Artem Serganov

NEW YORK

Artem Serganov, 17, of New York, studied riboswitches, a potentially new class of antimicrobial drug targets, for his Intel Science Talent Search project in biochemistry. Riboswitches are mRNA regions that control gene expression by sensing cellular metabolites. Artem synthesized and crystallized two widespread classes of riboswitches (using biochemical and biophysical techniques) in the ongoing determination of their 3D molecular structure using data from Advanced Photon Source synchrotron for x-ray crystallography analysis. When this 3D structure is better understood, these natural metabolites may be redesigned to modern drug standards and form the basis for novel classes of antibiotics. Artem is co-author of a chapter in a book to be published soon on the technical aspects of riboswitch crystallization. Born in Russia, Artem attends Bronx High School of Science where he is captain of the swim team. He is an award-winning essayist and enjoys tennis, mountain skiing and has been honored for excellence in Tae Kwon Do. He hopes to attend Columbia or Cornell University and contribute to antibiotics research. Artem is the son of Alexander Serganov and Inna Serganova.