Our Current Graduate Students
Meet Our Current Grads
Brittany Albaugh
B.S., CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Mechanisms of Reversible Acetylation and
Life in Madison, Wisconsin
The laboratory of Dr. John Denu is interested in understanding the mechanisms and biological functions of reversible protein modifications that modulate signal transduction and chromatin function. My main focus is to characterize enzymes involved in the reversible acetylation of non-histone proteins. It has recently been shown that approximately 20 percent of the proteins in the mitochondria are acetylated, many of which have functions in metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. For example, Acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 is activated by a sirtuin dependent deacetylation reaction, and inactivated by an unknown acetyltransferase. I have been working to identify novel acetyltransferases with non-histone targets, as well as link post-translational modification to regulatory control of the metabolic activities in the mitochondria.
While I was applying for graduate school, the two most important criteria that I kept in mind were: 1) a strong, prestigious biochemistry research program, and 2) faculty, staff, and students that foster an enjoyable learning environment. For me, the Integrated Program in Biochemistry had both of these qualities. The diversity and size of the program provides excellent opportunities for collaboration and the faculty are very approachable for academic advising.
Additionally, I love living in the city of Madison. Madison provides the friendliness of a small town, but also all of the amenities of a large city such as good shopping and great dining. I especially love the fact that Madison is built to accommodate biking, which is an activity my husband and I both share.
Allyson Anding
B.A., CHEMISTRY-BIOCHEMISTRY
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, ST. LOUIS
Mechanism of 4-Hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR) Action in Chemotherapy
Vitamin A and its metabolites play essential roles in cellular growth, differentiation, and vision. Retinoids, a class of compounds with structural similarity to Vitamin A, have shown promise as anticancer agents. Although some naturally occurring retinoids, such as all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), are proven inhibitors of cancer cell growth, the therapeutic use of these compounds is limited due to undesirable side effects. Because of this, a continuing goal in retinoid drug development has been to find new analogs with improved therapeutic indices. N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) is a synthetic amide analog of atRA that has shown some success as a chemotherapeutic agent in clinical trials. Though results are promising, the clinical dose of 4-HPR is limited by residual-associated toxicities. This is due, most likely, to the ability of 4-HPR to release atRA via hydrolysis. A new nonhydrolyzable 4-HPR analog, 4-hydroxybenzylretinone (4-HBR), has been shown to be effective in reducing the size and number of mammary tumors in rats and, importantly, has an improved therapeutic profile when compared to 4-HPR. I am interested in uncovering the mechanism whereby 4-HPR and 4-HBR cause cell death in a variety of cancer cell lines as well as determining whether or not other analogs of 4-HPR are able to produce this effect.
When I first applied to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I was encouraged to do so because of the strength of the program and the wonderful city. Now that I am a student here, I definitely think that both the school and Madison have lived up to the hype! Being a graduate student has given me many opportunities, both inside and outside of the lab. I am surrounded by a number of brilliant scientists and graduate students who are always willing to offer their advice and insight. I have also taken advantage of the many lakes we have through sailing, ice skating and ice fishing – definitely a first for a girl from Louisiana! With all of the outdoor activities Madison has to offer, along with Big 10 sports, there are plenty of things to do to around the city. I couldn’t be happier with the choice I made to come here and I hope that anywhere I end up in the future is able to live up to the high standard that Madison has set!
Katie Bishop
B.S., CELL BIOLOGY-BIOCHEMISTRY
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
Madison: Vitamin D and Triathlon Capital of the Midwest
What first attracted me to the Biochemistry Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was its rich history, particularly scientific work with direct application to disease. My research focuses on the transcriptional regulation of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Ligand (RankL), a vitamin D target gene, which is important in skeletal homeostasis and bone remodeling. Increases in RankL expression lead to osteoporosis, or low bone mineral density, while RankL knockout mouse models exhibit compromised immunity and skeletal defects. The vitamin D receptor has been shown to bind at distal enhancer regions upsteam of the RankL transcriptional start site to regulate gene expression. I am currently looking at how activation of the glucocorticoid receptor, the Jak-STAT pathways, and the Wnt pathways regulate RankL transcription and thus influence bone metabolism. My lab is currently using chromatin immunoprecipitation to identify sites of protein binding and reporter assays to determine the effect that these enhancers have on transcriptional regulation. One major research goal is that we can use RankL as a model for general transcriptional regulation and to show that these modular enhancer regions of non-coding genomic DNA are responsible for activation and repression by several pathways.
I originally came to Madison for its amazing research program, but fell in love with the city in the process. Madison is a very unique city in the fact that it can be as big or as small as you want. Students can live downtown in the heart of the city or out in the country, but still be within minutes from campus. I really enjoy the fact that I only have a 10 minute bus ride to campus, but can still look out my back window into a park. One of the biggest draws to Madison was the people and the athletic community. I have experienced a Midwestern hospitality in Madison, where people are very friendly and inviting. I feel like I have developed a solid network of friends within the department and out in the community through sports. There are countless lakes to swim, country roads to bike, and trails to run. Madison hosts one of the 6 Ironman events held in the United States every September. This ultradistance triathlon consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and then a 26.2 mile run, all which much be accomplished within 17 hours. Having been involved in the event as a spectator, volunteer, and participant, I can honestly say it is just as inspiring to participate as it is to watch. The entire city of Madison comes alive to support these amazing athletes. Seeing my friends, coworkers, and training partners out on the course is a Madison memory I won’t soon forget.
Nathan Bruender
B.S., CELL BIOLOGY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH
Balancing life in Madison: Working hard in the lab and on the ice
The focus of my research is to determine the structure and function of enzymes involved in D-rubranitrose biosynthesis. D-Rubranitrose is an unusual deoxysugar that contains a nitro-group. I use X-ray crystallographic analysis to determine 3D structures of these enzymes both with and without substrates and cofactors present in the active site. To determine the function of the enzymes involved in forming D-rubranitrose from glucose 1 phosphate, I use kinetic studies and isotope effects. These techniques allow me to deduce the enzyme mechanism of the unusual reactions of the pathway.
When I was first looking into grad schools, UW-Madison was at the top of my list. It is nationally known for excellence in science and training, and it is where I really wanted to go. What sold me on UW was the city. When I came to Madison, I was blown away. I loved the fact that it had a small town feel, yet I was minutes away from downtown and the city life. Since I have been here, I have found everything that I enjoy and more. Whether it is going to a concert and getting to try different foods at the Taste of Madison, seeing a play or musical at the Overture Center, relaxing at the Terrace, or being active in the sports scene, I have found that Madison has a wide variety of activities that appeal to everyone.
I am a sports enthusiast and I enjoy not only watching, but playing. I enjoy many sports with hockey being my favorite. In the spring and summer, there are softball and volleyball leagues that I enjoy playing in (I usually try to find people to make a team). For baseball, we are about an hour away from Miller Park in Milwaukee where you can catch MLB action, and there is a local amateur team, the Madison Mallards, to cheer on. In the autumn, obviously the big events are football games. In the winter, hockey picks up, not only with the Badger hockey teams (they have both a men and women’s team), but with outdoor rinks and ponds and other leagues. I personally play hockey year round (I am a proud member of the Biochem intramural hockey team) and you can usually find me at the Badger men’s home games. When it comes time for me to move on from here, I know I will never forget the memories made in the lab, around the city, and on the ice.
Justin Brumbaugh
B.S., MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
PENN STATE
Examining pluripotency via mass spectrometry
Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are unique in that they have the capacity to differentiate into any specialized cell lineage, a characteristic termed pluripotency. For this reason, human embryonic stem cells hold enormous potential, both for fundamental science and for therapeutic purposes. Understanding how stem cells maintain the pluripotent state and are driven to differentiate into different cell types is key for future research and medical applications. To this end, my work brings together biochemistry and a highly enabling analytical technique, mass spectrometry, to study pertinent factors in human ES cells.
Mass spectrometry permits identification, and in some cases quantification, of proteins in a given sample. Coupling high accuracy mass analyzers to emerging fragmentation techniques, namely, Electron Transfer Dissociation (ETD), enables us to determine not only amino acid sequence, but also post-translational modification (PTM). Thus far, we’ve focused mainly on epigenetic changes that occur during differentiation by tracking PTMs on histone H4. Unique to our approach is the ability to identify combinatorial patterns (i.e., we detect distinct arrangements of modifications on the histone tail such that we can study each modification in the context of those around it).
The University of Wisconsin and Madison itself certainly have a lot to offer. UW boasts top-notch programs in all of the biological and physical sciences and IPiB is no exception. The faculty members are leaders in areas like enzymatics, chemical biology, and many more. As a graduate student, I chose to come to Madison because I believe the program offers the best array of fundamental science. From my experience, labs are particularly open to collaboration and work often spans multiple disciplines. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the staff and administration, who bend over backwards to help students with everything from relocation tips to payroll information and beyond.
Madison is also an attractive and dynamic place to live. The city is large enough to offer a wide variety of cultural activities, but small enough to get around comfortably and safely. Sandwiched between two lakes, it’s easy to take advantage of numerous clubs set up around water sports. Madison also offers a very active Ultimate Frisbee association (MUFA), running clubs, and numerous other opportunities to stay active and social.
Amanda Drennan
B.S., BIOCHEMISTRY
BELOIT COLLEGE
The Top Five Reasons Why I Love Madison, WI
1. Climate.
With four very distinct seasons, I always have something to look forward to.
2. Concerts and Festivals.
The latest event I attended was the Sweet Corn Festival in Sun Prarie, which is a short drive away. That meant all the sweet corn I could eat for about $3.00.
3. Food Culture.
The restaurants are incredible. Oh, they’re so great. The Dane County Farmer’s Market is the largest producer-only farmer’s market in the country, and there are several CSA programs in the area. Between the three, I get loads of amazing food every week.
4. Outdoor Activities.
Did you know that there are 50 great hikes to do within 50 miles of Madison? At least, that’s what my book says… I’ve only done about 10 of them so far, because I’ve been going to other awesome places that aren’t even in that book. Yeah.
5. IPiB at UW Madison.
We all really like each other here, and we are all pretty excited about science, which makes for a really decent graduate environment. Since starting in Tom Record’s lab, I have delved into aspects of biochemistry that were completely foreign to me; needless to say, I am learning quite a bit. I am currently investigating the N-terminal region 1.1 of the promoter recognition subunit s70 in the RNA polymerase holoenzyme. Because of the high negative charge, region 1.1 is proposed to act as a DNA mimic. In free RNA polymerase, the 1.1 region masks the active site, but is released upon formation of the open complex as DNA enters the active site. Upon binding the promoter, RNA polymerase proceeds through a series of conformational changes. The 1.1 region affects at least early isomerization steps (Bowers and Dombroski 1997). Using nitrocellusose filter-binding assays, we are investigating the effect of the 1.1 region in later isomerization steps, as characterized by dissociation kinetic studies.
James Ellinger
B.A., BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER
A story of the NMR and the Metabolomics… wait, the metabo-what?
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools available to the modern biochemist. While generally known in the biological sciences for its role in protein structure determination and molecular dynamics, NMR is playing an increasing role at the forefront of metabolomics, which alongside transcriptomics and proteomics, makes up the major categories of systems biology. By taking a systematic and integrative approach to studying the complex interactions of a biological system, we will gain new insights by better understanding the entirety of processes that happen in said system.
I am interested in developing new methods for studying metabolism/metabolomics by NMR and am employing these methods in two areas. First, I am interested in basic metabolism as it pertains to human erythrocytes. Generally known for their simplicity and role as oxygen transporters, we have shown that human erythrocytes are capable of more complex metabolism than found in textbooks. Second, as a student involved with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), I am interested in employing our tools to study ways of engineering microorganisms to be better biofuel producers. This involves not only understanding metabolic pathways, but also that these organisms will ultimately kill themselves due to the toxicity of their own products. Using NMR, we can study the effects of altering pathways as well as the effects of target biofuels on the microorganism.
I applied to UW-Madison based on program strength and history. However, one thing that ultimately attracted me to this program was the students. At the time of my recruitment here, I was on “vacation” from the northern states and was working as a research technician in North Carolina. I must have become a softy for the fair weathered winters of the south because the morning I left for my recruitment visit, I wondered how would I hold up against weather that was nearly 50 degrees colder. Well, upon my arrival, I completely forgot about the weather because the interactions with the students were more than enough to shut out the cold. That said, while I love to compete in triathlons, it just meant that I would have to find a new way to embrace the winters… enter cross country skiing!
Marielle Gruenig
B.S., BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
Regulation of the RecA protein
After growing up in Switzerland, I moved to California for my undergraduate education and to play on the varsity tennis team. Once I began to talk with my undergraduate advisor about graduate school, he urged me to apply to UW-Madison and could not stop praising the school. When I applied to the IPiB program, all I knew about Wisconsin was that it was somewhere in the middle of the US. Despite the drastic change from California climate awaiting me on my interview weekend, I realized that for me Madison was an ideal place to study and to live. Instead of going back to my home country after my B.S., as I had originally planned, I did not want to pass up the opportunity to study at such a prestigious school with such a well-known department.
I started graduate school with a very open mind, not sure which area of Biochemistry in which I would like to specialize. The three rotations in the first semester helped me choose a great lab in which to spend the next years. In the Cox lab, we study the regulation and mechanism of DNA recombination focusing on the RecA proteins from E. coli and D. radiodurans. My project involves exploring different RecA mutants leading to functional defects and studying the RecA regulator protein RecX. We use mainly in vitro assays to look at ATP hydrolysis and DNA strand-exchange properties of RecA.
The faculty are very collegial, which make collaborations not only possible but also enjoyable. The size of the Biochemistry and Biomolecular Chemistry Departments, the support and technology available through the Biotech Center and the many other departments, make research more fruitful with endless possibilities for furthering one’s projects. What influenced me most in my decision to move to Madison was talking to the other graduate students. They convinced me that it is possible to balance the strenuous life of a graduate student with a fulfilling life outside of science.
The city of Madison, with the UW campus at its heart, is the ideal size so that everything is accessible by bike, but still a lot is going on in terms of entertainment and spare time activities. The Terrace is a great place to hang out, and I enjoy running and biking along Lake Mendota and in the UW Arboretum. The Hoofers Club allows people to take up new or familiar activities such as sailing, rock climbing, kayaking, and cross country skiing. I personally have taken up windsurfing, ultimate Frisbee in an intramural league, and whitewater kayaking.
Greg Kabachinski
B.S., BIOCHEMISTRY & CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
Score High in the Lab and Low on the Course
Multicellular and higher eukaryotic organisms are composed of cells that have the unique and essential ability to communicate with each other and respond to a changing environment. Small molecules (i.e., neurotransmitters) and peptides (i.e., hormones) serve as signaling molecules that mediate this communication. Specific spatial and temporal control in signaling pathways are achieved by regulating the synthesis of the signaling molecule, the release of that molecule into the extracellular space, and the response in the target cell.
The process of regulated release, or exocytosis, consists of multiple steps that begin with the packaging of the signaling molecule into a lipid vesicle. This vesicle must be targeted to the plasma membrane by a tethering/docking step and then become fusion competent through an ATP dependent priming step. This is followed by calcium influx that will trigger the fusion of the vesicle with the plasma membrane resulting in the release of the signaling molecule. Despite the identification of many of the proteins involved in this process, the integration of these steps and the exact sequence and events that occur within each step remain unknown. In vitro assays have demonstrated that the 145 kDa protein, known as Calcium Activator Protein for Secretion (CAPS), is required for regulated exocytosis. It has been recently reported that CAPS acts at or around the ATP dependent priming step, but its function and exact role in exocytosis is not yet known. My project is to study the effect of a CAPS deletion in mammalian cells by the use of RNA interference (RNAi). I make use of multiple microscopy techniques, in particular total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF), to characterize the phenotype of the deletion and elucidate the functional role of CAPS.
I realized shortly after my recruiting visit that there was no other place I would rather do my graduate work than in Madison. I was very impressed by the collaborative nature of the investigators within the department and across campus. Besides the outstanding research being performed and the impressive resources within the Biochemistry Department, Madison is just a wonderful place to live. This city is so unique. It has the amazing balance of being an extremely active city while still maintaining its small town appeal and charm. Riding my bike to work, sailing with the Hoofers club on Lake Mendota, hanging out with friends at the Memorial Union Terrace, and playing at one of the many golf courses in the area are just a few of the activities I enjoy doing. Before I moved here, I talked to people who had lived in Madison, and every one of them had nothing but positive things to say about this city and school, and I am confident that the same will be true for you.
Mark Marzinke
B.A., BIOLOGY
COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS
Retinoic Acid and the Midwest:
Bringing the Vitamin “A” Game!
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a long and celebrated history in vitamin biochemistry. My graduate research focuses on one of these vitamins, discovered by Elmer McCollum at UW-Madison, Vitamin A. The metabolites of vitamin A are important in several developmental processes, including vision, cellular differentiation, neurogenesis and reproduction. Vitamin A (as the metabolite all trans-retinoic acid) mediates these processes through the regulation of gene expression. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) models have shown defects in neuronal development, specifically affecting hindbrain patterning and cranial nerve organization. The goal of my work is to characterize vitamin A-responsive genes that may be important in neuronal development. Building upon research previously conducted in my lab, I am interested in elucidating the biochemical pathways in which these genes potentially participate. I have currently focused on antibody production, knock-down studies in culture, and protein interaction screens to better understand the functional significance of vitamin A-regulated proteins in neuronal development.
I came to Madison, Wisconsin from New York City, and although a self-proclaimed “Coastie”, my experiences at the university and in this city have been tremendously rewarding. Since joining the department, I have become active in the Student Faculty Liaison Committee (SFLC), serving at one point as Social Chair, Recruitment Chair and Vice-Chair. The goal of the committee is to allow the graduate students to have a voice and a role in directing the future of our department, and it has been incredibly successful since its inception. Personally, I have made amazing friendships with labmates as well as people throughout this diverse department and beyond. The more time I spend here, be it going for Gelato on State Street, stopping by Bratfest during the summers, grabbing a locally-brewed beer at the Memorial Union Terrace (or “Il Terrachi” as my friends call it), or attending the Concerts on the Square, the more I think of Madison as home. New York is an amazing place to visit, but my three years in Madison are making me realize that I am not as much of a “big city boy” as I thought.
Jonathan Mitchell
B.S., MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Mechanisms of Virus-induced Apoptosis
Apoptosis is a specific type of programmed cell death that culminates in the highly ordered deconstruction of a cell into small, membrane bound bodies. Importantly, cells from a wide variety of organisms have evolved mechanisms of detecting viral infection and mounting a swift apoptotic response. While apoptosis can serve as an important antiviral defense to limit viral replication and spread, the resulting damage to tissues and organs is often closely associated with disease. Thus, the need to understand the mechanisms by which virus-infection leads to apoptosis of host cells exists on several levels.
I am interested in characterizing the mechanisms by which baculoviruses, a family of insect viruses, trigger apoptosis within infected Drosophila cells. Baculovirus infection provides a potent pro-apoptotic signal that is sufficient to cause apoptotic cell death in nearly 100% of infected Drosophila cells. This, along with the tractability of a Drosophila cell culture system and the conservation of apoptotic machinery amongst eukaryotes, makes for an ideal setting in which to study virus-induced apoptosis.
More importantly, however, Madison really is an ideal setting in which to study virology, particularly through a biochemical approach. I began my search for graduate schools feeling pretty certain that I wanted to join a virology lab, but also knowing that I wanted to join a biochemistry program. I quickly found that at many universities, virology was largely relegated to microbiology or molecular biology programs. Madison, however, has definitely provided me with the opportunity to study virology in a biochemical setting, albeit within a sea of highly collaborative experts from a wide-variety of training backgrounds.
Ultimately though, the real strength of IPiB, and Madison as a whole, is people. Granted, many universities do excellent science, but Madison seems to do so while also maintaining a truly unassuming and down-to-earth feel. That can be attributed to the type of people that come here, faculty and students alike, as well as those who have come from here. Truly, Madison was the one place that was spoken highly of on literally every one of my interviews. Many of the people that had been here at previous stages of their career spoke of it with an air of nostalgia. It simply has been, is, and will continue to be a great place to be a graduate student.
Katie Mouzakis
B.S., CHEMISTRY-BIOLOGY
HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE
Programmed ribosomal frameshifting in HIV-1
Over 33 million people were living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2007 (World Health Organization 2007 report). Several drugs targeting proteins vital to HIV-1 replication have been developed, but due to the virus’ high mutation rate, many treatments are becoming obsolete and new inhibition strategies must be developed. One potential breakthrough strategy is to inhibit viral replication at the genomic level. Dr. Samuel Butcher’s lab is pursuing this strategy by studying programmed ribosomal frameshifting in HIV-1. During HIV-1 mRNA translation, the ribosome slips into a -1 reading frame with 5% frequency at a site between the Gag (structural polyprotein) and Pol (enzymatic polyprotein) open reading frames. This frequency results in a 20:1 molar ratio of Gag to Gag-Pol polyproteins and is critical to HIV-1 replication. Disrupting this ratio in either direction inhibits the formation of infective viral particles. Two structural elements are required for the HIV-1 frameshift event: a heptanucleotide slippery sequence (UUUUUUA) and a highly conserved downstream RNA structure. The structure of the RNA has been solved by our lab using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The goals of my research are to further elucidate this frameshifting mechanism using structural, biochemical, and molecular biology techniques.
Why I chose IPiB
When applying to graduate school, my top priorities were finding outstanding Biochemistry programs that had faculty I was interested in working with as well as cultures that promoted graduate student success. Once I had come up with my list, UW-Madison was at the top, but it wasn’t until I interviewed here that it blew me away. What I found was a community that fostered collaboration, creativity, and graduate student development. The graduate students were genuinely happy, successful, and had dynamic lives outside of lab.
Life in Madison
I love living in Madison! Moving here from southern California has been quite a change, but I was looking for an adventure. In my spare time I run, play ultimate frisbee, and act as a volunteer cross-country coach for a local high school. Some of the things I appreciate the most about Madison are the beautiful places to run and endless numbers of trails I have found. It is also incredibly easy to get around town by bike (in the Spring, Summer, and Fall) and by bus (in the Winter). Whether you are a sports, food, music, art, or outdoor enthusiast, you will always be able to find something interesting to do in Madison. The people are great, the school is amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for more.
Brynne Stanton
B.S., BIOCHEMISTRY
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON-EUGENE
It was difficult challenge for me to choose a single graduate program among the several I visited, but when the decision time arrived I enthusiastically settled on Madison primarily because of the interactions I had with faculty members during my interview. Professors made me comfortable enough to talk about ideas and focus on science, rather than trying to intimidate me or make me apprehensive. So even though interviewing can be a stressful experience, the Madison experience was fun and educational. I am currently preparing for my preliminary examination on my research project that focuses on two evolutionary conserved DNA binding proteins’homeodomain proteins’that function in cell type specification in Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogenic fungus that causes severe health problems in immunocompromised individuals. What I like most about my project is using classical biochemical approaches to study DNA binding proteins that are central to the biology of a medically important organism. The wonderful interactions I have had with students and professors here are why I chose Madison and why my research project has been successful and exciting. I am really grateful for how dedicated the professors are to my scientific development.
Sarah Teter
B.S., BIOCHEMISTRY
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Understanding Fe-S Cluster Acquisition by FNR in E. coli
FNR (fumarate nitrate reductase) is a global transcription regulator that allows E. coli to adapt to changes in oxygen availability in its environment. FNR contains an oxygen labile iron-sulfur cluster, allowing it to sense oxygen. The major Fe-S biogenesis pathway that provides Fe-S clusters to FNR is Isc (Iron Sulfur Cluster), although the mechanisms of targeting of FNR to the Isc pathway and insertion of the Fe-S cluster into FNR are not well understood. My interest is in understanding the mechanism of Fe-S cluster acquisition by FNR.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an exciting and dynamic place to learn. In my opinion, the best aspects of the IPiB program are its approachable faculty, the cooperation and sense of community among the grad students, and of course, UW-Madison’s enduring history and strong reputation in biochemistry. I have found that the IPiB program has more than met my expectations for a supportive learning environment.
Besides being home to a great university, Madison has a lot to offer as far as activities. My fiancé and I love to frequent the multiple farmers’ markets, the (FREE) zoo, the botanical gardens, and the performances of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra at Concerts on the Square. Several state parks within a short driving distance from Madison also provide beautiful scenery and opportunities for outdoor diversion. The spirit of openness and friendliness of UW carries over into Madison, making it a great place to live and learn!
Rex Watkins
B.S., CHEMISTRY
UTAH STATE
Protein engineering of ribonuclease A and the investigation of ribonuclease inhibitor function
I arrived in Wisconsin with a chemistry-oriented background and was looking to enter more biological realms. The nucleus of chemical biology talent provided much of the impetus to join the University of Wisconsin Biochemistry Department.
My research is focused on the protein engineering of ribonucleases and better understanding the biological function(s) of its inhibitor protein, ribonuclease inhibitor. The work is rewarding and multidisciplinary – from organic synthesis to molecular biology.
The atmosphere is inviting and collaborative. Faculty members are energetic, talented, and helpful, in part due to a support staff that is second-to-none. The state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure make the imagination the primary limitation to research. I personally have benefited most from interactions with fellow students.
Madison has been a wonderful choice for me and my family. The university housing is affordable, located convenient to campus, and the neighborhoods are safe. And importantly, there are plenty of opportunities to play basketball.