Graduate Faculty Directory
Biochemistry Graduate Faculty
Select a faculty member from the list below to view their full profile.
Catherine Bentzley
Associate Professor of Chemistry
The rapid and enormous expansion in the biotechnology revolution has caused increased interest in determining exact molecular weights of biological systems. Mass spectrometry offers a quick and convenient method for determining accurate molecular weights of biological samples including peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides and oligosaccharides. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) and Electrospray Ionization (ESI) are the two predominant mass spectrometry techniques used for the development of biological assays. During the MALDI process singly charged analyte ions are produced after...
Edward R. Birnbaum
Professor of Chemistry
Lanthanide spectroscopy The incomplete 4f subshells of the lanthanide ions Ce3+ to Yb3+ result in a variety of magnetic and spectroscopic properties that are of interest from both a theoretical and practical perspective. For example, gadolinium (Gd3+) coordination complexes are administered to patients in order to enhance images obtained using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) instruments. Similarly, the fluorescence behavior of the lanthanide ions, especially Eu3+ and Tb3+, are used to generate the images on a...
Michael Bruist
Associate Professor of Biochemistry
The research in my laboratory investigates various aspects of the chemistry of DNA and its interaction with proteins. The IHF-DNA Complex Integration host factor (IHF) is a bacterial protein that bends DNA so that sites that are separated along the sequence are brought close together in space. This is critical to building intricate DNA-protein complexes with diverse functions, from regulating RNA synthesis to packing DNA into the heads of viruses. We are using molecular mechanics...
Ara DerMarderosian
Professor of Pharmacognosy
Research Professor of Pharmacognosy
My research interests include pharmacognosy, medicinal chemistry, and nutraceuticals. We focus on hallucinogenic botanicals: medicinal and poisonous plants and their phytochemistry and pharmacology; marine pharmaceuticals; drugs of abuse; and medical foods or “nutraceuticals.” Current projects in my group involve research on pomegranate, blueberries, erythroxylon species, barley, and antimicrobials in African herbs. Previous studies have been carried out on hallucinogenic morning glories, biosynthesis of indoles in the Convolvulaceae, and medically active compounds in several marine organisms....
Elisabetta Fasella
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
My research interests are in the area of bioorganic chemistry. We are currently working on two projects. The first project involves the synthesis of mimics of the cofactor of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and their evaluation as catalysts for the deamination of aromatic amino acids. The second project involves the synthesis of hydroxylated monomeric and dimeric chalcones and their evaluation as cysteine protease inhibitors. Mimics of the cofactor of phenylanalnine ammonialyase Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) catalyzes...
Alfonso Gennaro
Professor of Chemistry (Emeritus)
Research Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
My research interests are in analytical drug detection development, drug interactions, and free radical initiation of drug decomposition. The stability of a drug in a variety of dosage forms under the many conditions of administration to the patient, prolonged storage under a myriad of climatic conditions, and admixture with other drugs and diluents is often unknown or, at best, based on conjecture with limited experimental evidence. Using modern analytical and instrumental techniques (infrared, high performance...
Peter J. Harvison
Abramson Professor of Pharmacology
Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Research Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
My research interests are primarily concerned with the effects of metabolism on the biological activity of chemicals (including drugs) to which humans and other mammals may be exposed. Although metabolism usually results in the formation of nontoxic substances, the opposite can also occur. For example, some chemicals are actually converted into highly toxic metabolites that can damage tissues or cause cancer. In particular, my research has focused on compounds that contain cyclic imide rings. One...
Joel Kauffman
Professor of Chemistry (Emeritus)
One of my principal research areas of interest is in medicinal chemistry, where the focus is on the design and synthesis of potential new drugs with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. A second research area of interest is the synthesis of new molecules with defined fluorescent properties. Applications include laser dyes, scintillation fluors, waveshifters, and eye protection. These fluorescent molecules, in addition to having high quantum yields and good chemical stability, must be resistant to the...
Yumee Koo
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
I am interested in the study of the mechanisms of macromolecular interactions, including protein-lipid and protein-inhibitor interactions. Efforts are focused on the characterization of proteins using biochemical and spectrometric techniques and the development of kinetic and binding assays for therapeutically important enzymes. One example of a system we are interested in studying is the class of cysteine proteases, which are the proteolytic enzymes that utilize a cysteine residue for their catalytic activity. Especially mammalian papain-like...
Zhijun Li
Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics
My current research efforts focus on utilizing computational and bioinformatics methods to generate and analyze three-dimensional structures of protein molecules, and to gain insight into protein sequence, structure and function relationships. Leveraging and combining a broad range of techniques enables us to tackle biological problems in multiple dimensions. Network analysis of protein structures First project is the development of new tools to aid in the quantitative analysis of the protein 3D structures currently available in...
Madhu Mahalingam
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Ion-molecule reactions were discovered originally in the ionizers of mass spectrometers. Study of these reactions is of practical significance in various fields. Ion-molecule reactions are important to the chemistry of planetary atmospheres, in particular, the earth’s ionosphere. The densities of the different types of ions critically influence the total electron content and, therefore, radio wave propagation. Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions have been used as a model for the determination of biologically reactive electrophilic contaminants in the...
James McKee
Director, Graduate Programs in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacognosy
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Currently, my research is focused in two areas, (1) preparation and antibiotic activity of sulfonanilides and sulfones; and (2) the use of the trihalomethyl group to prepare heterocyclic compounds. Sulfonanilides and sulfones were amongst the earliest of the antibiotics and are still proving to be useful today, effectively treating such diseases as leprosy and epilepsy, as well as serving as general purpose antibiotics against all gram positive bacilli and all gram negative cocci. Currently, we are...
Preston Moore
Director, West Center
Professor of Chemistry
My research focuses on the development and use of condensed phase, molecular simulation methods to investigate chemical problems. An understanding of the fundamental physical laws governing the interactions between atoms and molecules can be used to describe complex biological systems. The ideas I am pursuing are united by a common theme: unraveling the structure, dynamics, and thermodynamics of complex chemical systems such as proteins, molecular liquids, and lipid bilayers. Great success has been achieved using...
Guillermo Moyna
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Broadly described, research in my group involves the application of experimental and theoretical methods to study the interactions of a variety of molecules with their environment at the atomic level. For example, we are currently investigating how ionic liquids (ILs), a new class of solvents composed solely of ions that show promise as “green” materials, solvate polysaccharides such as cellulose and starch. Among the techniques we employ to accomplish this are nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)...
John Nikelly
Professor of Chemistry
My research interests are in the use of parallel columns in gas chromatography, pharmaceutical analysis by GC and HPLC, and indirect detection of UV-transparent compounds. The components in a mixture may be identified by gas chromatographic retention times, but this normally requires making runs on two different columns. Alternatively, the analysis could be done in a single run on two columns, but this requires the use of two detectors. We are developing a system of...
Vojislava Pophristic
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Research interests of my group focus on the application of computational chemistry methods to study various aspects of biochemical, organic, and inorganic systems. We combine accurate quantum chemistry and ab initio molecular dynamics methods with classical molecular dynamics techniques, which can provide a unique perspective of chemical problems. Metal Ion Solvation Metal cations play versatile roles in systems ranging from geochemical structures to human organism. Common to many scientific problems and efforts related to metal cation...
John Porter
Director, Biological Sciences Programs
Professor of Biology
Research Professor of Pharmacognosy
We work at the interface among cell biology, biotechnology and natural products biology/chemistry. We are actively pursuing alternate sources for known medicinal compounds, discovery of novel medicinal compounds, and application of natural products to specific targets for antimicrobial therapy. Alternate sources of natural products We work with various fungi and transformed plant roots that can produce impressive arrays and quantities of medicinal natural products. We are investigating the production of podophyllotoxin, precursor to several anticancer...
Frederick T. Schaefer
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Modification of solvent dynamics by dissolved polymer in solutions has been documented. This phenomenon has implication for analytical techniques where polymer properties are derived from solution properties via the assumption that the solvent is a Newtonian continuum with the properties related only to those of the pure solvent. Based on the premise that interactions between molecules of greatly different size must occur on the spatial scale of the smaller molecules studies of the solution properties...
Julian Snow
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Relationships between protein structure and function have long been studied with a variety of techniques. Scanning calorimetry (DSC) and its newer cousin, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), are capable of yielding a wealth of thermodynamic information about the structures of these macromolecules. These techniques, along with fluorescence and UV-VIS spectroscopy, are used in this lab to study structural properties of exchangeable serum apolipoproteins (apo-A, apo-E) associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Since HDL is known to be...
Charles J. Thoman
Professor of Chemistry (Emeritus)
My research has involved the chemistry and biochemistry of Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), one of the major surfactants and solubilizing agents used widely in many industrial applications. At present, our emphasis is on the synthesis of derivatives that can be used to deionize aqueous solutions and as probes for specific ions in various solutions, including the inside of cells. The second has to do with the synthesis of potential anticancer and antiviral agents.
Rodney Wigent
Dean, College of Graduate Studies
Director of Research
Research Professor of Pharmaceutics
Professor of Chemistry
My research interests focus on three basic areas—solution thermodynamics, physical biochemistry, and, pharmaceutics. Solution Thermodynamics A large number of waters of hydration (20–60) have been found for precipitates of tetra n-butylammonium (TBA) halides at temperatures ranging from 5 to 25ºC. It is believed that these clathrates may exist in solution. Studies of these solutions as a function of concentration and temperature may serve to model similar interactions that may occur in aqueous solutions of important...
Murray Zanger
Professor of Chemistry (Emeritus)
My research has uncovered a class of compounds with significant anti-AIDS activity. Using medicinal chemical principles, I am trying to design and synthesize more active members in this family. Other research involves the large-scale synthesis of a key intermediate of adriamycin, a naturally occurring anti-cancer agent.
Randy J. Zauhar
Director, Graduate Program in Bioinformatics
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Associate Professor of Bioinformatics
Shape signatures is a novel technique for computer-aided drug design developed over the last few years by USP associate professor of biochemistry Randy Zauhar and collaborators. It is a system for compactly representing the shape of drug molecules and the protein receptor sites they target. It was recognized by Emil Fischer in the nineteenth century that the molecules central to the processes of life must recognize each other by a mechanism similar to a key fitting...
