1. Acknowledgements
Overview of X-Chem
Internship Description
Skills and Knowledge
Biochemistry Research Associate Intern in X-Chem Pharmaceuticals
Jingyi (Zooey) Wang
X-Chem, Inc 100 Beaver Street, Suite 101, Waltham, MA 02453-8425, USA
Science of X-Chem
1.Overview
X-Chem is a privately held biotechnology company established
in 2009, whose chemical strategy can be applied broadly to
most targets in any therapeutic area. A strong team of leading
experts has been built with proven track records in innovative
drug discovery and biotechnology partnering.
2.Development History
X-Chem was founded in 2009 by industry veterans Richard
Wagner, Brant Binder and Gordon Binder. A strategic
partnership of X-Chem and Pharmaceutical Product
Development , LLC(PPD) was formed in 2010. In 2014, PPD
exercised its option to acquire all remaining interests in X-
Chem, while the company’s management, scientific staff and
biotechnology business model was retained.
3.Partners
The company has established collaborations with eight of the
leading pharmaceutical companies, top tier biotechnology
companies, academic centers as well as non-profit institutions.
Novel lead compounds has been generated against dozens of
high-value therapeutic targets.
When and How I got this position?
I applied the Internship position through Massachusetts Life
Science Internship Challenge (MSLC) in January of 2016. In
the middle of March, with Dr. Neil Simister’s recommendation,
I got the position at X-Chem and started working full-time at
May 12. I have been working under the Biochemistry and Cell
Biology group and under the supervising by Julie Liu, Senior
Research Scientist.
1. Skills and knowledge I had that were useful in
the internship.
• The Background Knowledge learned from Molecular
Biotechnology, Advanced cell Biology courses.
• Experiment skills gained from Project Lab and
Biochemistry Lab courses.
2. Gained Skills and Knowledge from Internship
• Knowledge
a. Drug discovery and business
b. Troubleshoot experiment
c. Lab Technics
• Multiple Biochemistry assays
a. ELISA Assay
b. AlphaLISA Assay
c. Malachite Green Assay
d. Solubility assay
• Instruments
a. Mosquito: Multichannel dispenser which can dispense
lower to 20nl.
b. Multidrop Dispensers: Dispense reagents into plate
and fill plate in seconds.
c. Multichannel Pipettes
d. Microplate Washers: Microplate strip washers
provide secure washing performance for routine and
research ELISA applications.
• Data Analysis
My Contribution to X-Chem
What I did during the internship?
• Prepare stock for compounds
• Perform biochemical assays
• Analyze data
• Present results in the group meeting
• Keep track of the compound inventory
• Keep a record
• X-Fit
I would like to thank Dr. Neil Simister, X-Chem and MSLC
internship challenge for providing me the opportunity to
work and learn throughout the internship.
I would like to thank my supervisor Julie Liu and the
biochemistry and cell biology group member for all the
help, patience and mentorship during the internship.
Phase1: Library design and synthesis - Both chemistry and
encoding steps occurring during the split.
Phase2: Affinity Selection of library - Using affinity-tagged
protein target yields a selected population of library members.
Phase3: Amplification, Clustering and Sequencing (Illumina) -
Giving a very deep sampling of the demographics of the
enriched population.
Phase4: Translation of Sequence - Providing chemical and
statistical information and the sequence is evaluated to
discover putative chemotypes.
Phase5: Off-DNA compounds synthesis - Representative
compounds exploring putative chemotypes with the desired
enrichment profiles are synthesized off-DNA.
Phase6: Biochemical assay - Target modulation is assessed
by biochemical assay.
Figure A Figure B
Figure A: Inhibition curve for one compound (XCMPD004206). The y-axis
shows the percentage of inhibition of target activity and the x-axis shows the
concentration of compound in log scale. The 50% inhibition concentration for
this compound is 0.002789uM.
Figure B: Solubility curve for one compound (XCMPD004928). The y-axis
shows the counts from Photodetector and the x-axis shows the concentration
of compound in log scale. The solubility for this compound is 77.95uM
Program 3: Malachite Green Assay
1.Program Purpose: Identifying inhibitors of the target for
the treatment of autoimmune diseases, cancer.
2.Assay Principle:
Program 4: Solubility Assay
1.Program Purpose: Setting up the solubility database for
compounds of X-Chem. The solubility data can help the
group to evaluate the compounds.
2.Assay Principle:
Detects particles in liquid samples by measuring forward
scattered light.
Program 1: ELISA Assay
1.Program Purpose: Identifying inhibitors of the target
which is related to potent anaphylatoxin, cell Lysis,
proinflammatory, prothrombotic, chemotaxis.
2.Assay principle:
Program 2: AlphaLISA Assay
1.Program Purpose: Identifying inhibitors of demethylase
for the treatment of prostate, breast, and skin cancer.
2.Assay Principle: