Juan Lopez (Class of ’22)
Single-Step Replacement of an Unreactive C–H Bond by a C–S Bond Using Polysulfide as the Direct Sulfur Source in the Anaerobic Ergothioneine Biosynthesis Ergothioneine, a natural longevity vitamin and antioxidant, is a thiol-histidine derivative. Recently, two types of biosynthetic pathways were reported. In the aerobic ergothioneine biosyntheses, non-heme iron enzymes incorporate a sulfoxide into an […]
Meiling Xu (Class of ’19)
Biochemical Characterization of a Multifunctional Mononuclear Nonheme Iron Enzyme (PtlD) in Neopentalenoketolactone Biosynthesis Pentalenolactone is a microbial sesquiterpenoid with antibiotic activity. Its biosynthetic pathway was elucidated by a combination of genetic and biochemical characterizations of all genes involved. For the related neopentalenoketolactone biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces avermitilis, an α-ketoglutarate-dependent mononuclear nonheme iron enzyme, PtlD, was […]
Meiling Xu (Class of ’19) and Melissa Quill (Class of ’19)
Mechanistic Studies of a Nonheme Iron Enzyme OvoA in Ovothiol Biosynthesis Using a Tyrosine Analogue, 2-Amino-3-(4-hydroxy-3-(methoxyl) phenyl) Propanoic Acid (MeOTyr) Ovothiols are thiol-histidines that play important roles in protecting cells against oxidative stresses. Because of challenges faced in their chemical synthesis, biosynthesis provides an alternative option. In ovothiol biosynthesis, a nonheme iron enzyme (OvoA) catalyzes […]
Shu Wang (Class of ’16) and Huijue Lyu (Class of ’19)
In Vitro Reconstitution of the Remaining Steps in Ovothiol A Biosynthesis: C–S Lyase and Methyltransferase Reactions Ovothiols are thiolhistidine derivatives. The first step of ovothiol biosynthesis is OvoA-catalyzed oxidative coupling between histidine and cysteine. In this report, the remaining steps of ovothiol A biosynthesis were reconstituted in vitro. ETA_14770 (OvoB) was reported as a PLP-dependent sulfoxide lyase, […]
Vanessa Stahl (Class of ’21)
β-Catenin/CBP inhibition alters epidermal growth factor receptor fucosylation status in oral squamous cell carcinoma Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a major driver of head and neck cancer, a devastating malignancy with a major sub-site in the oral cavity manifesting as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). EGFR is a glycoprotein receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) whose […]
Brian Stankus (Class of ’13)
Effective and Inexpensive HPLC Analogue for First-Year Students: Buret Chromatography of Food Dyes in Drinks Chromatography is a ubiquitous technique in analytical chemistry, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the industry standard for quantitation of components in solution mixtures. However, demonstrating the principles of liquid chromatography to undergraduates via HPLC-based experiments often proves ineffective because […]
Surya Pulukuri (Class of ’21)
Step back, translate, extend: Addressing misconceptions relating to energy and free energy in cellular reactions via active‐learning videos In order to succeed in biochemistry, students must transfer and build upon their understanding of general chemistry and introductory biology concepts. One such critical area of knowledge is bioenergetics. Student misconceptions around energy and free energy must […]
Surya Pulukuri (Class of ’21)
Incorporating an Online Interactive Video Platform to Optimize Active Learning and Improve Student Accountability through Educational Videos Video learning holds an important place in modern STEM classrooms, but more improvements to the learning experience are needed. In order to introduce active-learning components into assignments, questions are often deployed alongside videos. Unfortunately, many students tend to […]
Larisa Kagermazova (Class of ’16), Yuekun Liu (Class of ’18), Milad Babaei (Class of ’21)
A Central Region of NF-κB Essential Modulator Is Required for IKKβ-Induced Conformational Change and for Signal Propagation NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) regulates NF-κB signaling by acting as a scaffold for the kinase IKKβ to direct its activity toward the NF-κB inhibitor, IκBα. Here, we show that a highly conserved central region of NEMO termed the […]
Chen Sun (Class of ’16)
Square-planar Co(iii) in {O4} coordination: large ZFS and reactivity with ROS Oxidation of distorted square-planar perfluoropinacolate Co compound [CoII(pinF)2]2−, 1, to [CoIII(pinF)2]1−, 2, is reported. Rigidly square-planar 2 has an intermediate-spin, S = 1, ground state and very large zero-field splitting (ZFS) with D = 67.2 cm−1; |E| = 18.0 cm−1, (E/D = 0.27), g⊥ = 2.10, g‖ = 2.25 and χTIP = 1950 × 10−6 cm3 mol−1. This Co(III) species, 2, reacts […]