ketones with nitriles catalyzed by
protons and acyl cations, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1997, 33(1), 91-95.
12. S.M. Lukyanov, A.V. Koblik, E.S. Lukyanov, L.A. Muradyan, O.V. Zubkova, and
O.A. Kozhich, Electrophilic reactions of carbonyl compounds and their derivatives.
XII. Acyl cation-catalyzed interaction of terpene ketones with nitriles,
Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1997, 33(2), 161-164.
13. S.M. Lukyanov, S.V. Borodaev and O.V. Zubkova, Electrophilic reactions of
carbonyl compounds and their derivatives. VIII. Reactions of vinyl chlorides with
benzonitrile in the presence of acylium salts, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1995, 31(7),
996-1001.
14. S.M. Lukyanov, S.V. Borodaev and O.V. Zubkova, Electrophilic reactions of
carbonyl compounds and their derivatives. V. Reaction of vinyl chlorides with
nitrilium salts, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1992, 28(12), 2577-2581.
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15. S.M. Lukyanov, S.V. Borodaev, V.I. Rusakov, O.V. Zubkova and A.P. Knyazev,
Electrophilic reactions of carbonyl compounds and their derivatives. IV. Reaction
of aldehydes with nitrilium salts, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1992, 28(12), 2569-2576.
16. O.V. Zubkova, S.V. Borodaev and S.M. Lukyanov, New route to the preparations
of 4-chloropyrylium salts and their reactions, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1991, 27(11),
2376-2379.
17. S.V. Borodaev, O.V. Zubkova, N.V. Shibaeva, A.P. Knyazev, A.I. Pyshchev and
S.M. Lukyanov, Synthesis of 3-azapyrylium salts and pyrimidines derived from
them by reactions of vinyl chlorides and ketones with benzonitrile,
Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1991, 27(9), 1986-1990.
18. S.V. Borodaev, O.V. Zubkova, N.V. Shibaeva, A.I. Pyschev and S.M. Lukyanov,
Synthesis of 4H-1,3-oxazinium salts from N-ethylnitrilium salts and carbonyl
compounds, Khim. Get. Soed., 1991, 4, 568.
19. S.M. Lukyanov, S.V. Borodaev, S.B. Polovinko, A.G. Starikov and O.V. Zubkova,
Electrophilic reactions of carbonyl compounds and their derivatives. I. Ambident
hydroxyallilyc cations and electrophilic catalysis by acyl cations in the synthesis of
O-containing heterocycles from carbonyl compounds, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1991,
27(7), 1588-1597.
20. S.V. Borodaev, N.V. Shibaeva, O.V. Zubkova, A.P. Knyazev, S.M. Lukyanov and
A.I. Pyschev, Conversions of ketones via Ritter reaction, Russ.J.Org.Chem.,
1989, 25(7), 1345-1351.
21. S.V. Borodaev, O.V. Zubkova and S.M. Lukyanov, Synthesis of pyrimidines from
vinyl chlorides and nitriles by Ritter reaction, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1988, 24(11),
2330-2332.
22. S.V. Borodaev, O.V. Zubkova and S.M. Lukyanov, Ritter reaction of pinacolin,
Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1988, 24(1), 230-231.
23. S.V. Borodaev, O.V. Zubkova and S.M. Lukyanov, Acylation of vinyl chlorides
with cationic complexes, Russ.J.Org.Chem., 1988, 24(9), 1843-1848.
24. S.V. Borodaev, O.V. Zubkova, S.M. Lukyanov and A.G. Gasanov, Retro-pinacol
rearrangement of -branched gem-dichlorohydrocarbons, Russ.J.Org.Chem.,
1988, 24(11), 2333-2337.
5. Patents
1. O.V. Zubkova and P.C. Tyler, WO 2014/084743, Dendritic core compounds;
national phase filing in the US, EU, JP.
2. O.V. Zubkova, P.C. Tyler and J.E. Turnbull, WO 2014/084744, Saccharide
dendritic cluster compounds as inhibitors of BACE-1; national phase filing in the
US, EU, JP.
3. R. Schwoerer, J.E. Turnbull, P.C. Tyler and O.V. Zubkova, WO 2012/121617,
Oligosaccharide compounds. national phase filing in the EU, JP, US
4. G.B. Evans, R.H. Furneaux, D.H. Lenz, V.L. Schramm, P.C. Tyler and O.V.
Zubkova, Inhibitors of nucleoside phosphorylases, WO 2006/123953.
5. G.B. Evans, R.H. Furneaux, D.H. Lenz, P.C. Tyler, V.L. Schramm and O.V.
Zubkova, Inhibitors of nucleoside phosphorylases and nucleosidases, WO
2004/018496; granted in AU, CA, CN, EU, IN, KR, NZ, SG, RU and US (Second
generation DADMe-Immucillins, Licensed to BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc).
6. Technical reports
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1. Zubkova O.V., Toms S., and Furneaux R.H., 2008, “Preparation of di-sulfated
labeled LacNAc”, Biomarin, USA, Report No.2, Confidential.
2. Zubkova O.V., Toms S., and Furneaux R.H., 2008, “Preparation of mono-sulfated
labeled LacNAc”, Biomarin, USA, Report No.1, Confidential.
3. Zubkova O.V. and Furneaux R.H., 2004, “Preparation of 6-[(2-ethoxy-3,4dioxocyclobut-1-enyl)amino]-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(alpha-L-fucopyranosyl)-D-glucopyranoside“, Report for Primary Industries Research, Victoria, Australia.
4. Zubkova O.V., NSC D684480-J, 7H-Pyrido[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6-one, 2-(3chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-4-phenyl 1998, Report to US National Cancer Institute,
Resyntheis of Compounds for Screening.
5. Zubkova O.V., NSC 675986-Z, N-[2-(2-Diethylamino)ethyl]-11-oxo-11Hbenzothiopyrano[2’,3’:5,6]pyrido[1,2-a]imidazole-2-carboxamide, 1998, Report to
US National Cancer Institute, Resyntheis of Compounds for Screening.
6. Zubkova O.V., NSC D696046-G, N,N’-Bis[2-dimethylamino)ethyl]-1,6phenazinedicarboxamide, 1998, Report to US National Cancer Institute,
Resyntheis of Compounds for Screening.
7. Zubkova O.V., NSC D696045, N,N’-Bis[2-dimethylamino)ethyl]-1,8phenazinedicarboxamide, 1998, Report to US National Cancer Institute,
Resyntheis of Compounds for Screening.
8. Zubkova O.V., Insecticidal sulfur-containing allosamidin analogues, IRL
Carbohydrate Chemistry Team Report No. 2, 1998.
9. Zubkova O.V., NSC 338643-X, 6-Phenyl-6H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline-5,11dione, 1997, Report to US National Cancer Institute, Resyntheis of Compounds
for Screening.
10. Zubkova O.V., NSC 686324-N, 1-Methyl-3-(4-[2-dimethylaminoethoxy]phenyl)-2phenylindolizine, 1997, Report to US National Cancer Institute, Resyntheis of
Compounds for Screening.
11. Zubkova O.V., NSC 121139-H, Acrophylline, 1997, Report to US National
Cancer Institute, Resyntheis of Compounds for Screening.
12. Zubkova O.V., NSC 339705-C, 6--Hydroxyethyl-6H-indeno[1-2c]isoquinoline5,11-dione, 1997, Report to US National Cancer Institute, Resyntheis of
Compounds for Screening.
13. Zubkova O.V., NSC 687304-C, 5-Acetoxy-4-methylisoquinoline-1carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, 1997, Report to US National Cancer
Institute, Resyntheis of Compounds for Screening.
14. R. Blattner and O.V. Zubkova, Synthesis and biological activity of new
allosamidin analogues II, Industrial Research Limited Report No. 767, 1997.
15. Zubkova O.V., Synthesis of benzyl-N-acetyl-,D-galactosaminide, Industrial
Research Limited Report No. 543, 1996.
16. P.C. Tyler and O.V. Zubkova, Synthesis and testing of nicotinamide analogues
as antidiabetic agents, IRL report No. 604, 1996.
7. Selected refereed conference proceedings
1. Invited Lecture: Novel inhibitors of Alzheimer’s beta-secretase – polyvalent
mimics of Heparan Sulfate, O.V. Zubkova, J.E. Turnbull and P.C. Tyler. XXIII
International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry, Lisbon, Portugal, 2014.
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2. Invited Seminar: Heparan Sulfate Glycomimetics for therapeutic applications,
O.V. Zubkova, J.E. Turnbull and P.C. Tyler, A*STAR, IMB, Singapore, 2014.
3. Invited Lecture: Synthesis of a Targeted Library of Heparan Sulfate Saccharides
as Inhibitors of beta-Secretase: Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease,
O.V. Zubkova, J.E. Turnbull, R. Schwörer and P.C. Tyler. International
Carbohydrate Symposium, Madrid, Spain, 2012.
4. Invited Lecture: Heparan Sulfates as Inhibitors of beta-Secretase: Potential
Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease, O.V. Zubkova, J.E. Turnbull, R. Schwörer
and P.C. Tyler. Drug discovery symposium, Shanghai, China, 2012.
5. Invited Seminar: Synthesis of 10-mers and 12-mers of Heparan Sulfate as
Inhibitors of -Secretase, O.V. Zubkova, J.E. Turnbull, R. Schwörer and P.C.
Tyler. A*STAR, IMB, Singapore, 2012.
6. Invited Lecture: Synthesis and bioactivity of sulfated di-, tri- and tetrasaccharide
repeating units of chondroitin sulfate, O. V. Zubkova, P. A. Benjes, M.
Dromowicz, K. Johnson and G. C. Slim, ComBio, 2002, Sydney.
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