ASBMB LAUNCHES AUDIOPHILES PODCASTS
December 2007
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DRgV>`_Vj contents DECEMBER 2007
ON THE COVER: John Dietschy is studying society news cholesterol processing in the brain to find ways to 2 President’s Message prevent it from accumulating abnormally. 26 4 Washington Update CHOLESTEROL IMAGE CREDIT: KEN BUTENHOF. 10 New Skin Lipids Series in JLR 10 ASBMB Launches AudioPhiles Podcasts 12 Retrospective: Arthur Kornberg (1918—2007) special interest 11 Women in Science is Focus of Hill Hearings, Legislation 14 Trends in Employment and Awards
2008 meeting overview 16 The 2008 FASEB Excellence in Science Award: Mina J. Bissell 17 The 2008 Avanti Award in Lipids: Alexandra C. Newton pg (1918—2007) 12 science focus 26 John Dietschy: Understanding Cholesterol Metabolism Biomedical Science Ph.D. Employment
120,000 departments 100,000 80,000
5 News from the Hill 60,000 8 Member Spotlight 40,000 20,000
18 Minority Affairs 0 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 20 Career Insights Other Government Industry Academia 22 Education and Training py 14 24 BioBits resources
30 Career Opportunities podcast summary 34 For Your Lab This month’s ASBMB AudioPhiles Podcast looks at a line of “mighty mice” bred by Case Western 35 Scientific Meeting Calendar Reserve University researchers as well as the classic work of protein chemist Frank W. Putnam. Download the podcast at: http://www.faseb.org/asbmb/media/media.as
December 2007 ASBMB Today 1 president’smessage
A monthly publication of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ASBMB’s Ongoing Officers Heidi E. Hamm President Activities in Gregory A. Petsko President-Elect Mark A. Lemmon Secretary Peer Review Merle S. Olson Treasurer BY HEIDIHAMM Council Members Alan Hall Kuan-Teh Jeang Suzanne R. Pfeffer Linda J. Pike John D. Scott Joan A. Steitz Kevin Struhl James A. Wells SBMB has taken a strong and detail next month. For now, we are Ex-Officio Members Aactive role in providing the pleased to report that the peer review Ellis Bell National Institutes of Health (NIH) system, according to the feedback we Chair, Education and Professional with advice during its year-long effort have received, is in generally good Development Committee Laurie S. Kaguni to review and (we hope) make improve- shape. However, a few storm clouds are Chair, Meeting Committee ments in its peer review system. on the horizon. George Hill Elsewhere in this issue of ASBMB Today Members of the study sections Chair, Minority Affairs Committee Kendall J. Blumer is an article about ongoing peer review generally think the system is working Anna Marie Pyle meetings under the aegis of a working well. Respondents thought the quali- Co-chairs, 2008 Program Committee group of the Advisory Committee to ties of the reviews are mostly fair, the Mary J. C. Hendrix Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Committee the director of NIH. These meetings, expertise on the sections is appropriate, Robert E. Rhoads chaired by ASBMB members Keith and the Scientific Review Administra- Chair, Publications Committee Yamamoto and Lawrence Tabak, have tors (SRAs) for the study sections being Herbert Tabor Editor, JBC been very well attended, and ASBMB looked at were generally competent and Ralph A. Bradshaw has had representatives at all of them. qualified.Th e major problem raised is A. L. Burlingame A parallel track of meetings is being that it is extremely difficult to discrimi- Co-editors, MCP Edward A. Dennis organized by NIH’s Center for Scien- nate between equally meritorious pro- Editor, JLR tific Review. These p“o en houses” have posals when only a limited number can
ASBMB Today been held regularly all year, and the be funded. This of course is not a prob- Editorial Advisory Board goal is that when completed, all Initial lem with the peer review system per Alex Toker Review Groups and the study sections se; rather, it is a problem of not enough Chair grouped underneath them will have money in the system (we hope you have Mike Autry Greg P. Bertenshaw Craig E. Cameron A. Stephen Dahms been reviewed for effectiveness. contacted your member of Congress at Irwin Fridovich Richard W. Hanson ASBMB has joined the American some point this year about the impor- Elizabeth A. Komives Bettie Sue Masters Luke A. O’Neill Society for Cell Biology in an effort to tance of funding NIH adequately!). Duanqing Pei Carol C. Shoulders generate data from a survey of some As might be expected, the responses Robert D. Wells of our members on how the study sec- from applicants were somewhat more ASBMB Today tions are functioning, and many of you negative. Only about three-quarters Nicole Kresge Editor received a copy of the survey in late of the respondents believed that their [email protected] October. applications were assigned to the Nick Zagorski Science Writer [email protected] So far, we have received almost appropriate section, and only about Nancy J. Rodnan Director of Publications 400 responses from people who have half of the respondents thought that [email protected] submitted grant applications to the section members in the aggregate had Barbara Gordon Executive Director [email protected] study sections being reviewed in the appropriate level of expertise to
Magazine design & production: Amy Phifer November and December and almost review their applications. More worri- 200 responses from current or former some, almost half of the respondents to For information on advertising contact FASEB AdNet at 800-433-2732 ext. 7157 or members of these same study sec- the survey whose sections were being 301-634-7157, or E-mail [email protected]. tions. We are reviewing the data and reviewed at the November open house will share the results with you in more did not think the process was thorough
www.asbmb.org December 2007 or fair. Complaints about reviewer These results are not necessarily you. Please write to our public affairs bias or hidden agendas, contradic- surprising. However, as with most officer, Pete Farnham, at pfarnham@ tory reviews, slowness, and too much such surveys, the unsolicited com- asbmb.org. Provide Pete with the emphasis on preliminary data were ments, especially from the members name of the study section, whether common. of the study sections in question, are you were an applicant or a member Finally, about 26% of applicants useful and interesting. I will have (and when), and any comments you who submitted to the study sections more results to report in my next have, particularly if you have sugges- being reviewed in November were column. tions on how to improve the system. It funded (only applications with a If you have experiences as a is only by letting NIH know how the priority score averaging less than 150 member or applicant before any system is working (or not) that it will received funding). study section, we’d like to hear from be improved.
Errata: An article in the November issue of ASBMB Todayy mistakenly said that David Allis identified the first HAT. This is incorrect. The first yeast HAT1 was identified by Rolf Sternglanz and colleagues in a paper published in the JBC (1995 270, 24674–24677).
BIOCHEMISTRY FACULTY POSITIONS Ross University School of Medicine, located on the Caribbean island
of Dominica in the West Indies, has 2 Biochemistry faculty positions available at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. Rank will be determined depending on experience. One position will focus on teaching in medical genetics, and one in biochemistry. Our mission is to prepare highly dedicated students to become effective, successful physicians in the U.S. Basic science coursework is taught in ! Dominica. Students then complete their clinical studies in the U.S. After passing all prerequisite examinations, Ross graduates are licensed to
practice medicine in all 50 states of the U.S. Ross University School of
Medicine is a division of DeVry, Inc (NYSE:DV). The focus of the faculty is to teach, develop teaching materials, and improve curriculum. Thus, effective teachers are sought, particularly those individuals who are interested in improving medical education and who " work well on a team. Requirements: Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Genetics or # $ a related field; experience in/knowledge of teaching molecular genetics; solid knowledge of the subject; previous teaching exp in North America % ! " or the UK.
$ & The primary responsibility is teaching Biochemistry, Molecular Biology ! and/or Medical Genetics to 1st year medical students. Biochemistry and ! Genetics are integrated into one course that is taught through the first ' 2 trimesters of the basic sciences program. The curriculum does not include lab exercises in Biochemistry/Genetics. In addition to lecturing, duties ( ) include participation in the problem-based learning program, committee * + ,! -.%/ work, faculty meetings, and meeting with students when appropriate. 0/120 '3 4 We offer competitive, potentially tax-free annual salaries, relocation ' assistance to and from the island, deferred compensation program, 5 medical benefits, 25 days of paid annual leave, and opportunities for professional development. A review of applications will continue until the positions are filled. To apply, visit our website at www.rossu.edu/med, select “Careers” and submit your CV, or complete our on-line application process. E.O.E.
December 2007 ASBMB Today 3 washington update FA S E B FASEB Works to Educate Congress and the Public about NIH and Basic Research BY CARRIE D. WOLINETZ
n the current era of fiscal constraint, conflicting priori- identified a number of intersecting pathways, involving Ities, and partisan politics, it becomes more important the nervous system, allergic response, and even inflam- than ever to reach policymakers with the message that mation, which have allowed for more targeted asthma science and research funding are critically important. In therapies and relief for millions of asthma sufferers. The light of this, FASEB’s Office of Public Affairs is focus- article also describes researchers’ quest to answer ing on continuing efforts to develop tools and products questions like: why are incidences of asthma on the that FASEB and society member scientists can use to rise?; what triggers asthma attacks?; and why does a communicate with policymakers as well as exploring cold make asthma worse? Readers will come away with new strategies to engage members of Congress. Two an understanding of what causes asthmatic symptoms, of these efforts are described below. how asthma therapies work, and an appreciation for the decades of scientists and clinicians whose collective Breakthroughs in Bioscience work now allows asthma patients to breathe easier. Article on Asthma FASEB recently announced the release of the publica- Briefing for Freshman tion “Breathtaking Discoveries: How Basic Research Members of Congress Led to Treatments for Asthma,” the latest article in the While the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains Breakthroughs in Bioscience series. The Breakthroughs fortunate to have stalwart and active champions like in Bioscience series is a collection of illustrated articles, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) published by FASEB, that explains recent developments or Representatives David Obey (D-WI), Edward Markey in basic biomedical research and how they are important (D-MA), and Mike Castle (R-DE), it is also important to to society. FASEB distributes this series, free of charge, make sure new members of Congress gain an apprecia- to members of Congress, patient advocacy groups, tion for the importance of federal funding of research. It educational organizations, members of the press, and is not unusual, particularly with freshman members of research advocacy partners. We highly encourage mem- Congress, for policymakers to be unaware of the work bers of the FASEB societies to use these materials in the NIH funds or cognizant of the fact that the research their own advocacy and education activities. The entire funding flows back to scientists in their districts. To series, which ranges from advances in cardiovascular address this challenge, FASEB is organizing a briefing treatment to diabetes therapies to antidepressants, aimed at introducing freshmen members of the House of is available online (opa.faseb.org/pages/Publications/ Representatives to NIH, featuring NIH Director Elias Zer- breakthroughs.htm) or in hard copy form by contact- houni. FASEB staff have been working with the office of ing the FASEB Office of Public Affairs (opa.faseb.org). Congressional freshmen class president, Representative FASEB also welcomes suggestions for new topics that Tim Walz (D-MN), as well as patient advocacy groups, meet the objective of the series: basic research dis- including the Alzheimer’s Association and American coveries that have resulted in effective treatments or Heart Association, to put together this event for the 54 diagnostics for medical conditions. new members of the House. Taking place on December While asthmatic attacks have been documented 11, the briefing will not only foster an appreciation for the since ancient times, referenced in Egyptian papyri and activities of NIH among freshmen Representatives but Homer’s Iliad, it is only fairly recently that scientists have also may ultimately inspire the next generation of medi- come to understand that asthma is not a single disease, cal research champions. but rather a collection of syndromes leading to common symptoms of breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing. Researchers investigating the causes of asthma have Carrie D. Wolinetz is with the FASEB Office of Public Affairs.
4 ASBMB Today December 2007 news from the hill NIH Review of Peer Review Continues BY PETER FARNHAM, CAE, AND ANGELA HVITVED, ASBMB OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
he National Institutes of Health (NIH) peer review sys- aimed at the NIH mission of improving health. Ttem continued to receive scrutiny at meetings in New Finally, it was noted repeatedly that many diseases are York and Washington, DC, during October. The meetings “under-funded” in proportion to the burden of illness they were the third and fourth of a series of five held around represent among the general population. the country to collect comments from the scientific com- munity about how the system is working. The meetings Suggestions for Improvement are being held under the aegis of a Working Group on A number of suggestions were offered, including the Peer Review of the NIH Director’s Advisory Committee. idea of funding basic and disease-oriented research The group is chaired by Lawrence Tabak, director of the separately, providing “milestone-driven” grants for risky National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, work, grouping under-funded diseases together and and Keith Yamamoto, University of California at San Fran- giving research on those diseases a chance to “catch cisco (both are ASBMB members). up” before requiring them to compete in the general pool The most recent meeting, held October 22 in Wash- of applicants, providing “pre-reviews” of grant proposals ington, focused on concerns of individuals representing before submitting full grants to determine relevance to patient advocacy groups and gave them an opportunity human health, providing incentives for serving on study to discuss their concerns and suggestions regarding the sections such as extending the grants of members to peer review system and possible changes. compensate for time spent on study section business, Eight individuals representing various interests, includ- better training for scientific review officers, self-assign- ing the Arthritis Foundation, the Parkinson’s Action Net- ment of study sections, improving the success rate for work, and the National Breast Cancer Coalition, gave brief first time applicants through quotas and limiting who they comments followed by discussion sessions. Although a have to compete with, and not requiring large amounts of wide range of concerns were discussed, several themes preliminary data for some types of grants. consistently emerged: One member of the audience expressed concern The funding climate is too conservative, and there is about the apparent view that there was some kind of not enough support for “risky” research. competition between basic and translational research Greater participation is needed in study sections. The and cautioned against the temptation to focus too much workload is becoming more and more burdensome. Younger investigators are not as well trained in how to perform as a study section member, and standards and practices are necessary. Members perform inconsistently, and expecta- tions are also not consistently stated. It was also suggested that in some cases, exemptions from conflict-of-interest regulations were needed to broaden the scope of expertise. Many commented that there appeared to be a bias in study sections toward basic research and that not enough importance was given to clinical and translational work. Many questioned whether the bulk of NIH’s work is really
December 2007 ASBMB Today 5 news from the hill continued
on particular illnesses rather than broader, cross-cutting s -EETING FORMATS In study section meetings, group dynamics areas of research that impact many diseases. The top are important; thus face-to-face meetings are essential. Phone priority should be funding the best science, and working to or videoconferencing participation is not nearly as effective. increase funding broadly best served everyone’s interest. s .EW VS EXPERIENCED PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS 0)S Grant Working Group Co-chair Keith Yamamoto echoed these applications from new PIs, who tend to be younger, should sentiments in his closing comments, noting that some of be considered in separate study sections without having to the changes proposed can also have unanticipated out- compete against applications from older, more experienced PIs. comes. For example, establishing an early layer of review to determine an application’s relevance to human health would s ,ENGTH OF APPLICATIONS The current 25-page application is too be quite problematic because it is often hard to assess rel- long, although there was no consensus on how much it should be shortened. evance at first, although it later may become apparent that the work is extremely relevant. s 2EVIEWER TRAINING New members of study sections should receive training, and section chairs should wield the gavel more Another Meeting, Other Ideas decisively to cut down on irrelevant and off point discussion. Grant applicants should get a clear and concise summary s )NCENTIVES TO SERVE Prospective members of study sections of criticism of their grants. Reviewers should use a standard should be given some incentives to serve, such as grant form. Grant applications should be shortened. On resub- extensions to make up for time spent on study section missions, don’t come up with new criticisms when all earlier business. ones have been addressed. Reviewers should be allowed s #APPING FUNDING In these difficult times, the amount of money to consider funding. Applicants should be able to submit a to any one lab should be capped. pre-proposal so they will know early if their grant applica- s $ISCRETIONARY FUNDS Program directors should have tions have a chance of being funded. discretionary funds available to fund innovative and interesting These and many other suggestions were aired at the proposals. third regional consultation meeting on peer review on Octo- s -EMBER SELECTION Section chairs should be senior scientists ber 8 in New York. Unlike the October 22 meeting, this one who no longer are receiving NIH funding. In addition, foreign did not focus on the concerns of patient advocacy groups scientists should be section members. alone but rather took comments from a broader sampling of s $EMOCRACY IN THE SYSTEM “The peer review system is more the scientific community. As at other meetings, individuals akin to a military tribunal,” said one commenter. The rebuttal were given five minutes to make comments on ways they system needs to be made more effective. believe the peer review system could be improved. s #HOICE OF STUDY SECTIONS Applicants should have some say in what study sections their applications go to. Also, grant Among the suggestions: applications from small or cross-disciplinary specialties often s #ONCISE SUMMARY OF CRITICISMS Reviewer comments are are sent to inappropriate sections without the necessary often vague and not very well stated. Reviewers should specify expertise. which comments must be addressed in a revised application s &UND AUTOMATICALLY TO THE TH PERCENTILE Even if grants in the and which are merely “thinking out loud.” Negative comments 11-20th percentile have to get partial funding, some money is should be aired publicly. better than none. And funding more small grants is better than s 0RE PROPOSALS This would be akin to an abstract of a scientific funding fewer large ones. paper. Grant applications take many hours to fill out, and many The bottom line for some commenters, however, was are routinely triaged (i.e. not reviewed). Being able to submit that there is simply not enough money in the system. “If a pre-proposal would allow an applicant to learn quickly Congress were funding NIH adequately,” one said, “none of whether it would be worthwhile to bother to submit a full grant us would be here.” application. A biomedical research lobbyist at the meeting noted that s &UNDING LEVELS Reviewers should be allowed to consider scientists need to make it clear to their members of Con- funding requests in grant applications; a study might not be gress that NIH needs more funding. With an election com- worth the money involved. It might also motivate applicants to ing up next year, scientists can ask candidates for public be more frugal in their requests. office what their stance is on NIH funding. They should be s )NDIRECT COSTS Facilities and administrative costs should attending candidate forums and asking questions, writing be slashed and the money saved devoted to funding grant to their Congressmen and Senators, and working to elect applications. candidates (regardless of party) that support NIH.
6 ASBMB Today December 2007 2008 NIH Funding set at $30 Billion— If President Doesn’t Veto It BY PETER FARNHAM, CAE, ASBMB PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
n November 1, House-Senate conferees resolved all ally added an additional $100 million beyond the higher Odifferences between their respective House and Sen- Senate figure—a very rare occurrence. House Appropria- ate-passed Labor, Health and Human Services (L/HHS) tions Chairman David Obey (D-WI) explained that had bills, and the conference report was sent to the floors of Congress agreed with the President’s FY 2008 proposal both House and Senate where it was considered during for NIH, 1,100 research grants (over two years) would have the week of November 5. If all goes well, the bill is to be to be cut. sent to the President on or around Veteran’s Day. “This development clearly is a big victory for those This timing is not a coincidence. The Democratic lead- supporting biomedical research,” notes FASEB Director ership attached the Military Construction–Veteran’s Affairs of Legislative Affairs Jon Retzlaff. “Our community owes a Appropriations Bill to the L/HHS bill, which, combined great deal of gratitude to Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and with mandatory Medicare, Medicaid, and other entitle- Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Representatives David Obey ment spending that grows automatically and is not part of (D-WI) and James Walsh (R-NY).” any dispute, makes up the largest portion of the spend- The decision to add the Military Construction–Veteran’s ing measure. Democrats hope the President will not veto Affairs Bill to the L/HHS bill is being criticized by Republi- the measure because it includes so much uncontroversial cans and will complicate matters once the bill goes to the spending. But the L/HHS portion of the bill exceeds his House and Senate for final passage. Republican conferees proposed spending levels by about $10 billion. Further- expressed concern that funding for veterans will be delayed more, House Republican leaders claim they have the votes because of the President’s plan to veto the L/HHS bill. to sustain a presidential veto, and Office of Management Obey responded to these criticisms by stating that and Budget (OMB) Director Jim Nussle reiterated the he compromised by agreeing not to attach the Defense President’s intent to veto the measure in a letter to the Appropriations bill to the L/HHS bill, and he asked Repub- Congressional leadership sent the last week of October. licans to exhibit the same kind of willingness to compro- If the President does veto the bill, this will be very unfor- mise by being open to combining the L/HHS and Veteran’s tunate news for NIH, which for the first time in five years Affairs bills (the Democratic leadership had initially intended has grown at a level close to biomedical inflation. Con- to include defense spending in the measure but decided ferees agreed to support a fiscal year (FY) 2008 funding not to at the last minute because of opposition from within level for NIH of $30 billion. The Senate had proposed to its own ranks over the idea). Nevertheless, Republican increase NIH funding in FY 2008 to $29.9 billion, whereas Senators are threatening to raise a point of order, allowed the House proposed to increase the agency’s funding in under the Democrats’ new ethics rules, requiring 60 votes FY 2008 to $29.65 billion. Therefore, the conferees actu- to keep the combined package intact.
ASBMB MEETING DEADLINES Don’t forget these deadlines
Housing: March 3, 2008 www.asbmb.org/meetings
December 2007 ASBMB Today 7 asbmbfirstsecond member spotlightwords
Que to Receive 2008 Goldberg Honored with Alfred Bader Award Ernst Knobil Award The American Chemical Society announced Alfred Goldberg of Harvard Medical School at its national meeting in Boston that (HMS) was chosen to receive the 2007 University of Minnesota Professor of Ernst Knobil Award from the University of Chemistry Lawrence Que will receive the Texas Medical Center in Houston. This 2008 Alfred Bader Award in Bioinorganic or annual award is given in honor of Ernst Bioorganic Chemistry. The Bader Award Knobil, the third dean of University of Texas recognizes significant accomplishments Medical School and one of the world’s lead- that are at the interface between biology ing neuroendocrinologists. and organic or inorganic chemistry. The Goldberg received the award in recogni- award is given to scientists at the top of their fields; among the tion of his many fundamental contributions to our understand- previous 20 recipients are 17 members of the National Academy ing of the mechanisms and regulation of intracellular protein of Sciences. degradation. Que has made outstanding contributions to the field of bio- Goldberg, HMS professor of cell biology, gave the Ernst Knobil inorganic chemistry that have profoundly impacted the under- Distinguished Lecture at the University of Texas Health Science standing of the structure and function of metal ions in biology. Center in Houston this past October. The lecture series is the He has played a pioneering role in understanding the function university’s premier scientific presentation and attracts an audience that nonheme iron centers play in dioxygen activation in biology. with diverse research interests. The honor is given each year to Using a multidisciplinary approach, he has successfully combined an internationally recognized researcher and includes a $10,000 biochemical/biophysical studies of the metalloproteins themselves award. This prize has been previously award to Eric Kandel, and synthetic approaches to develop structural and functional Joseph Goldstein, Stan Prusiner, and Jeffrey Friedman. models for these systems.
Shaw Named HHMI Investigator Theil Is Garvan-Olin Andrey Shaw, the Emil R. Unanue Professor Medal Awardee of Immunobiology in the Department of Elizabeth Theil, senior scientist at CHORI, Pathology and Immunology at Washington the Children’s Hospital & Research Center University School of Medicine in St. Louis, in Oakland, California, has been awarded has been named an investigator of the the American Chemical Society’s (ACS’s) Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). 2008 Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal Shaw was one of 15 researchers for her research on the chemistry of iron in selected nationwide. More than 200 biology and for her advocacy of biochemis- physician-scientists applied for this year’s try studies in the education of all chemists. competition, which was focused on researchers who probe basic The Garvan-Olin Medal recognizes biomedical questions in innovative ways that help rapidly improve distinguished research and service achieved by women chemists patient diagnosis and care. and is the third oldest ACS award and first award established to As an investigator, Shaw will remain at Washington Univer- honor women chemists. sity where his laboratory will be supported by HHMI. The initial Theil was honored for her research on the structure, function term of the new appointment is five years and is renewable after and genetic control of ferritin. She was also recognized for her review. HHMI has committed $150 million to support the 15 new commitment to new areas in chemical education, where she was investigators during their initial term. an early advocate for the requirement of biochemistry in ACS- HHMI selected Shaw for his work with podocytes, cells that are approved curricula. found in the kidney’s glomerulus. In 1999, Shaw found a gene that Theil is one of the 35 principle investigators at CHORI and was essential for normal podocyte function. Now his lab is involved is currently the leader of the Council of BioIron at the research in a search for other genes that are essential to podocyte function institute. In addition she is an adjunct professor in the Department and may as a result also be linked to kidney failure. of Nutrition, Science, and Toxicology at the University of California, PHOTO: SARAH CONARD/PR NEWSWIRE, ©HHMI Berkeley, and in the Department of Molecular Structural Biology at North Carolina State University.
8 ASBMB Today December 2007 Please submit news about yourself to [email protected]
Five ASBMB Members RAYMOND J. DESHAIES, California Institute of Technology WILLIAM L. DUAAX, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Elected to IOM Institute This past October, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) announced ANINDYA DUTTA, University of Virginia School of Medicine the names of 65 new members, five of whom are members of HOWARD J. EDENBERG, Indiana University School of Medicine ASBMB. These include: ELLEN H. FANNING, Vanderbilt University BRUCE J. BAUM, chief, gene transfer section, National Institute of ROBERT L. FISCHER, University of California, Berkeley Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, ERROL C. FRIEDBERG, University of Texas Southwestern Bethesda, Maryland. Medical School JEFFREYY V. RAVETCH, Theresa and Eugene M. Lang Professor ELAINE FUCHS, Rockefeller University and head, Leonard Wagner Laboratory of Molecular Genetics SANKAR GHOSH, Yale University School of Medicine and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York City. JONATHAN D. GITLIN, Washington University School of Medicine MATTHEWW P. SCOTTT, investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and professor of developmental biology, genetics, GARY D. GLICK, University of Michigan and bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, STEPHEN P. GOFFF, Columbia University Stanford, California. BARBARAA J. GRAVES, University of Utah ARNOLD W. STRAUSS, B. K. Rachford Professor and chair of NIG D. F. GRINDLEYY, Yale University pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; and medical director, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, JEROME E. GROOPMAN, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cincinnati, Ohio. THOMAS J. GUILFOYLE, University of Missouri-Columbia THOMAS C. SÜDHOFF, investigator, Howard Hughes Medical GERALD L. HAZELBAUER, University of Missouri-Columbia Institute; and chair, Department of Neuroscience, University of STANLEYY L. HAZEN, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. STEVEN C. HUBER, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The new members raise the total active membership of the SAMUEL KAPLAN, University of Texas-Houston Medical School IOM to 1,538. Current active IOM members elect new members JUDITH KLINMAN, University of California, Berkeley from among candidates nominated for their professional achieve- RICHARD J. KUHN, Purdue University ment and commitment to service. An unusual diversity of talent IRAA MICHAEL LEFFAK, Wright State University School of is assured by the institute’s charter, which stipulates that at least Medicine one-quarter of the membership be selected from outside the STANLEYY M. LEMON, University of Texas Medical Branch at health professions, from such fields as the natural, social, and Galveston behavioral sciences as well as law, administration, engineering, JOHN D.LIPSCOMB, University of Minnesota and the humanities. ROBERT P. MECHAM, Washington University School of Medicine JAN A. MIERNYK, U. S. Department of Agriculture SHAHRIAR MOBASHERYY, University of Notre Dame ASBMB Members TOM W. MUIR, Rockefeller University Elected as AAAS Fellows FREDR.NAIDER, College of Staten Island Several ASBMB members have been awarded the distinction of MARIT NILSEN-HAMILTON, Iowa State University AAAS Fellow, an honor bestowed upon American Association for LESLIE V. PARISE, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the Advancement of Science (AAAS) members by their peers. This ANNAA M. PYLE, Yale University year, 471 AAAS members have been awarded this honor in rec- JAMES E. ROTHMAN, Columbia University College of Physicians ognition of their contributions to science and technology. The new and Surgeons Fellows will be inducted at the Fellows Forum in February during LEONA D. SAMSON, Massachusetts Institute of Technology the 2008 AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston. We congratulate the SUZANNE B. SANDMEYER, University of California, Irvine School following ASBMB members for this achievement: of Medicine GOTTFRIED SCHATZ, University of Basel SUSAN G. AMARA, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine RANDY W. SCHEKMAN, University of California, Berkeley MARKA.BATZER, Louisiana State University GANES C. SEN, Cleveland Clinic Foundation MARLENE BELFORTT, University at Albany, State University of JOHN SHANKLIN, Brookhaven National Laboratory New York JEAN C. SHIH, University of Southern California STEPHEN M. BEVERLEYY, Washington University School of Medicine ROYY L. SILVERSTEIN, Cleveland Clinic Foundation MORRIS J. BIRNBAUM, University of Pennsylvania JANET L. SMITH, University of Michigan JOAN S. BRUGGE, Harvard Medical School THOMAS A. STEITZ, Yale University ELIZABETH A. CRAIG, University of Wisconsin-Madison F. WILLIAM STUDIER, Brookhaven National Laboratory BENJAMIN F. CRAVATTT, III, Scripps Research Institute PALMER TAYLOR, University of California, San Diego SALIL K. DAS, Meharry Medical College PAULAA TRAKTMAN, Medical College of Wisconsin TERENCE S. DERMODY, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine GEORGE C. TSOKOS, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
December 2007 ASBMB Today 9 asbmb news New Skin Lipids Series in JLR
his month, the Journal of In the last article in the series, Matthias Schmuth and TLipid Research (JLRR) is start- colleagues will review the role of peroxisome proliferator- ng a new thematic review series activated receptors (PPARs) and liver X receptors (LXRs) onn skin lipids. The series consists in skin biology. These lipid-activated nuclear hormone off six articles, the first of which receptors are present in the skin and regulate a wide appears in the December issue variety of skin functions. ofo the journal along with an edito- “Together, this series of articles should provide an up- rial on skin lipids by Kenneth R. to-date review of cutaneous lipid metabolism,” says Fein- Feingold of the University of California, San Francisco. gold. “I am hopeful that the readers will develop a greater Feingold is an associate editor for JLRR and also is a coor- appreciation for the key role of lipids in skin biology, and dinator for the review series. The remaining articles will perhaps they will be attracted to applying their expertise appear in subsequent issues of JLR. to further elucidate the key roles of lipid metabolism in The series starts off with an editorial by Feingold skin biology and disease.” in which he provides an overview of the upcoming thematic reviews. The December JLR also contains a review article by Feingold in which he discusses the role of epidermal lipids in permeability barrier function. This ASBMB Launches barrier, which prevents the loss of water and electro- AudioPhiles Podcasts lytes, is comprised of extracellular lipid-enriched mem- This past November, ASBMB launched branes that contain ceramides, cholesterol, and free AudioPhiles, a monthly podcast featuring fatty acids. research highlights from ASBMB journals. Next, Diane Thiboutot and colleagues will discuss lipid The first podcast contained highlights from metabolism in sebaceous glands, which secrete a variety the Journal of Biological Chemistry, includ- of lipids onto the surface of the skin. They will also review ing a spotlight on the breeding of a “Mighty the role of sebaceous gland lipids in skin hydration. Mouse” by Richard Hanson of Case West- The third article in the series will be by Phillip Wertz ern Reserve University Medical School and excerpts from and colleagues. They will review the role of skin lipids in a JBC Classic paper by protein chemist Frank W. Putnam. preventing infections and show that these lipids, pro- These JBC News podcasts will be posted every month and duced by both the epidermis and sebaceous glands, are will contain summaries of research appearing in the journal active participants in the innate immune system. that month. Peter Elias and colleagues will then review the role Future podcasts will also include research highlights from of lipids in regulating desquamation, or the shedding of the Journal of Lipid Research and Molecular and Cellular Pro- the outer layers of the skin. A number of genetic abnor- teomics, interviews with prominent biochemists, and Society malities in lipid metabolism have been linked to faulty news items. desquamation and have thus provided useful insights The podcasts are intended to present a new way for into the role of lipids in regulating cohesion and desqua- ASBMB members and journal subscribers to stay informed mation in normal skin. about research in their fields of study. They can be found Next, Walter Holleran and colleagues will discuss on ASBMB’s new multimedia Web page at www.faseb.org/ sphingolipid metabolism in the epidermis. These sphin- asbmb/media/media.asp. golipids not only play key roles in the formation of the ASBMB will also be posting supplementary video footage extracellular lamellar membranes in the stratum corneum on the new multimedia page. These videos will be on subjects that account for the permeability barrier, but they also that are of interest to researchers in the fields of biochemistry play an essential role in the formation of the cornified lipid and molecular biology and will complement journal articles envelope that links the corneocyte with the extracellular and podcasts. lamellar membranes.
10 ASBMB Today December 2007 specialinterest Women in Science Is Focus
of Hill Hearings, Legislation In dealing with BYANGELA HVITVED issues of subtle
ssues of women in science and engineering were in the Engineers (SWE) hosted a biases and ICapitol Hill spotlight this fall, with legislation introduced luncheon to discuss “The climate, there are and a hearing held. September saw the introduction of Leaky Science and Engi- no quick fixes. the “Gender Bias Elimination Act of 2007” (H.R. 3514) by neering Pipeline: How can Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX), authoriz- we retain more women in ing $4.4 million to establish workshops aimed at eliminat- academia and industry?” Shalala discussed the National ing gender biases in the sciences. Academies report and answered audience questions. Lisa The bill would apply to all of the major federal agen- Frehill, the executive director of the Commission on Pro- cies that fund scientific research, including the National fessionals in Science and Technology, presented an analysis Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, Department of of SWE’s national survey of women in engineering, “Reten- Defense, National Science Foundation, and NASA. A sign- tion of Women Engineers in Industry,” which gathered on letter supporting Johnson’s initiative is being circulated, information on women’s participation in and satisfaction and ASBMB has added its name to the list of supporters with engineering careers in industry. for this legislation. Stay tuned for more information as the Outside the world of policy, a study was published legislative process progresses. in EMBO Reports, conducted by the Second Task Force In October, the House Committee on Science and Tech- on the Status of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) nology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education Intramural Women Scientists, summarizing the responses held a hearing entitled “Women in Academic Science and of more than 1,300 intramural postdoctoral fellows at the Engineering” to discuss barriers to women seeking science NIH to a Web-based survey on attitudes and expectations and engineering faculty positions. Committee members regarding future careers in academic research. The results heard testimony from Donna Shalala, president, University provided insights into the factors and forces that result in of Miami; Kathie Olsen, deputy director, National Science the significant loss of women in the transition from post- Foundation; Freeman Hrabowski, president, University doctoral fellow to faculty position. of Maryland, Baltimore County; Myron Campbell, chair Researchers posed a variety of questions aimed at better of Physics, University of Michigan; and Gretchen Ritter, understanding the concerns and priorities of postdoctoral professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin. fellows, both women and men. The general issues of work- A large focus of the testimony was the 2006 National family balance were prioritized differently between men Academies report “Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the and women, confirming observations from previous stud- Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineer- ies. Additionally, gender differences in self-confidence and ing” that was commissioned to bring together information self-evaluation could provide further avenues of inquiry and current statistics on the status of women in science and and potential intervention. However, it remains clear that engineering in academia. Shalala chaired the committee narrowing the gender gap in academic research will require that produced the report and gave a brief summary of the attention to multiple details, and no single solution will be findings. Several on the panel stressed the need for sweep- able to address such a complicated issue. ing organizational reforms to tackle the multiple factors RESOURCES that feed into the higher rate of attrition for women in aca- To view the text of the “Gender Bias Elimination Act of 2007” go to thomas.loc.gov/ and enter “H.R. 3514” in the search box. demia; however, all participants agreed that in dealing with To download the executive summary of the National Academies Report “Beyond issues of subtle biases and climate, there are no quick fixes. Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering,” go to books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11741. A full verr- A concerted and persistent effort must be made to address sion of the report can also be purchased. Testimony presented at the House subcommittee hearing can be found on their the complicated factors, including subconscious gender Web site: science.house.gov/subcommittee/research.aspx. biases and issues of work and family balance. The report of the survey of intramural NIH postdoctoral fellows can be downloaded from the EMBO Reports Web site (November 2007, 8,11): Following the House hearing, the Society of Women www.nature.com/embor/journal/v8/n11/index_ss.html.
December 2007 ASBMB Today 11 asbmb news Retrospective: Arthur Kornberg
rthur Kornberg, former ASBMB president and Nobel mechanisms in the biological synthesis of ribonucleic acid and A Laureate, passed away on October 26, 2007, at 89 deoxyribonucleic acid”1. years of age. He was a longtime professor at Stanford Univer- Since then, Kornberg enjoyed a close relationship with the sity and continued to work in his laboratory until a few days JBC and was even asked to write the first JBC Reflection in before his death. 20012. Kornberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1918. He In 2006, Kornberg’s son Roger was awarded the Nobel received his undergraduate degree from the City College of Prize in Chemistry for solving the three-dimensional struc- New York in 1937 and his M.D. from the University of Roches- ture of RNA polymerase and creating a detailed picture of ter in 1941. After a year-long internship in internal medicine at transcription in eukaryotes. The Kornbergs are the sixth father Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, Kornberg and son to both win Nobel Prizes. served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health In 1967, Kornberg and his colleagues became the first Service during World War II. He was first assigned to the to produce the active inner core of a virus in a laboratory. Navy as a ship’s doctor and then as a research scientist in the President Lyndon B. Johnson hailed the report of the feat as Nutrition Section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “one of the most important stories you ever read” because it At NIH Kornberg studied vitamin deficiency diseases and “opens a wide door to new discoveries in fighting disease and established an enzyme research laboratory. He eventually building healthier lives.” became chief of the Enzyme and Metabolism Section. He In his academic career, Kornberg served as departmen- resigned from this position in 1953 to assume the chairman- tal chairman, on the committees of the Stanford Medical ship of the Department of Microbiology of Washington Univer- School and Stanford University, and on the advisory boards sity School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1959, Korn- and councils of numerous universities, governmental, and berg moved to California, where he organized the Department industrial research institutes. He was a founder of the DNAX of Biochemistry of the Stanford University School of Medicine, Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (a division serving as its chairman until 1969 and thereafter as professor. of Schering-Plough, Inc.) and a member of its Policy and Sci- He accepted the title of professor emeritus in 1988. entific Advisory Boards. He served on the Scientific Advisory Kornberg’s early studies on the mechanisms of the Boards of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Maxygen, and enzymatic synthesis of coenzymes and inorganic pyrophos- the XOMA Corp. and was also a member of the Board of phate led to his interest in the biosynthesis of nucleic acids, Directors of XOMA Corp. particularly DNA. He elucidated the key steps in the pathways Kornberg was devoted to encouraging the government to of pyrimidine and purine nucleotide synthesis, including the support scientists to study science for intellectual progress discovery of 5’-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophospate (PRPP) as an rather than for potential financial benefits. “Invest in science,” intermediate. Continuing with experiments on the enzymes he said in an interview with ASBMB. “It is as sound, practi- that create DNA, Kornberg eventually isolated DNA poly- cal, and essential for our nation’s health and industry as the merase I. investment we make in the rearing and education of our Kornberg submitted two papers concerning this seminal children.” discovery to the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC). The Among Kornberg’s honors are memberships in the first was a description of the purification of DNA polymerase National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society, and the from Escherichia coli, and the second was a description of American Philosophical Society; a number of honorary the components necessary for DNA synthesis to occur. These degrees; the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1959); the two papers were initially declined by the reviewing editors. National Medal of Science (1979); the Cosmos Club Award Fortunately John Edsall, who had just assumed the position of (1995); and the Gairdner Award. editor-in-chief of the journal, intervened, and the two papers We extend our sympathy and thoughts to Kornberg’s were accepted. In 1959, one year after the papers were friends and family. To the right, as a tribute, we offer thoughts published, Kornberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiol- and reflections from several of Kornberg’s friends and former ogy or Medicine with Severo Ochoa “for their discovery of the colleagues:
12 ASBMB Today December 2007 (1918–2007)
Although we were graduate students with Bob Lehman and Roger Kornberg, since our time at Stanford Arthur has been a generous mentor and a friend. He helped to shape our scientific careers, first by adding his encourr- agement to Roger’s to begin and work together on the RNA polymerase II transcrip- tion project we collaborate on to this day and then by convincing DNAX to provide us lab space in which to do so. From him, and further amplified by Bob and Roger, came the belief that there is no such thing as a borr- PHOTO CREDIT: JAMIE KRIPKE PHOTOGRAPHY ing enzyme and that ultimately the best and most elegant route to understanding biological mechanisms I came to Stanford as an assistant professor in the Biology is through fractionation, resolution, and purification of the Department in 1971, and I met Arthur then but only briefly. enzymes and proteins involved and reconstitution and analysis A few years later, I learned that he had nominated me for of the process in a test tube. We are deeply grateful to have membership in the American Society of Biological Chemists. had the chance to have Arthur as a friend and a mentor, and This was an important advance in my young career, to be we will cherish his memory always. recognized by one of the legends of biochemistry as having —Ron and Joan Conaway, investigators, some promise. More importantly, it is the small things that are Stowers Institute for Medical Research the measure of the person, and Arthur went out of his way to do this small thing for me. He was a tireless and unrelenting I view the days I spent in the mid-1950s working with Korn- advocate for basic biomedical science and the important role berg in the Department of Microbiology on the fourth floor of that the NIH plays. the old Clinic Building at Washington University to be among —Robert D. Simoni, professor and chairman, the most thrilling and enjoyable of my scientific career. There Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University were new and unexpected findings being made virtually every day, and all of us in our small group shared in the joy and Arthur was not only a great scientist but also a terrific col- excitement of those discoveries. I feel terribly fortunate to league and a close friend to so many of us. My own associa- have been part of that extraordinary moment in time. tion with him began 64 years ago when we worked together —I. Robert Lehman, William Hume Professor Emeritus, at NIH and has continued over the intervening years. While Stanford University School of Medicine his scientific contributions are legendary, he had a tremen- dous influence on all of his associates, including me, as well Arthur’s loss is so painful to me; it is difficult to cope with. I as on all of his students. Indeed, he did much to shape the had known Arthur for more than 50 years. He was partially course of biochemistry over the past six decades, in part by responsible for my accepting a position in the Biological Sci- insisting on the importance of careful laboratory research ences Department at Stanford. While I was considering this and basic enzymology in solving biological problems. We will invitation I learned that Arthur was moving his department to all miss him. Stanford Medical School, and this convinced me that Stan- —Herbert Tabor, Pharmacology Section, chief, ford desired to become an outstanding research institution. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, NIDDK, Arthur was an exceptional scientist. He had very high personal National Institutes of Health standards and believed that basic research was extremely
important and that it would lead to many medical applications. FOOTNOTE He was a thorough believer in enzymology. He recognized that More information on Kornberg’s research can be found in his Journal of Biologi- cal Chemistry Classics article (1), and video interview with Kornberg in honor of other areas of research were important but, for him, underr- ASBMB’s Centennial Celebration can be seen at http://www.faseb.org/asbmb/ standing how specific enzymes act was his major goal. Arthur media/media2.asp. was my idol; I will always miss him. REFERENCES 1 Kresge, N., Simoni, R. D., and Hill, R. L. (2005) Arthur Kornberg’s Discovery of —Charley Yanofsky, professor emeritus, DNA Polymerase I. J. Biol. Chem. 280, e46. Stanford University 2 Kornberg, A. (2001) Remembering Our Teachers. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 3-11.
December 2007 ASBMB Today 13 firstspecialsecondinterest words
These graphs complete our feature on the data compiled by Howard Garrison and Kimberly McGuire of FASEB’s Office of Public Affairs. The graphs represent trends in Ph.D. employment and grant awards. The full set of data from FASEB’s Office of Public Affairs can be found at opa.faseb.org/pages/ PolicyIssues/training_datappt.htm.
Biomedical Science Ph.D. Employment
120,000 Since 1973, thehe majorityty of scientistsscientist who 100,000 earned biomedical bio Ph.D.s have gone into
80,000 academia.aca However, over the years, the number of Ph.D.s entering non-academic 60,000 careers has increased dramatically andnd is 40,000 now almost equal too those employedemployeployed on academia.cademia. 20,000 SOURO CE: THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 0 (WWW.NSF.GOV/STATISTICS/SESTAT/). 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 Other Government Industry Academia Academically Employed Biomedical Ph.D.s by Tenure Status Since 1981, the percentage of Ph.D.s in 60,000 tenured, tenure track, and academic post- 50,000 doctoral positions has remained somewhat 40,000 constant.con However, over the same period, the numnumberumber of Ph.D.s employed in other 30,000
academic positionsns hasha doubled.doub 20,000 SOURCE: THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATIONON (WWW.NSF.GOV/STATISTICS/SESTAT/). 10,000
1981 1985 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
Other Academic Academic Post Doc Tenure-Track Tenured
Percentage of U.S. Biomedical Science Ph.D.s Holding Tenured or Tenure-Track Positions 50.0 The percentage of biomedical 40.0 science Ph.D.s holding tenure or tenure-track positions has 30.0 declined steadily since 1981. 20.0 In 1981, 45.8% of Ph.D.s held
10.0 these positions. By 2003 the number decreased to 28.9%. 0.0 1981 1985 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003
14 ASBMB Today December 2007 Medical School Faculty Members by Degree and Department Type 120,000 The overall ov numbernum of M.D.s anand Ph.D.ss 100,000 employed in medical schoolsscho hash momore than doubled doub in theth past 20 years. The 80,000 majority of these continue to be M.D.s 60,000 employed in clinical departments.nts. How-H
40,000 ever,er, the numbermber of Ph.D.s and M.D.- Ph.Ph D.ssin in clinical departments has also 20,000 seen a significant increase. 0 SOURCE: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 (WWW.AAMC.ORG/DATA/FACULTYROSTER/REPORTS.HTM).
M.D.– Ph.D. in Clinical Science Department Ph.D. in Clinical Science Department M.D. in Clinical Science Department M.D.– Ph.D. in Basic Science Department Ph.D. in Basic Science Department M.D. in Basic Science Department Number of NIH Research Project Awards Granted
12,000
10,000 Although the number of National Insti- tutes of Health (NIH) research project 8,000 grants awarded has increased since 6,000
1995, the number of R01 and R29 grants 4,000 awarded has remained the same. 2,000 SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (GRANTS1.NIH.GOV/GRANTS/AWARD/AWARD.HTM). 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Research Project Grants R01and R29 First time R01 and R29
Average Age of First Time R01/R29 Awardees 46 For Ph.D.s, the average age of 44 first time R01 awardees has 42 increased from 34.3 years in 1970 40 to 41.8 years in 2006. Similarly, the 38 average age has increased from 36.7 to 44.2 years for M.D.s and 36 M.D.– Ph.D. 34 M.D. 39.3 to 43.9 years for M.D.-Ph.D.s. Ph.D. SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 32 (GRANTS1.NIH.GOV/GRANTS/AWARD/AWARD.HTM). 30 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
December 2007 ASBMB Today 15 first2008second annual meetingwords The 2008 FASEB Excellence in Science Award: Mina J. Bissell
ina J. Bissell, distinguished scientist, Life Sciences indistinguishable when grown in culture MDivision, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has without extracellular matrix, but when Bissell been selected to receive the FASEB Excellence in Science extracellular matrix was added, both Award at the 2008 ASBMB Annual Meeting. Bissell is a cell types changed their behavior. The normal cells became world-renowned leader in the role of extracellular matrix and organized, stopped growing, and differentiated, while the microenvironment in regulation of tissue-specific function cancerous cells grew rapidly into a tumorous mass. with special emphasis in breast cancer, an area in which she These experiments convinced Bissell that the has changed some established paradigms. She will pres- extracellular matrix sends signals to breast cells that alter ent her award lecture in San Diego, California, on Tuesday, their gene activity and led her to propose a new model of April 8, at 8:30 am. breast tumorigenesis. She suggested that a normal cell Bissell grew up in Iran and was ranked among the top becomes cancerous through a multistep process, involving of the country’s high school students when she gradu- both genetic changes within the cell and signals from the ated from high school. She won a scholarship to attend an extracellular matrix. American college and chose Bryn Mawr College. After her When Bissell went public with the idea that the tissue sophomore year, she transferred to Harvard/Radcliffe Col- surrounding a cancer cell is just as important in shaping its lege and earned an A.B. with honors in chemistry in 1963. behavior as the genes inside it, she met with serious oppo- She then went on to earn a Ph.D. in bacterial genetics at sition from the cancer research community. A quarter-cen- Harvard University, where she was one of only three women tury later, that view has changed. Thanks to studies in Bis- in a class of 200. Her doctoral thesis proposed the uncon- sell’s lab and others, the extracellular matrix is now widely ventional idea that enzymes fold into their final form only recognized as an important source of signals that regulate after they are secreted by the cell—a model that has since the changes in gene expression and cell division, survival, been proven correct. shape, and movement that control tumor progression. Bissell graduated in 1969 and was a Milton Fellow at Bissell’s long-term goal is to develop a more realistic Harvard for the next year. In 1970, she left Harvard and three-dimensional model of breast cancer that mimics its became an American Cancer Society Fellow in the Depart- normal situation and can be used to study cancer patho- ment of Molecular Biology at the University of California, genesis and test anticancer drugs. Berkeley. There, she started studying the cells of higher Bissell was selected to receive the FASEB Excellence in organisms. She joined the Lawrence Berkeley National Science Award for her scientific leadership at the intersec- Laboratory in 1972 and has remained there since. Bissell tion among the cellular microenvironmental, the extracellular became a senior scientist in 1977, the director of Cell & matrix, and the three-dimensional tissue structure in Molecular Biology in 1988, and was appointed director of all differentiation and cancer. The selection committee was of Life Sciences in 1992. particularly struck by the fact that at first Bissell’s ideas were It was at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that not well accepted but that she bravely persevered and that Bissell began her groundbreaking work on cancer. At that ultimately her work resulted in a special initiative from the time, cancer was thought to arise when one or two genes in National Cancer Institute, with a new study section estab- a cell acquire mutations that trigger uncontrollable prolifera- lished to focus on this bold new paradigm. tion. The meshwork of proteins and other molecules sur- The FASEB Excellence in Science Award is sponsored rounding the cells, known as the extracellular matrix, were by Eli Lilly and Company and recognizes outstanding thought to serve as a passive scaffold. achievement by women in the biological sciences. The Bissell began to question the role of the extracellular award is open to members of all the societies of FASEB; matrix in cancer. Using breast cells, she and her collabora- Bissell is a member of ASBMB. Past winners include Fran- tors showed that normal and cancerous breast cells were ces Arnold, Marilyn Farquhar, and Elaine Fuchs.
16 ASBMB Today December 2007 The 2008 Avanti Award in Lipids: Alexandra C. Newton
lexandra C. Newton, professor of pharmacology at live cell imaging of PKC activity with Athe University of California in San Diego (UCSD), will novel reporters to more precisely define Newton be presented with the Avanti Award in Lipids at the 2008 the PKC activation pathway in a cellular ASBMB Annual Meeting. Newton has worked for over two context. This work showed when, where, and for how decades on molecular aspects of lipid signaling and as a long PKC is active in the cell and revealed for the first time result has been able to elucidate the molecular controls where PKC’s activity was sustained and where it was rapidly that regulate the function of protein kinase C (PKC). She turned off. will present her award lecture in San Diego, California, on More recently, Newton has focused on the cellular mech- Monday, April 7, at 8:30 am. anisms that terminate PKC signaling. She has discovered “Alexandra’s work can be characterized as elegant and two novel proteins: a Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-con- meticulously designed experiments which provide novel taining phosphatase called PHLPP that dephosphorylates a insights into difficult and important biological questions. Her key site in the enzyme and an E3 ligase named RINCK that most significant contributions focus on discoveries which targets PKC for down regulation via proteosomal degrada- have led to a greater understanding of the role protein tion. Newton later found that PHLPP appears to function kinase C plays in lipid research,” says Jack E. Dixon, dean as a tumor suppressor in the same manner as the lipid of Scientific Affairs at UCSD and vice president and chief phosphatase PTEN, by terminating Akt signaling. scientific officer at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. “As a contemporary of Alexandra’s, I can state categori- Newton entered the field of protein kinase C (PKC) cally that, from my perspective, Alexandra has contributed research in the late 1980s as a postdoctoral fellow at the more than any other single investigator to the advancement University of California, Berkeley, with Daniel Koshland, Jr. of our understanding of how protein kinase C is processed There, Newton studied how lipids control the activity of PKC from a newly synthesized polypeptide into a functionally and discovered that the enzyme phosphorylates itself. competent, calcium-dependent, lipid-regulated protein In 1988, after setting up her own laboratory at Indiana kinase, how PKC interacts with specific lipid co-factors at University in Bloomington, Newton began to investigate bilayer membranes to become activated, and how catalytic PKC activation. She showed that when calcium ions are activity and processing is regulated by lipids and by auto- released in the cell they bind to PKC and allow it to tether phosphorylation and phosphorylation by upstream kinases,” to the cell membrane. The membrane-bound PKC then says Alan P. Fields, professor and chair of the Department moves along the membrane and binds to diacylglycerol. of Cancer Biology and director of Cancer Basic Science at This induces a change in PKC’s internal conformation that the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Any one releases a pseudosubstrate, freeing the active site and of the contributions mentioned above would make for a allowing PKC to phosphorylate other proteins. respectable and productive career, but to have all of these By the mid 1990s, when Newton joined the faculty areas of PKC research led and so heavily influenced by one of UCSD, she and her colleagues had shown that PKC investigator is truly impressive. In reflecting on Alexandra’s needs to be sequentially phosphorylated on three differ- work over the past 15 years, perhaps what is most distinc- ent sites before it can bind to the cell membrane. Conse- tive is the breadth of approaches, growth in conceptual quently, she was one of the first investigators to recognize design and sophistication over time, and the unwavering that phosphorylation of PKC by phosphoinositide-depen- high quality of her scientific contributions.” dent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) triggers PKC autophospho- Newton is also committed to biomedical service and edu- rylation at the two remaining sites. This led to a series of cation. She is director of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate prominent papers that defined molecular components of program at UCSD and a former member of the ASBMB the PKC activation pathway. council. She has organized several scientific meetings and Newton performed several follow up studies that utilized has been co-chair of two past ASBMB meetings.
December 2007 ASBMB Today 17 minorityaffairs The Future of Minority-targeted Programs and Groups BYTHOMAS LANDEFELD
he establishment of Minority Affairs Committees initiatives, ethnicity cannot be considered in decisions T(MACs) within organizations (such as national sci- on admissions and hiring. These efforts and other similar entific societies like ASBMB) and as part of agencies, efforts such as the Hopwood decision in Texas have had institutions, and other groups is designed to address devastating effects on minority enrollment, particularly the under-representation of minorities within each entity. in the professional schools in California and Texas, two Similarly, federal agencies, for example, have established states where “the minority is now the majority.” Simi- programs that provide funds specifically to address this larly, they severely hamper efforts to diversify the faculty problem faced by academia as well as ranks because institutions are afraid to general society. Many of these were challenge them legally. As these efforts initially referred to as Affirmative Action continue nationwide, with the groups now Programs and, although there was cer- identifying five more states, and when tainly resistance to the existence of these coupled with blatant racist actions such programs, they were generally accepted as the display of nooses nationwide, and did work to address the problem. In we, as academicians, scientists, and fact, non-minority women made signifi- members of society in general should be cant gains as a result of these programs. concerned about the future of the United Much of the resistance to these pro- States, especially considering the chang- grams related to the fact that the issue of ing demographics of the country. “race” was being addressed (and I hate What does this have to do with using that term since it is totally a social ASBMB? As mentioned, the MACs of construct that has no biological basis!). the various scientific societies were Despite the challenges, the programs established to address the under-repre- have continued for many years and, sentation of minorities in the sciences, although they certainly have not solved and in particular, the individual scientific the problem, they have been effective societies, ASBMB of course, being one in at least addressing it. Interestingly, at of those. Although it is a tough issue to the same time these programs were challenged, one address as an organization, these scientific societies do did not see challenges in academia to other preferential represent a significant gathering of the professionals in programs such as the legacy rule or preferences afforded science from around the world and, in particular, in the athletes, musicians, and individuals representing other United States. Thus, efforts can indeed generate results talented specialties. In fact, even today very few chal- when the commitment to address the problem is there. lenges exist against these preferential programs. Also, at this point, the groups attacking these programs Conversely, in recent years, groups such as the Center have not yet identified scientific societies as targets, for Equal Opportunity, the American Civil Rights Coali- perhaps because monies for the societies are not tied tion, and the Center for Individual Rights have led a the same way as they are to institutions and agencies. national assault on “race-based programs” at all levels, Regardless of the reason, MACs, such as the ASBMB including specific institutions, federal agencies and, MAC, must play a proactive role with its membership, most importantly, state initiatives. Examples of the lat- with its legislative liaisons, and with any other networks ter include Proposition 209 in California in 1996, similar to offset the actions by these groups. Despite what these efforts in Washington State and, most recently, Proposi- groups are saying, the playing field is far from level in tion 2 in Michigan. As a result of the passage of these this arena, based on any of the statistics. As a result,
18 ASBMB Today December 2007 the workforce in 2050 cannot truly represent the “face of society” and cannot adequately address the issues that will be most important to science and society. An excel- lent example of such a critically important issue is that of minority health disparities. In fact, this issue represents a national crisis when one considers such diseases/disor- ders as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, breast and prostate cancer, hypertension, infant mortality that are disproportionately higher in minority populations. For these reasons and others, the ASBMB MAC, with support of both the constituency and the governing body of ASBMB, must prioritize the role that the organiza- tion plays in making a difference in educating, providing positive exposure for, and supporting minority scientists. How can this be accomplished? It can be a simple as providing information about the activities and the data through magazine articles such as this one to much more complicated efforts, often spearheaded by MAC but with support of the ASBMB governance, such as increasing efforts to increase minority membership; increasing the numbers of minorities speaking, and chairing sessions at national meetings; electing minorities in leadership roles within the society; and proactively advocating to legisla- tors about these issues. Currently, MAC is accomplishing some of this in that: 1) there are now four sessions spon- sored by MAC at the ASBMB annual meeting, including one dealing with “minority issues” but also three others addressing scientific aspects related to health disparities, 2) ASBMB exhibits and recruits at several minority con- ferences each year, 3) the ASBMB MAC is participating with the MACs of other societies as part of a “SuperMac” group that will be more visible and more vocal than the MACs from individuals societies, and 4) ASBMB provides minority student presentation awards at the annual meet- ing as well as at a major minority conference. There are other ways that ASBMB can effect a change, including outreach efforts in grades K-12 including programs for teachers and mentoring of students, but this can only happen with continued and expanded support from the ASBMB leadership. Although ASBMB has not assumed a leadership role in this area among the scientific societies, it is now time to become the leader, especially in light of the direction that the country, and therefore the scientific community, is headed in the future. Being the leading scientific soci- ety in the area of biochemistry and molecular biology can only be made better by becoming also a leader in efforts towards increasing the diversity of our profession. firstcareersecondinsights words How I Got into Fundraising BY SARA ROCKWELL MUNRO
t never fails. When someone finds With a new career plan in hand, Iout that I am now the director of I changed my grad school search to Development and Community Rela- public health and public administra- tions for the YMCA but was once a tion programs to earn credentials for molecular biologist he or she asks, medical or research management. I “How did you get into fundraising?” chose public administration for two Even now, I find it hard to believe reasons: most research facilities were until the follow-up question is asked, public entities; and the courses were “How did you leave science behind?” far more diverse and applicable to The answer is, “I haven’t entirely.” managing people and policies. I have always been captivated by After a detour at a public policy science. From the time I could walk center, I found my way into health (and my parents would let me), I care administration in a most pecu- explored tide pools... and I still do. I liar way. I volunteered to plan an Sara Munro remember the glorious day my older event for our local community health Sara Munro received her B.S. in Zool- sister gave me her mini-microscope. I center. A position in the fundrais- ogy and Master of Public Administra- immediately covered slides with salt, ing and public relations department tion from The University of Vermont. sand, grass, and anything else that was was open, and the department head She spent three years in cell and flat enough to squeeze under the lens. thought I would be perfect for the molecular biology research at the Leaving science was the most job despite my limited fundraising Veterans Administration Hospital difficult professional decision I have experience. She was right. This was in White River Junction, Vermont, ever made. My plan since junior high a perfect combination of my past and Dartmouth Medical School school was to grow up to be a devel- experience and surrounded me with before graduate school. She was the opmental geneticist. I doubled up science-oriented people. program director for The Vermont math courses in high school so that I At first, I was intimidated by the Leadership Institute and community would have a head start in college. As fundraising aspects of the work. Like building and policy programs at The an undergraduate, I chose technique most people I thought, “I could never Snelling Center for Government. She courses and a senior research project ask people for money,” until I realized returned to medicine via the Com- to prepare for graduate school. the essential truth of fundraising: munity Relations and Development I worked as a research assistant it gives people a chance to make a Department at The Community Health for three years while I considered difference. Donors connect to an Center of Burlington, Vermont. She is graduate programs. My favorite part organization for a variety of reasons, now the director of Development and of this work was testing new protocols, of which the greatest is belief in the Community Relations at the Greater troubleshooting problems, and teaching mission and purpose. Most cannot do Burlington YMCA and an active volun- graduate students. I was disheartened the work themselves; however they teer in her community. to see how little time my bosses spent show their support in ways such as at the bench. I was also frustrated by volunteering on a board, organizing repeating experiments for several weeks an event, or writing a check. In other donor, this philosophy resonates with or months. I knew I did not have the words, things the benefiting orga- me and sustains my work. discipline to continue through grad nization can’t do themselves. This is That said, it is not always easy. school and postdoc years. I discovered summed up in an old fundraising say- However I am very selective about my that I wanted to work with scientists ing: “giving time, talent, or treasure.” workplace. First and foremost, I only but not necessarily be one. As an active volunteer and modest work for organizations that I donate
20 ASBMB Today December 2007 to myself and that I am passionate my goal of working with scientists, yet a report, and even explaining why a about. With community health, I am this is an exciting time as child care household refrigerator fails for proper personally offended that people do and fitness initiatives gain national vaccine storage. When someone not have access to quality care. At attention. Many opportunities are finds out how I know these things, the YMCA I believe that everyone available to work with Centers for they then ask, “How did you get into deserves a place to grow, learn, and Disease Control and state grants that fundraising?” play. My job is to share this passion demand more research and medical I miss the thrill of discovery and with others and give them the oppor- applications than private donors and challenge of unraveling an experi- tunity to contribute as well. foundations. ment gone awry—un-jamming a Grant writing is a time where I I often overlook how much I use copier just doesn’t have the same use my science background a great my knowledge of science in the com- rush. I still subscribe to NIH alerts deal. Researching, program plan- munity relations aspects of my work. and Medscape newsletters. I keep my ning, and outcome measures are part I am responsible for ensuring that science career on my resume along of any grant, whether it is a National the average client understands the with my publications and presenta- Institutes of Health (NIH) research technical aspects of a program. For tions, which are now outnumbered grant or small foundation support for example I have translated technical by other topics. Science will always a child care program. My experience terms for dental procedures, medical be part of who I am and will support organizing figures, writing captions, tests, and even fitness equipment. My what I do. It is the foundation of my and citing sources allows me to move ability to “talk science” often comes up career that has enabled me to make through the process more quickly when I am preparing a reporter for a bold choices to discover a wonder- than my peers. Making the leap to a story, speaking to a donor about new ful world of possibility beyond the YMCA seems like a move away from health topics, questioning statistics in bench.
2008 Annual Meeting DNA & RNA Molecular Cell Systems Chemical Biology Biology Structure & & Metabolism Dynamics Special Sessions
Signaling
April 5-9, www.asbmb.org/meetings 2008
December 2007 ASBMB Today 21 educationand training Recommended Departmental Practices: Giving Postdocs Order BY J. MICHAEL AUTRY
ostdoctoral scholars are essential contributors to departments are effective agents at facilitating institutional Presearch by academic departments. The National Insti- research, and postdocs benefit greatly from department tutes of Health and the National Science Foundation define resources, including faculty experience, staff support, and the postdoctoral appointment as a “temporary and defined administrative leadership. The most important departmental period of mentored advanced training to enhance the profes- link is the principal investigator (PI), who supervises postdoc sional skills and research independence”1. Unfortunately, activities with support from administrative staff and lab there are few published guidelines for departmental practices personnel. Other faculty members in the department add on postdoctoral training. The recent Sigma Xi postdoc survey scientific guidance to supplement PI leadership, whereas found that a structured training environment increases the other postdocs in the department constitute a scholarly rate of postdoc publication. This article recommends that network of research colleagues. Department chairs further academic departments play a larger role in postdoctoral over- enhance the postdoctoral experience by setting policies, both sight and proposes new programs for postdoctoral training at written and unwritten, that positively influence department the department level. culture and mentor mindset. Institution-wide postdoctoral offices, on the other hand, lack the means to offer discipline- The Sigma Xi Postdoc Survey: specific training but play a large role in providing professional Key Insights on Research Productivity development resources for the varied postdoc population. In 2004, the Sigma Xi Research Society conducted a survey Thus, academic departments should collaborate with central of 7,600 postdocs at 46 research institutions, covering about postdoctoral offices to provide specialized training and pro- 15% of the postdoc population in the U.S. (postdoc.sigmaxi. fessional skills for postdocs. org/). The Sigma Xi survey included questions on many factors of the postdoctoral experience, including training One Potential Model practices, postdoc demographics, institutional benefits, and for Departmental Practices research productivity. The survey report, Doctors“ Without In 2002, the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biol- Orders: Highlights of the Sigma Xi Postdoc Survey,” identified ogy, and Biophysics (BMBB) at the University of Minnesota a strong positive correlation between postdoctoral oversight appointed a director of Postdoctoral Affairs to coordinate the and research productivity; that is, postdocs who report a training of 50+ department “postdocs,” which include post- highly structured training environment publish 40% more doctoral fellows, research associates, and research assistant papers on average than postdocs who report a lack of struc- professors. The BMBB postdoc director and department head ture2. Thus, the postdoc survey data suggest that academic work together with postdocs to provide training programs departments are in a unique position to increase postdoctoral aimed at research productivity and career development. The research productivity by providing additional department BMBB postdoc director is responsible for tracking postdoc oversight. For instance, departments could increase efforts progress, serving as faculty liaison, and helping with the at promoting faculty mentoring, offering advanced training annual postdoc retreat. In addition, the BMBB department workshops, and efficiently managing postdoctoral appoint- head provides dedicated career resources for department ments. postdocs, such as faculty mentored teaching opportunities, lunch/evaluation of faculty candidates, and a weekly newslet- What Is the Department Role ter with external job listings. To promote scientific produc- in Postdoctoral Training? tivity, BMBB offers postdoctoral research prizes, including There are few, if any, recommendations on department prac- Barnum Travel Awards, the Jenness Award for Metabolic/ tices in postdoctoral training reports from the Association Microbial Research, and the Boyer-Peter Award for Research of American Universities3, the National Research Council4, Excellence, which includes an invitation to speak in the and the National Postdoctoral Association5. Clearly, academic department seminar series. As such, the BMBB postdoc
22 ASBMB Today December 2007
director and department head work together to provide structured oversight aimed at enhancing postdoc productiv- ity and career development. Expanded Avenues of Department Oversight and Formal Training At institutions lacking a postdoctoral office with central poli- cies, departments should consider implementing a postdoc training curriculum that includes a standardized appoint- ment letter, individual development plan, annual perfor- mance review, and mandatory exit survey. Home depart- ' ments should also consider offering postdocs the following training resources: 1) orientation guide with department facilities and faculty expertise, 2) annual recruiting day and training retreat, 3) postdoc discussion club and research- in-progress series, 4) instructional workshops on research skills and lab management, 5) social occasions to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between internal divisions and associated departments, 6) postdoc alumni network to aid with disciplinary advice and job placement, 7) guest speak- ers on alternative career options, 8) practice chalk talks and formal seminars to prepare postdocs for job interviews, and 9) mentoring resources to educate faculty advisors. Addition of these departmental resources will act to enhance postdoc- toral training, productivity, and satisfaction. Positive Outcomes Justify  Improved Benefits for Postdocs The Sigma Xi postdoc survey, “Doctors Without Orders,” indi- cates a driving incentive for national research reform: enhanc- ing the postdoctoral experience will increase the productivity of academic research departments and the U.S. scientific enterprise. Additional data on training programs may provide new insights into postdoc productivity and department effi- ciency. Objective measures for individual departments might 0!2 include postdoc-based metrics on publishing rates, sponsored funding, and training participation, correlated over time with career outcomes from postdoc exit surveys. Positive measures of success will enable host institutions and funding organiza- tions to further improve the postdoctoral experience. &
REFERENCES 1 grants1.nih.gov/training/Reed_Letter.pdf 2 Davis, G. (2005) Doctors without orders: highlights of the Sigma Xi postdoc survey. Am. Sci. 93, (suppl.) postdoc.sigmaxi.org/results/ ' 3 Association of American Universities Committee on Postdoctoral Education (1998) “Report and Recommendations” www.aau.edu/reports/PostdocRpt.html 4 National Academies Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (2000) 0 4 “Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience of Scientists and Engineers: A Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars, Advisers, Institutions, Funding Organizations, and Disciplin- ---;+ "; ary Societies” www.nap.edu/books/0309069963/html/ 5 National Postdoctoral Association (2005) “Recommendations for Postdoctoral 8 " Policies and Practices” www.nationalpostdoc.org/ < 0 = > % 0( 3
--;+ "; C@ ? C B> ? < @ firstbiobitssecond asbmb words journal science
The Biochemistry Mighty Mouse of Eukaryotic DNA Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C) is an enzyme that is involved in gluconeogenesis in the liver Replication and kidney cortex and in glyceroneogenesis in the liver The origin recognition complex (ORC) was initially and white and brown adipose tissue. The enzyme is discovered in budding yeast extracts as a protein also present in a wide variety of other tissues however, complex that binds to the autonomously replicating its function in these tissues remains unclear. In this sequence (ARS) to initiate DNA replication. Human JBC paper, the authors overexpressed the gene for homologues of the six ORC subunits have been PEPCK-C in the skeletal muscle of mice and found identified and have been shown to play an important that the transgenic mice were 7 times more active than role in eukaryotic DNA replication as well. In this JBC control mice. This greatly enhanced exercise capacity paper, the authors examined the biochemical reac- was accompanied by a large increase in mitochon- tions required for the formation of this complex in eu- dria and triglyceride content in the skeletal muscle. karyotes. They reconstituted the human ORC using a The transgenics were long-lived and retained their baculovirus expression system and showed that ATP enhanced exercise capacity, as well as their fecundity, is essential for human ORC assembly in vitro. They into murine old age. The mice overexpressing the gene also examined complex formation, the role of ATP for PEPCK-C also had very little body fat, despite binding in complex assembly, and the association of eating 60% the subunits across the cell cycle. From their results, more than they suggest that the assembly and disassembly of control mice. ORC in human cells is uniquely regulated and may The authors contribute to restricting DNA replication to once in conclude every cell division cycle. that overex- pression of PEPCK-C repatterns energy metabolism and leads to
greater lon- PEPCK-Cmus mice contain less body fat than gevity. wild-type mice
Overexpression of the Cytosolic Form of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) in Skeletal Muscle Repatterns Energy The ORC complex is assembled in an ATP-dependent manner Metabolism in the Mouse during G1 Parvin Hakimi, Jianqi Yang, Gemma Casadesus, Duna Massillon, Fatima Tolentino-Silva, Colleen K. Nye, Marco E. Cabrera, ATP-dependent Assembly of the David R. Hagen, Christopher B. Utter, Human Origin Recognition Complex Yacoub Baghdy, David H. Johnson, David L. Wilson, John P. Kirwan, Khalid Siddiqui and Bruce Stillman Satish C. Kalhan, and Richard W. Hanson
J. Biol. Chem. 2007 282, 32370-32383 J. Biol. Chem. 2007 282, 32844-32855
24 ASBMB Today December 2007 A Diabetes The Plasma Polymorphism Membrane Proteome Pancreatic colipase plays a central role in dietary fat The plasma membrane is a semipermeable lipid digestion. Recent studies have shown that a poly- bilayer that surrounds all cells. Because it is in morphism resulting in a cysteine for arginine substitu- direct contact with the extracellular environment, tion at position 92 in the gene encoding procolipase it serves a variety of functions and thus contains a is associated with type 2 diabetes. The authors of wide variety of biological molecules including trans- this JLR paper hypothesized that this polymorphism port proteins, receptor proteins and also proteins might affect lipid metabolism through alterations in involved in signaling or cellular traffic. In this MCP the function or stability of the protein. To test their paper, the authors report on their investigation of hypothesis, they expressed recombinant cysteine the plant plasma membrane proteome of Arabidop- 92 (Cys92) procolipase in yeast and compared the sis thaliana. They washed a highly purified plasma
function and stability of purified Cys92 with that of membrane fraction with NaCl and Na2CO3 salts and the more common arginine 92 (Arg92) procolipase. analyzed the insoluble fractions by nanoLC-MS/ Cys92 fully restored the activity of bile-salt inhibited MS. They lipase with short- and medium-chain triglycerides but were able to only had 50% of Arg92 function with long-chain trig- identify 450 lycerides. After storage at 4°C, Cys92 lost the ability proteins, 65% to restore pancreatic triglyceride lipase activity with of which had medium- and long-chain triglycerides. The loss of never been function correlated with the inability of Cys92 to an- reported in chor lipase on an emulsion surface and oxidation of other plant the cysteine. plasma These find- membrane ings demon- proteomics strate that investiga- Functional categories in the whole the Arg92Cys tions. Half of plasma membrane proteome. polymor- the identified phism proteins were predicted to display transmembrane decreases domains and/or to be anchored to the membrane. the function A fine analysis showed that the majority of proteins of Cys92 were signaling proteins and that 16% were lipid- colipase. modified. Schematic representation of the structure of human colipase. A High Content in Lipid-modified Peripheral Proteins and Integral Receptor Kinases Features A Polymorphism in the Gene Encoding the Arabidopsis Plasma Membrane Proteome Procolipase Produces a Colipase, Anne Marmagne, Myriam Ferro, Arg92Cys, with Decreased Function Thierry Meinnel, Christophe Bruley, Against Long-chain Triglycerides Lauriane Kuhn, Jérome Garin, Hélène Barbier-Brygoo, and Sheryl D’Silva, Xunjun Xiao, and Mark E. Lowe Geneviève Ephritikhine J. Lipid Res. 2007 48, 2478-2484 Mol. Cell. Proteomics 2007 6, 1980-1996
December 2007 ASBMB Today 25 firstsciencesecondfocus words John Dietschy: Understanding Cholesterol Metabolism BY PAT PAGES
nderstanding how cholesterol During his 45-year career, Dietschy Uworks in the body has been the has not only provided insights into subject of intense research over the past the cellular mechanisms of cholesterol century. Scientists have painstakingly regulation, but he also sought to use this studied how cholesterol is metabo- knowledge in the treatment of diseases, lized in both cultured cells and various including cardiovascular and brain animals and showed that this fat-like diseases. He has recently provided new substance is produced not only by the insights into cholesterol metabolism liver—as originally thought—but by in the brain, which may help find new every organ. These studies have also ways of treating metabolic disorders, shown that cholesterol is part of an such as Niemann-Pick C disease, and intricate set of biochemical pathways neurodegenerative diseases, such as that define a cycle among the organs. Alzheimer disease. John Dietschy One of the scientists who is at the forefront of these discoveries is John Early Interest in Although Dietschy was interested in Dietschy, The H. Ben and Isabelle T. Biology and Medicine doing research in biology, he decided Decherd Chair in Internal Medicine in Dietschy grew up in Alton, Illinois, a to pursue medical studies in his junior Honor of Henry M. Winans, Sr., M.D., small town near St. Louis, Missouri. year. “I enjoyed biology in general, but at the University of Texas (UT) South- During his childhood, he enjoyed I realized that I was more interested in western Medical Center at Dallas. He school and felt supported by his using it for a practical purpose, which was among the first scientists who made parents and teachers. “My parents and is why I decided to go to medical precise measurements of the amount teachers had a strong sense of educa- school instead of doing a Ph.D.” of cholesterol entering and leaving the tion, and the teachers were particularly After earning his B.A. in Biology, body; then he and his colleagues eluci- good in physics, chemistry, and biol- Dietschy went to Washington Univer- dated how cholesterol was made in vari- ogy, which probably helped me enjoy sity School of Medicine. He remembers ous organs and later provided a compre- these topics,” Dietschy says. being a little put off during the first hensive description of how cholesterol After high school, Dietschy went year by all the anatomy courses that is regulated among these organs. to Washington University, St. Louis. required him to learn countless names “Cholesterol is now a household “The undergraduate courses in physics, of the various parts of the body. And name, but this was not the case 50 years chemistry, and biology were all taught although he considered following the ago,” Dietschy says. “Back then, we by senior, distinguished professors, Ph.D. track instead of medical school knew only very little about cholesterol, such as Arthur Holly Compton, who during the first year, the following but then scientists started developing won the Nobel Prize in Physics in years provided material that piqued his techniques to measure how sterol was 1927, Florence E. Moog, known for interest in medicine. made, absorbed, and degraded in ani- her research on how lungs mature in mals, which provided the first details of embryos and premature babies, and A Passion for Medicine what was happening at the organ level Viktor Hamburger, who pioneered and Mountain Climbing and later at the cellular level. Today, studies of brain development in During his undergraduate and research on cholesterol is providing embryos,” Dietschy says. “Because of medical school years, Dietschy spent so many results that even experts in the quality of their teaching, the under- his summers hiking and climbing this area can barely keep up with all of graduate education that I received was mountains in Wyoming and Canada. them.” superb.” He loved it so much that he decided
26 ASBMB Today December 2007 that after finishing medical school, he In 1963, Dietschy felt that he Medicine at the University of Texas would practice medicine in Colo- needed more training in biochemistry, Southwestern Medical Center at rado to be able to continue mountain so he applied for—and was granted— Dallas, where he set up his research climbing. So in 1958, he went to Den- another two-year NIH fellowship laboratory. “At that time, the Depart- ver, Colorado, where he completed his to work with Marvin Siperstein, a ment of Internal Medicine was just internship and residency training. renowned biochemist at the Univer- being built,” he says. “The chair of But during his second year of sity of Texas Southwestern Medical the department was Donald Seldin, a residency, Tom Witten, then head Center at Dallas. At that time, Sip- remarkable person who had a passion of the VA Hospital’s Gastroenterol- erstein was trying, for the first time, for combining basic science concepts ogy Department, noticed Dietschy’s to understand how the synthesis of with the practice of internal medi- interest in not only practicing cholesterol was regulated in the body. cine. Also, he hired many young and medicine but also pursuing teach- In Siperstein’s laboratory, Dietschy brilliant scientists who are now major ing and research. So he suggested to started some of the first studies on figures in medicine, such as Michael Dietschy that he work with one of his cholesterol metabolism. He showed Brown and Joseph Goldstein, winners colleagues, the late Franz J. Ingelfin- for the first time that many organs of the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology ger, who was the leading academic other than the liver convert acetate or Medicine.” gastroenterologist in the country at into cholesterol. He also determined Dietschy focused his research that time and was pursuing patient- that, of all the cholesterol that was efforts on understanding how choles- oriented research on esophageal excreted from the body—through terol was processed by various organs diseases at Boston City Hospital and feces—about half of it was converted in the body. He and his team devel- the Massachusetts Memorial Hospital, into bile acids before being excreted. oped techniques to carefully measure Boston. the amount of cholesterol produced Although the suggestion was Cholesterol Metabolism or ingested from the diet in different appealing, Dietschy hesitated because at the Whole Body and types of mammals—including mice, he would have to leave his passion Cellular Levels spider monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, for mountain climbing behind. After In 1965, Dietschy was offered a job and sheep—and how much choles- thinking hard about it, he decided to as an assistant professor of Internal terol was excreted through various join Ingelfinger’s laboratory, a move that would rekindle his interest in scientific research and determine the rest of his career. Early Work on Cholesterol Metabolism From 1961 to 1963, through a two-year grant supported by the U.S. National Insti- tutes of Health (NIH), Dietschy worked as a trainee in gastroenterology with Ingelfinger on understand- ing how structures called micelles, which are made of bile acids, form in the Fig. 1. Flow of cholesterol through the major organs of an animal or human. intestine and how they are CREDIT: DIETSCHY, J. M., AND TURLEY, S. D. (2004) CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM involved in fat absorption. DURING EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND IN THE MATURE ANIMAL. J. LIPID RES. 45, 1375–1397.
December 2007 ASBMB Today 27 science focus continued
pathways. The techniques consisted verted to bile acid, and the cholesterol Cholesterol Turnover among of administering radiolabeled water and bile acid are then secreted into the Animals and within Organs to the animals and then isolating the bile and, ultimately, into the intestine cholesterol that contained the radio- by a variety of transport proteins. Dietschy and colleagues also showed labeled water from every organ. Cholesterol is also internally that the flow of cholesterol from the One of the scientists’ main conclu- recycled twice. In both the liver and peripheral organs to the liver and sions was that the liver was not the intestine, some of the cholesterol is intestine is so tightly regulated that predominant source of cholesterol sent back to where it comes from, the concentration of cholesterol in but that every organ makes choles- forming a cycle between the liver and cell membranes is kept remarkably terol. “Our research showed that the peripheral organs (black arrows constant. The amount of total choles- every cell in every organ makes in Fig. 1) and another cycle between terol in every mammal is on average cholesterol,” Dietschy says. “Choles- the intestine and the liver (red arrows 2,200 milligrams per kilogram of terol is the main component of cell from the intestine to the liver in body weight, but this concentration membranes, so this compound is Fig. 1). varies among different organs. critical to every cell.” At the cellular level, Dietschy and The scientists discovered that Over the years, Dietschy, Stephen his team described various signal- the rate of movement of cholesterol Turley, professor of Internal Medicine ing pathways that explained how among organs varies significantly in at UT Southwestern Medical Center, cholesterol was either made within animals with different basal meta- and colleagues showed that, overall, the cell or absorbed from outside the bolic rates---the amount of energy after cholesterol is first made in the environment. The scientists made expended while at rest. For example, peripheral organs, it is then carried precise measurements of the amount in the mouse, such a rate is about 170 through the blood to the liver and the of cholesterol entering a cell through kilocalories per day per kilogram, intestine before being excreted from different types of receptors (Fig. 1): the and the flow of cholesterol from the body (Fig. 1). In the blood, cho- low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor all peripheral organs to the liver is lesterol is carried by high density lipo- and the scavenger receptor class B type greater than 100 milligrams per day protein (HDL) particles to the liver, I (SR-BI), for example, which take up per kilogram. In contrast, the basal where part of the cholesterol is con- cholesterol from either LDL or HDL. metabolic rate in humans is only 25 kilocalories per day per kilogram, and the flow of cholesterol from peripheral organs to the liver is reduced to 10 milligrams per day per kilogram. Also, each organ has a different basal metabolic rate that affects cholesterol turnover. When such a rate is high—as in the intestine— cholesterol flows faster, and vice versa when the rate is low—as in striated muscle. But the brain appears to be an exception. Although it has a higher basal metabolic rate than the average rate of the whole body, the brain’s cholesterol turnover is only 0.03% per day compared to Fig. 2. Movement of cholesterol between different cellular compartments of the CNS and across the a whole body turnover of blood-brain barrier into the plasma. 0.7% per day. Understand- CREDIT: DIETSCHY, J. M., AND TURLEY, S. D. (2004) CHOLESTEROL METABOLISM IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DURING EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND IN THE MATURE ANIMAL. J. LIPID RES. 45, 1375–1397. ing why this is the case has
28 ASBMB Today December 2007 prompted Dietschy and his team to excess is probably released either Department of Internal Medicine. further examine cholesterol metabo- directly through the blood-brain Such efforts have not only guided his lism in the brain. barrier or it is converted into another research but also his teaching, which sterol called 24 (S)-hydroxycholesterol has proved more challenging. Cholesterol Metabolism that is later released through the “One of the current difficulties is in the Brain blood-brain barrier as well (Fig. 2). how to teach scientific concepts to In humans, the average concentration Cholesterol can also accumulate clinicians who are overwhelmed with of cholesterol in the central nervous abnormally in the brain, leading to many other considerations and have system (CNS)—brain and spinal diseases such as Niemann Pick C dis- relatively little time left to devote to cord—is higher than in any other ease, an inherited metabolic disorder science,” he says. “So every year, I tissue. Also, even though the CNS in which lipids accumulate in the have to decide what parts of the most accounts for only spleen, liver, lungs, recent knowledge need to be included 2.1% of body weight, bone marrow, and in a medical student’s curriculum. I it contains about a the brain. Symp- hope that by doing so, these students quarter of the choles- toms may include will receive the information they need terol and other sterols lack of muscle not only to be good physicians but present in the whole coordination, brain also to understand some of the most body. These observa- degeneration, learn- important breakthroughs in genetics, tions make the brain ing problems, and biochemistry, and medicine.” a compelling organ an enlarged liver For Dietschy, all the knowledge to consider when and spleen. accumulated about cholesterol studying cholesterol Dietschy and his metabolism should help scientists metabolism and team noticed that in better understand many physiological turnover. But these mice with a muta- processes and could provide unprece- mechanisms have not tion in the gene dented insight into what can go wrong been investigated well (NPC1) causing in human metabolism. so far, and cholesterol the disease, cho- “I am very excited by the medical movement either into lesterol excretion prospects of our work on cholesterol,” and out of the CNS from the CNS is Dietschy says. “I hope that all the or among CNS cells increased, whereas advances that we and others have made has been explored by the excretion of 24 in understanding cholesterol function scientists only recently. (S)-hydroxycholesterol is reduced. The will help us clarify what goes wrong Dietschy and colleagues have scientists suggest that because many in various metabolic diseases and may shown that the cholesterol found in neurons die, cholesterol from these lead to drugs that cure devastating the brain is probably made only there dead neurons make up the additional conditions resulting from abnormal and is not provided by the blood cholesterol. They also reason that cholesterol metabolism.” plasma, as in most other organs. The microglia and a lipoprotein called main reason is the blood-brain bar- apoE are involved in clearing the dead BIBLIOGRAPHY: Daumerie, C. M., Woollett, L. A., and Dietschy, J. M. rier, a membrane made of endothelial neurons from the brain. The research- (1992) Fatty acids regulate hepatic low density cells that restricts passage of sub- ers are now studying in detail how lipoprotein receptor activity through redistribution of intracellular cholesterol pools. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. stances—including cholesterol—from cholesterol is processed in the brain in U.S.A. 89, 10797–10801. Dietschy, J. M., and Turley, S. D. (2002) Control of the bloodstream to the brain. the hope of finding ways to prevent it cholesterol turnover in the mouse. J. Biol. Chem. The largest amount of cholesterol is from accumulating abnormally. 277, 3801–3804. Dietschy, J. M., and Turley, S. D. (2004) Cholesterol used to form myelin, the fatty sheath metabolism in the central nervous system during Combining Basic Research early development and in the mature animal. J. Lipid coating the axons of neurons. The Res. 45, 1375–1397. researchers found that more choles- with Medical Applications Dietschy, J. M., Turley, S. D., and Spady, D. K. (1993) Role of liver in the maintenance of cholesterol and terol is synthesized by the glial cells Throughout the past 45 years, low density lipoprotein homeostasis in different animal species, including humans. J. Lipid Res. 34, and neurons than is required for cell Dietschy has always tried to combine 1637–1659. membrane and myelin formation so basic research with medical applica- Liu, B., Xie, C., Richardson, J. A., Turley, S. D., and Dietschy, J. M. (2007) Receptor-mediated and bulk that the excess is released from the tions and felt fortunate that his efforts phase endocytosis cause macrophage and choles- terol accumulation in Niemann-Pick C disease. J. brain. The scientists suggest that this in doing so were supported by the Lipid Res. 48, 1710–1723.
December 2007 ASBMB Today 29 firstcareersecond opportunities words
tiable and commensurate with experience and National Center for qualifications (range of $130,000–$190,000). Genzyme Corporation Toxicological Research The candidate must be a U. S. citizen or per- STAFF SCIENTIST (LIPIDS) DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF manent resident. Benefits include health and Genzyme Corporation, ranked as one of the SYSTEMS TOXICOLOGY life insurance options, retirement, and paid foremost biotechnology companies in the holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Relocation The U. S. Department of Health and Human world, is committed to providing an excep- expenses may or may not be paid in accor- Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tional environment in which individuals can dance with FDA policy. National Center for Toxicological Research excel and achieve their professional and per- (NCTR), Office of Research is seeking to hire Interested individuals should send a sonal goals. Genzyme Corporation has been letter of application with a curriculum a highly qualified scientific leader for the posi- selected by FORTUNE magazine as one of the vitae, statement of proposed and current tion of Director, Division of Systems Toxicol- “100 Best Companies to Work For in 2006 research plans, copies of up to five ogy (DST). The successful candidate will be in the United States.” By applying for a posi- peer reviewed publications, and names expected to lead the DST scientists in multi- tion with Genzyme, you are taking the first with complete contact information of step toward becoming a part of our dynamic disciplinary teams of six Centers of Excellence three references to the attention of Mary and talented team, and sharing in our con- including Centers for Functional Genomics, Ann Hutchison, Office of Management tinued success. Proteomics, Metabolomics, Hepatotoxicity, Services, NCTR, 3900 NCTR Road, Toxicoinformatics, and Chemistry. The suc- Jefferson, AR 72079. Job Responsibilities: cessful applicant will be expected to provide Applications must be postmarked no We are seeking a Staff Scientist to work in an research leadership, technical expertise, and later than January 10, 2008. In Vitro Biology group to support Drug Discov- functional area mentorship for the inclusion of FDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. FDA/NCTR ery for targets in lipid biosynthetic pathways. OMICs (genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, is a smoke-free environment. You will develop, optimize, validate, and exe- and metabolomic), bio-imaging techniques, cute biochemical and cellular assays to sup- nanotechnology and informatic tools to sup- port lipid-based projects as part of a growing port regulatory decisions including use in stud- small molecule drug discovery program. Pri- ies for the development of safe and effective Oregon State University mary responsibilities include assay develop- drugs, veterinary medicines, medical devices FACULTY POSITION, ment, automation and running of screening and foods associated with the FDA’s Critical NUTRIENT/GENE assays, and characterization of small mol- Path Initiative. INTERACTIONS AND ecule leads in support of structure activity The NCTR, located approximately 30 miles HEALTHY AGING relationship studies. You will be involved in all south of Little Rock, Arkansas, conducts FDA The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State aspects of the screening process from com- mission-related research that is of critical University invites applications for a tenure- pound management to reporting data. Addi- importance for the agency to develop a sci- track or tenured full-time faculty position in tionally, you will participate in protein purifica- entifically sound basis for regulatory decisions. its newly created Healthy Aging Program. tion procedures in order to supply enzymes For more information on NCTR research and The successful candidate will be expected to and substrates for screening. training activities, visit www.fda.gov/NCTR. establish or maintain a competitive research Basic Qualifications: In the Division Director-level position, the program focused on studying the role of A Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, or a incumbent will be expected to be a visionary diet or micronutrients in influencing cellu- related field and 1 year of experience with leader and to establish a nationally recognized lar, genetic, and physiological function dur- lipids is required. Also required is 1 year of research program in systems toxicology to ing aging. Of particular interest is research experience in the design, validation, and exe- support the agency’s mission. The appointee on the interactive effects of nutritional fac- cution of enzyme assays and in liquid handling will represent, manage, and provide leadership tors on genetic or epigenetic imprinting that methods, automation of assays, and rigorous to DST multidisciplinary teams of toxicologists, ultimately influence healthy aging. Though data analysis methods. biologists, chemists, molecular biologists, and this position has a primary research focus, Preferred Qualifications: toxicoinformatics scientists. the successful candidate is also expected Industrial experience with lipids, including The position requires a Ph.D., M.D. or to contribute to undergraduate or graduate mass spectrometry analysis, is preferred; equivalent with demonstrated success in lead- teaching and academic service appropriate sphingolipid experience and experience in ing a multidisciplinary team, a strong publica- with faculty rank. protein purification are also preferred. HTS tion record in peer reviewed journals, relevant See the full position announcement lipid biochemistry experience is a plus. Can- administrative experience, and a strong inde- and application instructions at jobs. didates who possess the ability to work inde- pendent research program. Preference will oregonstate.edu. For additional pendently as well as in a group setting are be given to individuals with a demonstrated information, please contact Barbara record of accomplishments in proteomics, McVicar, E-mail: barbara.mcvicar@ encouraged to apply. metabolomics, functional genomics, or toxi- oregonstate.edu. Linus Pauling Institute, This position is located in Waltham, coinformatics. Evidence of effective planning, Oregon State University, 571 Weniger Massachusetts. Please apply online at organization, and decision-making capabilities Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331. www.Genzyme.com/careers, job number and excellent interpersonal and communica- OSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity 10390. tion skills is required. Employer. This is an excepted civil service position under Title 42 USC 209(f) with the salary nego-
30 ASBMB Today December 2007 The University of Texas University of Alabama Health Science Center ASSISTANT PROFESSOR at San Antonio TOXICOLOGY/MOLECULAR POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY AVAILABLE The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for Nucleonics Inc. Two postdoctoral fellowship positions are a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant open immediately to pursue the specific aims RESEARCH SCIENTIST, Professor in Molecular and Cellular Biology to of a new grant to examine the molecular and BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY begin August 2008. Applicants must have a cellular effects of human mutations in NADPH- Nucleonics is a biotechnology company Ph.D. in the biological sciences, postdoctoral cytochrome P450 reductase. Candidates located in Horsham, Pennsylvania, a suburb experience, and a strong publication record. with training backgrounds in molecular and/ of Philadelphia. Nucleonics is developing novel The successful candidate will be expected to or cellular biology are sought. Experience therapeutics for infectious diseases, cancer, develop an active extramurally funded inde- with primary cell culture, gene silencing, gene and inflammatory conditions based on pro- pendent research program involving, but not expression analysis, and/or cellular imaging prietary gene silencing technology known as limited to, research in molecular toxicology. techniques is strongly desired. We are also expressed RNA interference. Applicants using model organisms to investi- seeking candidates with physical biochem- A full-time opening is available for a self- gate problems in molecular toxicology, includ- istry backgrounds to perform a wide array of driven individual to independently work on the ing cellular stress response mechanisms, are protein characterization studies. The com- strategic development, design, and imple- particularly encouraged to apply. The suc- prehensive nature of the project will incor- mentation of novel methods for targeting cessful applicant will be expected to interact porate these varied skills in a cross-training DNA to cells of interest. Expertise in recep- with and enhance existing research groups in environment and will provide opportunities to tor cycling and intracellular vesicular traffick- Molecular and Cellular Biology and will have pursue new experimental approaches. This ing and/or experience with ligand targeting is an interest in developing quality instruction laboratory encourages the development of strongly desirable. DNA experience is a plus. at the undergraduate and graduate levels, independence and provides opportunities for A strong record demonstrating creative think- with course responsibilities within areas of the trainee to develop future career options. ing is required. An individual with both chem- expertise and departmental needs. The ideal The salary is competitive and the environment istry and biology/biochemistry experience is candidate will demonstrate the potential to is outstanding for the pursuit of this project. strongly preferred. develop a multidisciplinary research program Please submit CV to: The incumbent must be also able to eval- involving collaborative interactions with faculty Dr. Bettie Sue Masters, The Robert uate the properties of experimental products in the Departments of Chemistry, Chemical A. Welch Foundation Distinguished (DNA complexes) using established proce- Engineering, and/or Metallurgical & Materi- Professor in Chemistry, Department of dures or create new analytical methods. als Engineering. Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Education/Experience: Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 To apply, mail hardcopies of curriculum The position requires a Ph.D. in Biochemis- Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas vitae, a letter of application that includes try, Biological Chemistry, or related field. A 78229-3900 [email protected] your research interests and goals, a statement of teaching philosophy, a list minimum of at least 2-3 years of related work The University of Texas Health Science Center at experience is required (which can include a San Antonio is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative of courses in your area of expertise, and post-doc) with an emphasis on biochemis- Action Employer. All Postdoctoral appointments are have three letters of reference sent to: try. Experience with DNA, polymers, emulsifi- designated as security sensitive positions. Search Committee–Molecular ers, surfactants, dispersants, and/or a strong Toxicologist, Department of Biological background in medicinal chemistry or cell Sciences, Box 870344, The University of physiology will be a plus. Michigan Technological Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Questions about the position may be CVs should be sent to: University addressed to Dr. Stevan Marcus, Chair of E-mail: [email protected]. FACULTY POSITIONS the Search Committee (E-mail: smarcus@ The Department of Biological Sciences at Mich- bama.ua.edu, tel.: 205-348-8094). Review igan Technological University invites applica- of applications will begin January 7, Institute of Biochemical tions for two or more positions in the first round 2008, and continue until the position is Sciences, National of an anticipated series of hires highlighting filled. Taiwan University the integrative future of biology. One position For more information visit our Web site at www.as.ua.edu/biology. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR will be in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology; the other position(s) will be in Ecologyy or Health The University of Alabama is an Equal Opportunity/ The Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Sciences complementing current departmental Affirmative Action employer and welcomes applications from women and members of minority groups. Taiwan University, invites applications for one strengths and goals. Appointments are at the full-time faculty position of Assistant Profes- Assistant Professor level; however, exception- sor, starting from August 1, 2008. ally qualified applicants may be appointed at Please go to homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~ibs/ the Associate Professor level. Additional inforr- english/job.htm for details. mation is available at www.bio.mtu.edu.
December 2007 ASBMB Today 31 opportunities continued 4 career
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WASHINGTON, DC cfm?MeetingID=922 cfm?MeetingID=918 ascb.org/meetings/ 1st International 2007 Congress of FEBRUARY 2008 Conference on the Swiss Proteomics Advanced Technologies Society: Pushing the Limits Joint Meeting of the & Treatments for Diabetes DECEMBER 3–5, 2007 Biophysical Society FEBRUARY 28–MARCH 2, 2008 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND 52nd Annual Meeting PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC sps07.swissproteomicsociety.org and 16th International http://www.kenes.com/attd Biophysics Congress EuroTIDES FEBRUARY 2–6, 2008 DECEMBER 3–6, 2007 LONG BEACH, CA MARCH 2008 BERLIN, GERMANY http://www.biophysics.org/ www.iir-events.com/IIR-conf/ meetings/2008/ American Society for SearchEvents.aspx Neurochemistry 2008 Regulatory RNA in Annual Meeting Biology and Human Health MARCH 1—5, 2008 JANUARY 2008 FEBRUARY 2–6, 2008 SAN ANTONIO, TX MIAMI BEACH, FL asneurochem.org/ Keystone Symposium— http://www.med.miami.edu/mnbws/ Frontiers of Structural Biology US HUPO 4th Annual Keystone Symposium— Conference JANUARY 6–11, 2008 Biomarker Discovery, STEAMBOAAT SPRINGS, CO Validation and Applications MARCH 16–19, 2008 www.keystonesymposia.org BETHESDA, MD FEBRUARY 3–8, 2008 www.ushupo.org E-mail: [email protected] TAHOE CITY, CA E-mail: [email protected] www.keystonesymposia.org Tel.: 505-989-4876 Keystone Symposium— Structural Genomics and Drug Discovery for Its Applications to Chemistry, Neurodegeneration Genomes to Systems 2008 Biology & Medicine FEBRUARY 4–5, 2008 MARCH 17–19, 2008 JANUARY 6–11, 2008 WASHINGTON, DC MANCHESTER, UK STEAMBOAAT SPRINGS, CO www.alzdiscovery.org/ www.genomestosystems.org/ www.keystonesymposia.org E-mail: [email protected] International Conference 42nd Annual Scientific on Neural Signaling: Meeting of the European Keystone Symposium— Opportunities for Novel Society for Clinical Eicosanoids and Other Diagnostic Approaches Investigation (ESCI) Mediators of Chronic and Therapies MARCH 26–29, 2008 Inflammation FEBRUARY 16–20, 2008 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND JANUARY 7–12, 2008 PACIFIC GROVE, CA www.esci.eu.com/default. BIG SKY, MT medicine.ucsf.edu/conferences/ asp?page=meetings&file=future http://www.keystonesymposia. asilomar2008/index.html org/Meetings/ViewMeetings. E-mail: [email protected] Keystone Symposium— cfm?MeetingID=939 Tel.: 415-476-9892 Nuclear Receptors: Orphan Brothers The Sanibel Conference: Peptides, Chemistry MARCH 30–APRIL 4, 2008 Ion Mobility and Related & Biology Gordon WHISTLER, CANADA Emerging Areas Research Conference www.keystonesymposia.org/Meetings/ JANUARY 18–21, 2008 FEBRUARY 17–22, 2008 ViewMeetings.cfm?MeetingID=956 DAYTONA BEACH, FL VENTURA BEACH, CA www.asms.org www.gre.org December 2007 ASBMB Today 35 scientificmeetingcalendar continuedcontinued SEPTEMBER 20–24, 2008 MARCH 30–APRIL 4, 2008 MAY 25–30, 2008 SEPTEMBER 25–27, 2008 APRIL 2008 JUNE 2008 OCTOBER 2008 JUNE 15–18, 2008 OCTOBER 3–5, 2008 JUNE 28–JULY 3, 2008 OCTOBER 12–16, 2008 APRIL 5–9, 2008 AUGUST 2008 AUGUST 16–21, 2008 APRIL 6–8, 2008 AUGUST 26–29, 2008 APRIL 16–18, 2008 AUGUST 31–SEPTEMBER 5, 2008 MAY 2008 APRIL 2009 MAY 18–23, 2008 SEPTEMBER 2008 APRIL 1–4, 2009 SEPTEMBER 11–14, 2008 6H7B7 ?djgcVah :hhZci^VaGZhZVgX]| GZheZXiZY?djgcVah lll#_WX#dg\ Bdhi"8^iZY7^dbZY^XVaGZhZVgX]?djgcVa^ci]ZLdgaY lll#bXedca^cZ#dg\ =^\]>beVXi;VXidgd[.#+ lll#_ag#dg\ Bdhi"8^iZY?djgcVa9ZkdiZYidA^e^Yh ;dghjWhXg^ei^dc^c[dgbVi^dck^h^ijhdca^cZVi lll#VhWbW#dg\$ejWa^XVi^dch Starting January 2008, we will be launching a online interactive version of ASBMB Today. 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