February 2011
ASBMB Celebrates The History of Black Scientists
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FroM research to cgMp production - avanti’s here For you contents February 2011 On the Cover: In honor of Black History Month, we assembled a news timeline of noteworthy 2 President’s message black researchers who The Yamamoto Plan have contributed to the 4 News from the Hill life sciences. 18 4 NIH to create translational research center 5 When a clear vision isn’t clear 6 Washington Update FASEB rallies scientific community in support of research funding 7 ASBMB honors Brown and Goldstein 9 Axel T. Brunger wins inaugural ASBMB DeLano Award 10 Christine Guthrie recognized with ASBMB-Merck Award Fun online 11 Retrospective: Eugene Goldwasser science (1922 – 2010) resources. 13 48 ASBMB members elected to AAAS 26 14 Member update features 16 Getting serious about science education 18 A history of black scientists ASBMB journals get mobile platforms. 20 Science focus: Ruma V. Banerjee 33 and Stephen W. Ragsdale deciphering sulfur and carbon metabolism departments 24 Meetings 20 things to do in D.C. 26 Sci.comm Online resources that make science fun for all ages 28 Minority affairs MAC still on task 30 Education and training Accreditation 2011— turning the corner 32 Journal news 32 Noteworthy JLR papers Two high notes for ‘Eddy’ Fischer in the JBC asbmb today online 33 Digital journal access: as you like it Go to the online version of ASBMB Today to get 34 Career insights additional information about topics covered in the Fellowships 101: policy opportunities for scientists magazine including a list of policy fellowships 36 Lipid news for scientists and links to places mentioned The Lipid Research Division: director’s update in the “20 things to do in D.C.” article. www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday
February 2011 ASBMB Today 1 president’smessage A monthly publication of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology The Yamamoto Plan Officers BY SUZANNE PFEFFER Suzanne R. Pfeffer President Gregory A. Petsko Past-president Mark A. Lemmon Secretary ast month I wrote about the importance of explaining the significance of our Merle S. Olson Treasurer L research at every opportunity: in papers, in talks and in research propos- Council Members Karen N. Allen Ruma V. Banerjee als. Keith Yamamoto, executive vice dean of the University of California San Dafna Bar-Sagi Benjamin F. Cravatt Francisco School of Medicine, has played an incredibly important, behind-the- Michael A. Marletta Thomas E. Smith Ann M. Stock Jonathan S. Weissman scenes role in steering the evaluation of U.S. science toward impact. He also has crafted a valuable scheme to help job and grant applicants be most suc- Ex-Officio Members Kuan-Teh Jeang cessful; I call this the Yamamoto Plan and share it with you here. Daniel M. Raben Co-chairs, 2011 Annual Meeting Program Committee First, a few words about Keith. One of my first wishes as a first-year gradu- Peter J. Kennelly ate student was to rotate in the Yamamoto lab. My wish came true in the Chair, Education and Professional Development Committee winter of 1978, and I remember coming in to lab on Saturday mornings only Joan W. Conaway Chair, Meetings Committee to find Keith sitting quietly in his office reviewing Journal of Biological Chem- Terri Kinzy istry manuscripts. At that time, his office had a glorious view of the Golden Chair, Membership Committee Craig E. Cameron Gate Bridge, so it was a pretty nice place for him to work. He won’t remem- Chair, Minority Affairs Committee ber this, but Keith personally taught me how to culture mammalian cells, and William C. Merrick Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Committee during my rotation, he reminded me that devising new methodologies is just Toni M. Antalis as important as scientific findings because new techniques often can enable Chair, Publications Committee Martha J. Fedor, Editor-in-chief new discoveries. Herbert Tabor, Co-editor JBC In 1994, Harold Varmus, then director of the National Institutes of Health, Ralph A. Bradshaw asked Yamamoto if he would work with the Division of Research Grants (now A. L. Burlingame Co-editors, MCP the Center for Scientific Review) to enhance the NIH peer review process. Edward A. Dennis Since that time, Yamamoto has served as chairman of the Advisory Commit- Joseph L. Witztum Co-editors, JLR tee to the CSR and as a member of the NIH director’s Peer Review Oversight
ASBMB Today Editorial Advisory Board Group, the CSR Panel on Scientific Boundaries for Review, and the Advisory Alex Toker (Chair) Mike Bradley Committee to the NIH Director. He also co-chairs both the Working Group Craig E. Cameron A. Stephen Dahms to Enhance NIH Peer Review and the Review Committee for the Transforma- Alex C. Drohat Irwin Fridovich Richard W. Hanson Gerald Hart tional R01 Award. Peter Kennelly Peter J. Parker Each of these committees has discussed the importance of distinguishing Carol C. Shoulders between science that just provides more information and thus moves the field ASBMB Today horizontally, and transformational science that has the potential to move an Nicole Kresge Editor [email protected] entire field forward vertically. Now, during an era in which scientists can do so Nick Zagorski Science Writer much more but must operate with tightly constrained resources, we need to [email protected] Nancy J. Rodnan Director of Publications select the questions that will provide the most important answers. I have said [email protected] this before: Every cell has 10,000 proteins; we need to focus on the classes Barbara Gordon Executive Director [email protected] of protein functions that are most relevant to understanding fundamental biochemistry, biology and the molecular basis of disease. Over the past 15 For information on advertising, contact Capitol Media Solutions at 800-517-0610 years, Yamamoto has steered this important idea through the halls of NIH, or [email protected] culminating in several new mechanisms for support of especially bold ideas as well as new guidelines for the review of grant applications that stress over- all impact over detailed approach. No country has enough research dollars to fund all possible science, and our limited dollars need to be directed toward www.asbmb.org the areas of greatest significance to the entire scientific community. Yamamoto also has devised a plan to help UCSF junior faculty craft their first research grants. His approach can be useful to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in conceiving research proposals for their theses,
2 ASBMB Today February 2011 president’smessage
conceptual or technical breadth to the potential out- come? Face-to-face conversations with the full com- mittee uncover uncertainties and ambiguities, resolve differences of opinion, and often stimulate improvements. Then, and only then, does the scientist write the research proposal. A major advantage of the Yamamoto Plan is that qual- ity advice and mentorship can be obtained at an early stage, long before hours are wasted writing up what might not be the best approach. In contrast, scien- tists commonly seek feedback regarding a completed grant application just a few days before a deadline. At that point, it is way too late to send someone back to the starting block to recraft a proposal that is off the mark. Once you write an entire grant application, mental cement can set in. The Yamamoto Plan provides, as he says, “honest feed-forward instead of less-than-honest feedback,” sav- ing time and effort for both applicant and mentors: Most scientists happily will read a one-page Specific Aims description carefully and provide forthright impressions. Job candidates and prospective postdoctoral fellows take note: This plan can be used to hone your CV and research description before you apply for a job. An advi- sory committee also can prepare you for interviews; don’t be shy in asking for help. I recently reviewed what struck me as an unusual grant application from a successful and fairly well-known scientist. What was unusual was the fact that this appli- Keith Yamamoto has played an incredibly important, behind-the-scenes role in steering the evaluation of U.S. cant listed ten other well-known scientists as unpaid “key science toward impact. collaborators.” The applicant could have carried out all the science described in his own lab, but including a list courses and fellowships. Industrial colleagues also may of collaborators left this reviewer with the impression that find value in this very wise plan. At UCSF (and also in this long list of scientists really cared about the outcome my Stanford biochemistry department), grant-writing of the proposal under review and would do all they faculty members select a small number of colleagues to could to support the project and guarantee its success. serve as an advisory committee. Several months before I recently have come to appreciate the importance and a deadline, the grant-writing faculty member drafts a value of scientific collaboration and will write about that single Specific Aims page highlighting the question to in greater detail in a future column. But I add it here as a be addressed, why it is important and three to five sets reminder to younger scientists: Collaborations permit us of experiments that will advance our understanding. The to accomplish more with limited resources. Collabora- role of the advisory committee is to help their colleague tions bring additional expertise and methodologies to our ensure that the research question, and the specific aims work. Our industrial colleagues understand the value of to approach it, will truly move that field forward vertically. team science. Never be shy in asking for help to move Is the question impactful in concept and/or practice and your science forward, be it help with a set of experiments clearly articulated? Are the experiments, even if bold and or help crafting a proposal. untested, technically feasible, and do they employ the And wholehearted thanks to Keith Yamamoto for help- most advanced approaches? Would a collaborator add ing all of us stay focused on impact.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 3 news from the hill NIH to create translational research center BY GEOFFREY HUNT
he National Institutes of Health got an early start on Management Review Board, an advisory panel charged Tspring cleaning when it announced that a new center with assessing the agency’s organizational efficiency. focused on improving the translation of basic research to In 2010, NIH Director Francis Collins asked the SMRB clinical care and therapeutics would be formed. Provisionally to study how the agency could better promote translational named the National Center for the Advancement of Trans- research. The board responded that translational research lational Sciences, the center is set to commence opera- “could benefit from a reorganization at NIH to capitalize on tions in the fall and will be composed of extant research emerging scientific opportunities, recent changes in thera- programs currently spread across the NIH. However, the peutics development, existing resources and programs.” center does not arrive without controversy, as the effects On Dec. 7, the formal recommendation was delivered and of the proposed reorganization of funding priorities and the NCATS was born. structure of other institutes and centers remain unclear. Lost in translation? Where are you going? Where have you been? A 2006 law limiting the overall number of NIH depart- Reshuffling institutes and centers is nothing new at the NIH. ments meant that the creation of NCATS would require that Beginning with the establishment of the National Cancer another institute or center be sacrificed. NCRR would finally Institute as the first stand-alone component in 1937, the meet its maker and be dissolved, leaving its programs to NIH has continued to proliferate as subsequent congressio- be cannibalized by the other NIH institutes. Some of the nal authorizations have expanded the agency’s focus wider NCRR’s programs, most significantly the Clinical Translation and wider. The period between 1980 and 2000 saw a flurry Science Awards program, will be incorporated into NCATS. of reorganization at the NIH as existing departments were Collins has placed the fate of the other orphaned programs renamed and merged and others were created. But after in the hands of a special task force. the formation of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging As for funding, the budget for NCATS is expected to and Bioengineering in 2001, critics warned that the agency be 1 percent to 2 percent of the overall NIH budget, which had become overly fragmented, leading some, including approximates the amount currently set aside through the former NIH Director Harold Varmus, to push for consolida- NIH Common Fund for the translational research-focused tion of the 27 individual institutes. However, a 2003 study NIH Roadmap. NCATS will house several Roadmap pro- published by the National Academy of Sciences recom- grams as well as the Cures Acceleration Network, a new mended against major reorganization. program authorized (though not yet appropriated) by Con- The same report advised small-scale changes, includ- gress to speed the development of disease cures. ing the formation of a clinical research center as part of a Shifting funds to NCATS will require adjustment of addi- broader proposal to increase cross-disciplinary translational tional budgets, including those at other institutes and cen- research programs. The proposal recommended that the ters; it is unclear if the NCATS programs, including CTSA, new center subsume the National Center for Research will retain their current budgets. Resources, which contains an array of resource programs ranging from the Biomedical Technology Research Centers The best-laid plans … and instrumentation grants to invertebrate animal resources. Congress has been notified of the recommendation and Former NIH Director Elias Zerhouni implemented a number has 180 days to object; otherwise, the new center will be of those initiatives, most notably the NIH Roadmap, but left approved. Although the new center currently lacks a direc- the NCRR as a stand-alone entity. tor, plans continue to move forward as the NIH, once again, Still, questions lingered as to whether the organization makes itself over to fulfill its mission. of NIH enabled it to fulfill its mission to advance science to improve public health effectively. When the NIH came up Geoffrey Hunt ([email protected]) is the ASBMB science policy for reauthorization in 2006, Congress created the Scientific fellow.
4 ASBMB Today February 2011 news from the hill When a clear vision isn’t clear BY BENJAMIN W. CORB
ast month’s recommendation by the National Institutes Biomedical Technology Research Centers program and L of Health’s Scientific Management Review Board the Shared Instrumentation and High End Instrumenta- to create a new translational science institute at the NIH tion grants within a single institute or center. Specifically, came as a surprise to many in the extramural research ASBMB recommended that the BTRC program be housed community. NIH Director Francis Collins had made clear in an institute whose primary focus is to support research from the beginning of his administration that translational without a disease-specific mission, such as the National science (and specifically the translation of basic research Institute of General Medical Sciences, a recommendation into life-saving treatments) would be one of the major that— at the time of writing— has not received a response focuses of his tenure in Bethesda, but to many in the com- from NIH leadership. munity, the short timetable for SMRB’s recommendation The community continues to have more questions than was unanticipated. Surely, many answers, and where a clear public believed, a recommendation to cre- vision should exist, there is only a ate an entirely new institute at the In the end, the vacuum being filled with rumor and NIH would be made after months of community continues innuendo. What will the future hold deliberation, stakeholder meetings to“ have more questions for the biotechnology programs and detailed analysis. formally housed in the NCRR? As Behind the scenes, the basic than answers... there the programs are farmed out to research community investigated is only a vacuum their new homes at the NIH, will the proposal’s background, asking their funding transfer with them? who was ultimately being served filled with rumor and Why did the leadership of the NIH and looking for opportunities to innuendo. ultimately choose to make deci- slow momentum or even halt a sions without offering the com- decision until further detailed analysis could take place. munity an opportunity to have a role in the development While not outright opposing the proposed SMRB rec- of a” program to ensure that all stakeholders (federal and ommendation, the community had concerns about the nonfederal) were able to capitalize on the new recommen- unintended consequences such a decision could have on dations? Why did NIH leadership feel that the fusion of the researchers who have become reliant on programs like the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism with National Center for Research Resources’ P-41 program. the National Institute on Drug Abuse (an SMRB recom- The community attended the December SMRB meeting, mendation that took place at the same meeting as the and more than a dozen concerned stakeholders spoke, translational science institute decision) needed more than calling for further analysis and urging the SMRB to wait a year of deliberation, while the creation of a new institute before making a final decision. occurred in only months? Ultimately, the decision to create the new center was Let’s be clear: the creation of a new institute focusing made in a matter of only a few months and without very on translational science is needed for the health and well- many discussions with key stakeholders. The SMRB being of the nation. As such, the uneasiness of the com- voted nearly unanimously (the only opposing vote was munity doesn’t rest with the actual decision. In fact, many that of outgoing National Institute of General Medical support it. The unease exists because of the manner in Sciences Director Jeremy Berg). The leadership of the which the decision was made and the lack of a clear plan American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology moving forward. The community waits with bated breath and those on the ASBMB Public Affairs Advisory Com- for such a plan. mittee quickly mobilized, authoring a recommendation to Francis Collins and Lawrence Tabak, the principal deputy Benjamin W. Corb ([email protected]) is director of public affairs director at the NIH, to encourage the NIH to maintain the at ASBMB.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 5 washington update FASEB FASEB rallies scientific community in support of research funding BY JENNIFER A. HOBIN and KAREN R. MOWRER
he 111th Congress adjourned this past Decem- further eroding the NIH’s capacity to fund competitive Tber, with legislators quickly wrapping up the year’s investigator-initiated grants. Responding to the intro- business before heading home for the holidays. As duction of the Senate bill, FASEB initiated an action negotiations on the 2011 budget were in full swing, the alert that generated more than 1,000 letters to Con- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biol- gress from scientists who opposed the bill. FASEB and ogy rallied the scientific community to urge their sena- its advocacy partners also sent letters to every sena- tors and representatives to pass a spending bill that tor, the House leadership and the House Committees included a $1 billion funding increase for the National on Small Business and Science and Technology. The Institutes of Health. As a result, scientists sent nearly bill was defeated when those committees blocked the 9,500 messages to Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to House from taking action on the Senate bill. sustain the federal investment in biomedical research. Since early 2009, FASEB has led a coalition of Despite the best efforts of the community, legislators nearly 100 groups from research institutions, higher failed to reach an agreement on a budget for the entire education associations and patient advocacy organi- fiscal year, instead passing a continuing resolution that zations to fight attempts to increase the amount set will keep the government operating until March 4. The aside for SBIR, noting that it would redirect funding resolution continues funding for nearly all federal agen- from competitive, peer-reviewed research at a time cies at 2010 levels, although exceptions were made for when future funding levels are uncertain. The latest certain programs that would otherwise expire or seri- authority for the SBIR and STTR programs expired on ously be interrupted. The federal science agencies were January 31, and it is likely that the new Congress will not included in these exceptions, and the resolution try again to renew both programs. FASEB will continue does not apportion funds to implement the Cures Accel- to oppose any attempt to increase the “set-aside” and eration Network, a new NIH entity authorized at $500 urge legislators to work with the Obama administration million to speed the development of “high need cures.” to increase funding for all research. The new year did ring in some good tidings for the Scientists have another reason to celebrate 2011: scientific community, however. During the final days Both the House and Senate passed the America of the congressional session, FASEB worked with the COMPETES Act Reauthorization of 2010. The legisla- research community to prevent Congress from passing tion provides a three-year reauthorization for key federal a bill that would have reauthorized the Small Business science agencies including the NSF, the DOE Office of Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Science and the National Institute of Standards and Transfer programs. Technology, continuing a plan to double authorized These programs fund research conducted by small funding for those agencies over 10 years. For the short businesses by “setting aside” a portion of the bud- term, recommended funding levels for the NSF would gets of 11 federal agencies, including the NIH, the grow from $7.8 billion in fiscal 2012 to $8.3 billion in National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of 2013, while DOE Office of Science levels would increase Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy. These from $5.6 billion to $6 billion during the same timeframe. agencies already are required to devote at least 2.5 President Obama signed the COMPETES legislation percent of their budgets to SBIR research funding. into law on January 4. A bill introduced in the Senate would have increased the amount set aside to 3.5 percent— redirecting as Jennifer A. Hobin ([email protected]) is director of science much as $1 billion to a single research program at the policy and Karen R. Mowrer ([email protected]) is the expense of all other national scientific priorities and legislative affairs officer in FASEB’s office of public affairs.
6 ASBMB Today February 2011 asbmbnews
Earl and Thressa Stadtman Distinguished Scientist Award ASBMB honors Brown and Goldstein BY ANGELA HOPP
he American Society Tfor Biochemistry and “It is intensely poignant “Mike and I entered Molecular Biology has for Joe and me to accept the NIH as youngsters named Nobel laureates this award in the name of trained in medicine Michael S. Brown and Earl and Thressa Stadt- and intensely curi- Joseph L. Goldstein, man. My fellowship with ous about science. My pioneers in the study of Earl imbued me with a exposure to Marshall cholesterol metabolism, love of enzyme regula- Nirenberg and Mike’s the joint winners of its tion. Later Earl adopted exposure to Earl first Earl and Thressa Joe as well, and the two Stadtman kindled in Stadtman Distinguished of us enjoyed a long and us a love of experi- Scientist Award. inspirational friend- mentation and a Brown and Goldstein, ship with him. Although Earl and respect for rigor that has endured for both of the University Terry never collaborated in the way 40 years. The Earl and Thressa Stadt- of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dal- that Joe and I have, their profound man Award is a living testament to las, shared the 1985 mutual respect served as a model for the profound influence that they had Nobel Prize in medicine the working relationship that Joe and on the careers of so many budding or physiology for their I forged.” MICHAEL S. BROWN scientists.” JOSEPH L. GOLDSTEIN discovery of the low- density lipoprotein, or LDL, receptor and the process pursue a problem in basic science with profound impli- of receptor-mediated endocytosis. In recent years, they cations for clinical medicine: the regulation of lipid and discovered sterol regulatory element-binding proteins and cholesterol biosynthesis.” the process of regulated intramembrane proteolysis. Robert D. Simoni, chairman of the biology department The researchers met at Massachusetts General at Stanford University and associate editor of the Jour- Hospital in Boston in the 1960s and have collaborated nal of Biological Chemistry, emphasizes that Brown and ever since. From 1968 to 1971, Brown worked at the Goldstein also have kept alive the Stadtmans’ tradition of National Institutes of Health, initially as a clinical associate mentoring. in gastroenterology and hereditary disease and later in the “Beyond their own research accomplishments, Mike biochemistry laboratory headed by Earl Stadtman. Mean- and Joe, like the Stadtmans, have provided an excellent while, Goldstein spent 1968 through 1970 at the NIH as training ground for young scientists, many of whom have well, working in the laboratory of Marshall W. Nirenberg gone on to assume leadership roles in biochemistry,” and at the National Heart Institute. Simoni says. In 1971, Brown joined the University of Texas South- western Medical School in Dallas. A year later, so did About the award Goldstein. The Stadtman award is given every other year to an established “Put simply, these guys are great. It has been a scientist for his or her outstanding achievement in basic research pleasure for the scientific community to watch this story in biochemistry or molecular biology. Brown and Goldstein will unfold,” says Richard Axel, a professor at Columbia present their award lecture, “The SREBP Pathway: Stadtman’s University Medical Center and the recipient of the 2004 Paradigm Applied to Cholesterol,” at 2:40 p.m. April 11 at the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. “With unabated 2011 annual meeting in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the Stadtmans, go to bit.ly/ATodayStadtman. and unsurpassed creativity and rigor, they continue to
February 2011 ASBMB Today 7
asbmbnews continued DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences Axel T. Brunger wins inaugural ASBMB DeLano Award BY ANGELA HOPP
tanford University professor Axel T. Brunger has mentor to DeLano, who died unexpectedly in Novem- Sbeen named the winner of the American Society for ber 2009 at age 37. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s inaugural DeLano “Working with Axel as an undergraduate at Yale Award for Computational Biosciences. University was Warren’s inspiration for devoting his own The award was established to honor those who cre- life to computational biosciences. Warren joined my lab ate accessible and innovative developments or appli- as a graduate student, where he combined both wet cations of computer technology to enhance research lab and computational methods to understand pro- in the life sciences at the molecular level. Nominees’ miscuous protein-protein binding partners,” Wells said. contributions must promote (a) more productive use of “But it was Axel’s dedicated mentoring and science computers to accel- that launched him erate and facilitate and, I feel, ultimately research and (b) ready “While I feel greatly hon- was responsible for access of those pro- ored to receive the inau- Warren developing grams for the scientific gural DeLano award, PyMOL.” community. this is also a bittersweet John Kuriyan, “Axel was the moment because we chancellor’s professor principal designer of in the departments have lost such a great CNS, which for over of molecular and cell a decade has been young talent. By making biology and chemistry the standard refine- his developments readily at the University of ment program used by accessible, Warren had California, Berke- the structural (biol- such a broad impact in ley, also supported ogy) community,” said the biological sciences. It Brunger’s nomination James A.Wells of the is fitting that ASBMB and the Warren DeLano for the award. He had University of California, Memorial Fund have established this award to this to say about his San Francisco, one honor his memory.” AXEL T. BRUNGER longtime associate: of Brunger’s nomina- “Axel is the foremost tors. “He has clearly computational biolo- made enormous contributions to structural biology by gist working at the interface between X-ray crystallog- defining, developing and automating crystallographic raphy, computation and biology. In addition, he is an refinement methods.” outstanding structural biologist working on problems in Established this year, the computational award aims vesicle fusion in neurobiology. I can think of no person to honor the legacy of the late Warren L. DeLano, a better suited for this inaugural award.” scientist and entrepreneur who promoted open-source technology and believed in making his programs and source code freely available to users and enabling About the award researchers to build on his developments. While a grad- The DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences consists uate student, DeLano created PyMOL, an open-source of a plaque, a $3,000 cash award and travel expenses to tool for visualizing the three-dimensional structures of present a lecture at the ASBMB annual meeting in April in proteins and other biological molecules. Washington, D.C. Brunger will present his award lecture, Wells credits Brunger, who is also a Howard titled “Towards Structural Biology with Single Molecules” at 9:03 a.m. on April 13. Hughes Medical Institute investigator, for being a great
February 2011 ASBMB Today 9 asbmbnews continued ASBMB-Merck Award Christine Guthrie recognized with ASBMB-Merck Award BY ANGELA HOPP
hristine Guthrie, a leading figure in the field of RNA essentially all aspects of biology,” he says. “In particu- Cprocessing and a dedicated mentor to young lar, young scientists can see in her the satisfaction that scientists, has been named the winner of the 2011 comes from being a successful scientist and that it is American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular possible for them to do just as well.” Biology-Merck Award. Those sentiments were echoed by one of Guthrie’s Guthrie, a major contributor to the development of former doctoral students, Hiten Madhani, who is now a yeast as a model system for studying cell biology, was professor at UCSF. nominated by Yale University’s Joan Steitz, who says of the winner, “Christine Guthrie’s pioneering advances have relied on her inno- “I am just delighted to receive vative coupling of biochemistry and genetics this award. I am deeply starting from the beginning of her distin- honored to be included in the guished career. Christine is not only an inspir- august company of the previ- ing role model to her peers and to younger ous recipients and profoundly scientists, but her mentorship has guided the indebted to the long succession careers of a number of today’s leaders in the of remarkable students and RNA field worldwide.” fellows who have made this Guthrie, a professor of biochemistry at the CHRISTINE GUTHRIE University of California, San Francisco, first possible.” identified small nuclear RNAs in yeast, which initiated a genetic study of the roles of those RNAs “If one were to ask any well-informed molecular in the spliceosome process. In addition, she isolated biologists who were the two women who have had a large number of yeast mutants defective in splic- the greatest impact on the field of RNA splicing, the ing and established the point in the splicing cycle that unanimous answer would be Christine Guthrie and required each mutant protein. Joan Steitz,” Madhani says. “Christine’s contribu- “Her body of work has been recognized both tions to the field over the past quarter century have nationally and internationally,” says Phillip A. Sharp, a been numerous and read like the greatest hits of RNA professor at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative splicing.” Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology. “Her papers are novel and superbly writ- Angela Hopp ([email protected]) is managing editor for ten, and I am frequently spellbound by her lectures, for special projects at ASBMB. she is an eloquent orator who skillfully uses humor and substance.” Longtime acquaintance James E. Dahlberg, the About the award Fredrick Sanger professor at the University of Wiscon- The ASBMB-Merck Award recognizes outstanding contribu- sin School of Medicine, said Guthrie sets the pace and tions to research in biochemistry and molecular biology. It bar for scientists of all ages and levels of achievement. provides a plaque and a $5,000 purse, and it covers trans- “I have known Christine since she was a graduate portation and expenses of the recipient and spouse to attend student and have followed her career and accom- the ASBMB annual meeting and present a lecture. Guthrie will plishments very carefully. She is truly a guiding light give her award lecture, “The Spliceosome is a Dynamic RNP for those of us working on the chemistry, biology or Machine: Fidelity Strategies,” at 8:30 a.m. April 13 at the 2011 annual meeting in Washington, D.C. genetics of RNA, a class of molecules that is crucial to
10 ASBMB Today February 2011 asbmbnews Retrospective: Eugene Goldwasser (1922 – 2010) BY NICOLE KRESGE
ugene Goldwasser, the Alice Hogge trace signal production to the kidneys. Rea- Eand Arthur A. Baer professor emeri- soning that animals with anemia would tus of biochemistry and molecular produce more erythropoietin, he spent biology at the University of Chicago, many years visiting a slaughterhouse died Dec. 17. He was 88. outside Chicago, collecting blood Generally regarded as the from anemic sheep. But by 1971, father of erythropoietin, Goldwas- he and his colleagues had only ser led the team that succeeded managed to purify six millionths in purifying sheep and human of a gram of erythropoietin from erythropoietin, a discovery that 125 gallons of plasma from the has enabled millions of dialysis sheep. and anemic patients to live lon- Looking for a better source of ger and more productive lives. the hormone, Goldwasser turned Goldwasser was born in 1922 to urine and began collaborat- in Brooklyn, N.Y. He developed an ing with Takaji Miyake, a Japanese interest in science in high school and physician who had been collecting won a scholarship to the University of urine from people with aplastic anemia. Chicago, where he majored in biology. Miyake was able to collect 2,550 liters After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, of urine from his patients, which he concen- he worked as a research assistant in the university’s trated and brought to Chicago on Christmas Day, defense-oriented toxicity laboratory. He completed his 1975. Within 18 months the scientists managed to bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 1943. purify eight milligrams of erythropoietin and published In 1944, Goldwasser was drafted into the United their results in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (1). States Army. He served for two years as a biochem- At the urging of colleagues and the federal agen- ist at Fort Detrick, Md., working on the army’s anthrax cies that funded his research, Goldwasser submitted a program. In 1946, he returned to Chicago as a gradu- patent disclosure form to the university. Unfortunately, ate student and completed his doctorate in biochemis- the school officials did not patent his discovery, and try in 1950. He then spent two years as a postdoctoral Goldwasser never followed up. fellow with Herman Kalckar at the Institute for Cyto- Many Midwestern companies also failed to take physiology in Copenhagen, Denmark. interest in Goldwasser’s findings, so he ended up shar- In 1952, Goldwasser returned to Chicago as an ing his results with a young biotech company called instructor in biochemistry. He stayed there for the rest Applied Molecular Genetics (now Amgen). Amgen of his career, rising to professor of biochemistry and eventually became one of the world’s biggest bio- molecular biology. He retired in 1987 but remained tech companies based on its sales of erythropoietin active in his laboratory until he retired again in 2002. under names like Epogen, Procrit and Aranesp, which Goldwasser started working on erythropoietin in brought in billions of dollars a year. 1955 when his mentor, Leon O. Jacobson, challenged him to isolate and purify the biochemical signal that Nicole Kresge ([email protected]) is the editor of ASBMB regulated the growth of new red blood cells. By sys- Today. tematically removing various organs from rats and look- Reference 1. Miyake, T., Kung, C. K., and Goldwasser, E. (1977) Purification of human ing for the onset of anemia, Goldwasser was able to erythropoietin. J. Biol. Chem. 252, 5558 – 5564.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 11 2011 ASBMB Special Symposia Series
www.asbmb.org/specialsymposia
JULY 20–23, Richmond, VA OCT 12–16, Snowbird, UT Student-Centered Education in Chemical, Synthetic and Systems Biology: New the Molecular Life Sciences II Directions of Biochemistry in the 21st Century J. Ellis Bell, University of Richmond Arcady Mushegian, Stowers Institute University of Richmond for Medical Research Aled Edwards, University of Toronto, Canada JULY 24–26, Guangzhou, China Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort Recent Advances in Pathogenic Human Viruses Kuan-Teh Jeang, National Institute of OCT 27–30, Tahoe City, CA Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH Gene Regulation by Non-Coding RNAs Douglas Lowy, National Cancer Institute, NIH Richard Carthew, Northwestern University Guangzhou Baiyun International Jennifer A. Doudna, HHMI, University of California, Convention Center Berkeley Granlibakken Resort and Conference Center SEPT 27–Oct 2, Pacifi c Grove, CA 1 3 t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l AT P a s e C o n f e r e n c e Na, K-ATPase and Related P-ATPase: Structure, NOV 15-18, Bethesda, MD Biology, and Medicine Life Sciences and the Issues of Our Time Kathleen J. Sweadner, Harvard Medical School Ralph A. Bradshaw, University of California, and Massachusetts General Hospital San Francisco Co-Chairs: Svetlana Lutsenko, Johns Hopkins Philip A. Sharp, Massachusetts Institute of University School of Medicine; Jacob I. Technology Sznajder, Northwestern University, Feinberg Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Bethesda School of Medicine; Hiroshi Suzuki, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan; Zijian Xie, University of Toledo College of Medicine Asilomar Conference Grounds ASBMB MEMBER REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS Become an ASBMB member and receive OCT 6–9, Snowbird, UT registration discounts to these and other Cellular Traffi c of Lipids and Calcium ASBMB-sponsored events. at Membrane Contact Sites Joint meeting with the Biochemical Society Tim Levine, University College London Institute of PROPOSALS FOR 2012 MEETINGS Opthalmology, London DUE MARCH 1, 2011 Will Prinz, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort
2011SSOnePageAdwithdeadline.indd 1 1/20/2011 11:48:33 AM asbmbnews 48 ASBMB members elected to AAAS BY NICOLE KRESGE
orty-eight members of the American Society for Bio- Section on Chemistry Fchemistry and Molecular Biology have been awarded Charles S. Craik, University of California, San Francisco the distinction of American Association for the Advance- Paul Frederick Fitzpatrick, University of Texas Health ment of Science Fellow, an honor bestowed on AAAS Science Center, San Antonio members by their peers. These individuals will be recog- Lizbeth Hedstrom, Brandeis University nized for their contributions to science and technology Julie A. Leary, University of California, Davis at the AAAS Fellows Forum in February. Nigel Richards, University of Florida Steven Rokita, University of Maryland, College Park We congratulate the following ASBMB Anthony S. Serianni, University of Notre Dame members for this achievement: Michael P. Stone, Vanderbilt University Section on Agriculture, Food Eric Wickstrom, Thomas Jefferson University and Renewable Resources Eugene Sander, University of Arizona Section on Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences Section on Biological Sciences Bjorn R. Olsen, Harvard School of Dental Medicine Brenda Andrews, The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto Section on Medical Sciences Eduardo Blumwald, University of California, Davis Lewis C. Cantley, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Donald A. Bryant, Pennsylvania State University R. John Collier, Harvard Medical School Peter M. J. Burgers, Washington University School of Medicine P. Michael Conn, Oregon Health & Science University/ Ta-Yuan Chang, Dartmouth Medical School Oregon National Primate Research Center Michael M. Cox, University of Wisconsin-Madison Thomas Alan Hamilton, Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Valeria Culotta, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health Reserve University Roberto Docampo, University of Georgia Linheng Li, Stowers Institute for Medical Research Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena, University of Wisconsin- Stuart H. Orkin, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Madison Charles N. Serhan, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Susan J. Fisher, University of California, San Francisco Yang Shi, Harvard Medical School Vadim Gladyshev, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Qing Kenneth Wang, Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Harvard Medical School Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Edward Hawrot, Brown University Reserve University S. Michal Jazwinski, Tulane University Health Sciences Center Section on Neuroscience Jack D. Keene, Duke University Medical Center Lori L. Isom, University of Michigan Jerry B. Lingrel, University of Cincinnati Mark M. Rasenick, University of Illinois at Chicago Bernhard Palsson, University of California, San Diego Robert Vassar, Northwestern University Feinberg School Ann Marie Pendergast, Duke University Medical Center of Medicine Raymond Reeves, Washington State University Michael J. Smerdon, Washington State University Section on Pharmaceutical Sciences James M. Sodetz, University of South Carolina Roy S. Wu, Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Division Abraham L. Sonenshein, Tufts University School of of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Medicine Institute, National Institutes of Health Susan R. Wente, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Hong Wu, Institute for Molecular Medicine, UCLA Nicole Kresge ([email protected]) is the editor of ASBMB John D. York, Duke University Medical Center Today.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 13 asbmb member update
Holick Ginsburg
Holick named Van and disease that has contributed to the ating in 1950, he accepted a position as substance of medicine. an assistant professor at the university. Slyke Award recipient Ginsburg, who also is a Life Sciences For the next 40 years, Mueller pur- Michael F. Holick, a professor of medi- Institute research professor and an sued various scientific interests, from the cine, physiology and biophysics and investigator at Howard Hughes Medical molecular processes regulating animal director of the General Clinical Research Institute, studies the components of the cell replication and differentiation to the Unit at Boston University School of blood-clotting system and how distur- role of phosphatidylethanol synthesis Medicine, is the recipient of the 2010 bances in their function lead to human in alcoholism. He was a pioneer in the Van Slyke Award from the American bleeding and blood-clotting disorders. development of a practical method for Academy for Clinical Chemistry Specifically, he and his colleagues are the synchronization of mammalian cell New York Metro Section. The award looking at the blood-clotting protein von populations and one of the first inves- acknowledges outstanding contribu- Willebrand factor and how molecular tigators to show that in each cell cycle, tions to the science of clinical chemistry defects in the protein are responsible for the units of DNA replicate in the same and laboratory medicine. many of the less common subtypes of time sequence. Holick, who also is director of the von Willebrand disease. He also studies Mueller also significantly affected Bone Health Care Clinic at Boston diseases involving coagulation factor V, cancer policy in the U.S., participating in Medical Center, was chosen to receive a central regulator in the early phases of numerous study sections, advisory com- the award for his seminal contributions blood clot formation, and plasminogen mittees, and editorial and review boards to laboratory medicine. He helped pio- activator inhibitor-1 and PAI2, both of throughout his career. He served on the neer several assays for vitamin D and its which regulate the fibrinolytic system Board of Scientific Counselors for both metabolites. The assays now are used that breaks down blood clots. the National Cancer Institute and the worldwide to determine a patient’s vita- National Institute of Environmental Health min D status and to evaluate disorders Sciences, as president and member of of calcium and bone metabolism. Holick In memoriam the Board of Directors for the American also helped establish global recom- Gerald C. Mueller Association for Cancer Research, and mendations for sensible sun exposure Gerald C. Mueller passed away on Nov. as a member of the Board of Directors of and vitamin D intake for children and 7, 2010. He helped to establish the the American Cancer Society. adults. international reputation of the McArdle Mueller became professor emeritus of Laboratory and build a strong foun- oncology at the McArdle Laboratory for Ginsburg receives dation of basic cancer research on Cancer Research in 1991 but remained the University of Wisconsin-Madison active in the department for more than a biomedical science campus. decade after that. research award Mueller was born in 1920 and raised David Ginsburg, the James V. Neel dis- in St. Croix, Wis. He attended the EMBO recognizes tinguished university professor of internal University of Wisconsin-Madison, where medicine and human genetics at the he worked part time in the laboratory of seven ASBMB University of Michigan Medical School, Harold P. Rusch studying the biochemi- members received a Distinguished Research in cal actions of chemical carcinogens and The European Molecular Biology the Biomedical Sciences Award from ultraviolet radiation. Mueller enrolled Organization has awarded the life-long the Association of American Medical in medical school at the University of honor of EMBO membership to seven Colleges. Wisconsin and received his M.D. in American Society for Biochemistry and The annual AAMC award was estab- 1946. He then carried out an intern- Molecular Biology members. They are lished in 1947 and recognizes outstand- ship at the Medical College of Virginia in among 63 life scientists from 14 coun- ing clinical or laboratory research by a Richmond. In 1947, Mueller returned to tries who received the honor this year. medical school faculty member. The Wisconsin to pursue a doctoral degree in The 63 scientists represent a broad research generally is related to health biochemistry and oncology. After gradu- cross section of research covering clas-
14 ASBMB Today February 2011 asbmb member update Please submit member-related news to [email protected].
sical areas of molecular biology as well as rapidly developing fields such In memoriam Smith was named the as systems biology, neuroscience 21st most-cited author and cancer biology. More than half Mark Smith (of 3,170) in the fields of of the EMBO members contribute by (1965 – 2010) neuroscience and behav- serving on advisory editorial boards Mark A. Smith, professor of pathology at ior during the previous 10 years. In 2009, for the organization’s four scientific Case Western Reserve University, died he was named the No. 3 Alzheimer’s inves- journals, mentoring young research- Dec. 19 after being struck by a car in tigator in the world in a study published in ers, providing expertise to EMBO suburban Cleveland. the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. programs and taking the lead on Smith was a renowned Alzheimer’s Smith received numerous awards and new initiatives. disease researcher whose work focused honors, including two Ruth Salta Junior on understanding how and why neurons Investigator Achievement Awards from the The newly elected cease to function in neurodegenera- American Health Assistance Foundation, ASBMB members are: tive diseases. He also was a Journal of making him the first individual ever to Gideon J. Davies, professor, Biological Chemistry editorial board receive the honor more than once. He Structural Biology Laboratory, member, co-editor-in-chief of the also earned multiple campus awards department of chemistry, The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and for teaching and mentoring, such as the University of York, United Kingdom executive director of the American Aging 2009 J. Bruce Jackson, M.D., Award for Carol Robinson, Royal Society Association. Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring, research professor and Dr. Lee’s Smith studied molecular biology and one of the highest honors given to a professor of chemistry, department biochemistry at Durham University’s member of the Case Western faculty. of chemistry, University of Oxford, Most recently, Smith was named the United Kingdom Hatfield College in England and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1986. recipient of the 2011 American Society Sharon Tooze, head, Secretory for Investigative Pathology Outstanding Pathways Laboratory, Imperial Cancer He then attended Nottingham University, Investigator Award and the 2011 Goudie Research Fund, London, United where he received his doctorate degree in Kingdom 1990. After two years as a postdoctoral Lecture and Medal. “Mark Smith’s passion for scientific Roger J. Davis, investigator, Howard biochemist in the division of immunoder- Hughes Medical Institute, and matology at Sandoz Forschungsinstitut discovery was matched by his complete professor, department of biochemistry (now Novartis) in Vienna, Austria, he dedication to students and colleagues,” and pharmacology, University of began working at Case Western Reserve Case Western President Barbara R. Massachusetts Medical School, University. Snyder said in a press release. “His death United States Smith quickly drew attention and is a tragedy for his field, for Case Western Elaine Fuchs, investigator, Howard accolades, becoming one of the most Reserve and, most of all, for his family. We Hughes Medical Institute, and prolific and cited faculty members on extend our deepest sympathies to all who Rebecca C. Lancefield professor, the Case Western campus, numerically are grieving this terrible loss.” Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, accounting for more than Rockefeller University, United States 1 percent of publications and 4 percent of citations Thomas D. Pollard, Sterling For more information during the past several professor of molecular cellular and You can learn more about Mark Smith’s research years (data from Institute for developmental biology and of cell and career and read the recollections of his biology and of molecular biophysics Scientific Information). He friends and colleagues using the links below: and biochemistry, Yale University, published more than 800 United States peer-reviewed articles, and • The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease: j-alz.com/marksmith.html Chi-Huey Wong, professor, his work was cited more department of chemistry, The Scripps than 21,000 times. In 2007, • Alzheimer Research Forum: bit.ly/AlzheimerForum Research Institute, United States, and • Smith’s faculty webpage: bit.ly/FacultySmith president, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
February 2011 ASBMB Today 15 featurestory Getting serious about science education BY MIKE KLYMKOWSKY
ou may have noticed that the state of science educa- sadly, by some faculty) as a sorting mechanism rather than an Ytion has been very much in the news of late, including opportunity to learn (and teach). This is a perception that can reports from the National Academies (1) and editorials and lead to the loss of important contributions and talent as well as articles in Science, the New York Times and the Wall Street misunderstanding of and hostility toward science within the Journal (2 – 4). Responses to the perceived problems in science, broader community. technology, engineering and mathematics education include Recently, there have been a number of encouraging calls for revised MCAT and College Advanced Placement developments. For example, there is an increased emphasis on exams, better science and mathematics standards (frame- learning goals for science courses and curricula, although how works), and the appointment of prominent scientists, focused far this has moved into the consciousness of most science edu- on education, to positions high in the government. While cators is unclear. While learning goals are critical for effective much of this activity has been centered on K-12 education, instruction, they are essentially meaningless without a close its impact can also be felt in higher education, where there is link to informative assessment. Accreditation bodies, who you now greater emphasis on active engagement versus passive might think would be interested in the assessment of learning, lecturing (5). only rarely require this type of data. Goals and assessments form complementary parts of a dialectic. The assessments The problem needed are quite different from typical course exams (and You might well ask yourself what drew so much attention to assessments that correlate with exams are more or less super- this subject— what is the evidence that our educational system fluous). The types of assessments needed are those designed is doing a bad job, that it needs reform? Early hints came from to reveal whether particular goals are realistic, whether they the work of Treagust and Hestenes and colleagues, together are being met, and if not, what is going wrong— they need to with an awareness that grades and conceptual understanding are not always correlated (6). One also can do one’s own experiments— ask students or colleagues to describe the evidence that respiration and photosynthesis share a common evolutionary origin, explain why oil and water do not mix, describe the mechanisms by which mutations lead to novel phenotypes or consider whether DNA is inherently more or less stable than protein. The answers, or more often the hemming and hawing, might surprise you. The recent emphasis on the science educa- tion system is based in large part on the per- ceived need to broaden the appeal of science and deepen appreciation for the scientific approach’s value when thinking about a wide range of phenomena. While the current system is demonstrably adequate for those who suc- ceed in it, it actively discourages the majority of students. All too often, the function of a science or math course is perceived by students (and,
16 ASBMB Today February 2011 featurestory
map out how students are thinking about a particular idea. of the molecular underpinnings of gene expression prepares In this light, it is critical that when a learning goal is the student to approach more complex issues, such as making formulated it is also illustrated: What exactly does it mean to informed predictions about the effects of mutations and the achieve that goal? What kinds of questions should students be behavior of the regulatory networks involved in adaptation, able to answer, and what should their answers contain? Such homeostasis and a wide range of processes from embryonic assessments dig deeper than the typical exam for a number development to immune and nervous system function. But of reasons (6, 7) and serve to provide feedback on the learn- how many programs prepare students to even consider the ing goals themselves as well as the pedagogical strategies used noise inherent in gene expression and molecular behavior? to attain them. Often authentic assessments (like Socratic And how many students howl in disbelief (or even recognize dialogues) are uncomfortable for both the student and the the error) when biological processes are displayed as determin- instructor, since they are designed to reveal the limits of istic, as is often the case, for example, in video presentations of understanding rather than to identify who is paying atten- various polymerization processes? tion. A simple strategy, applied to a multiple-choice question, So how do we take science education seriously? I suggest is to ask students to explain why incorrect choices are wrong. that, just as in a scientific experiment, we must establish objec- This forces students to become explicit (and instructors to tive and informative assays and use the results of those assess- hear) about their understanding of both the question and the ments to provide feedback that serves to develop, constrain proffered response. When carried out rigorously, this dialectic and redirect our learning goals. This is a contagious behavior, between goals and assessments often reveals that apparently since it tends to infect other courses both within and beyond simple goals are quite complex and that students may not be a particular department. If the learning goals in the biologi- prepared, either by curricular prerequisites or by their current cal sciences demand and depend upon an understanding of instructional experiences, to address them. It also can reveal molecular-level phenomena, then we are within our rights to serious holes in students’ understanding and, by implication, demand that the mathematics, physics and chemistry courses holes in course and curricular design. we require our students to take address these concepts. Within a departmental context, it is critical to present this type of A solution analysis not as a critique of current teaching but as an oppor- Addressing such problems is not for the faint of heart and tunity to think seriously about the educational system in a depends critically on the culture of the department and institu- scientific (that is, skeptical) manner. Effective change is likely tion in which one finds oneself (as well as one’s position in the to be evolutionary, not revolutionary; it will take a number of hierarchy). Perhaps counterintuitively, a rigorous learning-goal cycles of reflection based on informative assessment to achieve analysis can lead to what appears to be a simplification of the and continuing assessment to maintain a rigorous, welcoming materials presented, with the goal of producing a deeper, more and effective science education system. To paraphrase Socrates, rigorous and more confident understanding of key ideas. Con- perhaps we can come to appreciate that the unexamined course sider, for example, gene expression. A thorough understanding is not worth sitting through. of this process includes the thermodynamic factors involved Mike Klymkowsky ([email protected]) is a in protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions, the professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology and general effects of post-transcriptional and post-translational co-director of CU Teach at the University of Colorado, Boulder. modifications, the stochastic and cooperative nature of the
interactions that regulate transcription, RNA processing, trans- References port, translation, the localization of gene products, the assem- 1. Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (2010) Rising above the gathering storm, revisited: rapidly approaching category 5. National Academies bly of macromolecular complexes, the turn-over of RNAs, Press. polypeptides and proteins, the repair of DNA and the geomet- 2. Alberts, B. (2010) Prioritizing science education. Science 328, 405. 3. Editorial. 48th Is Not a Good Place. The New York Times. Oct. 26, 2010. ric factors that regulate DNA’s accessibility (epigenetics). From 4. Editorial. Why we’re failing math and science: a panel of experts talks about this perspective, for example, what is important about miRNA what’s wrong with our education system— and how to fix it. The Wall Street Journal. Oct. 26, 2010. activity is not the details of miRNA processing but the fact that 5. Powell, K. (2003) Science education: spare me the lecture. Nature 425, miRNAs (primarily) regulate mRNA stability and translation, a 234 – 236. 6. McClymer, J. F., and Knowles, L. Z. (1992) Ersatz learning, inauthentic testing. role (and in fact a mechanism) not conceptually distinct from J. Excell. Coll. Teaching 3, 33 – 50. 7. Klymkowsky, M. W., Taylor, L. B., Spindler, S. R., Garvin-Doxas, R. K. (2006) that played by various proteins (a similarity rarely appreci- Two-dimensional, implicit confidence tests as a tool for recognizing student ated by students). A rigorous and confident understanding misconceptions. J. Coll. Sci.Teach. 36, 44 – 48.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 17 featurestory A history of black scientists BY NICOLE KRESGE
1947 Marie Maynard Daly, a graduate student at Columbia University, becomes the first black woman to earn a doctorate 1916 George Washington Carver publishes in chemistry. the most popular of his 44 practical bulletins for farmers, promoting crops such as peanuts and sweet potatoes as alternatives to cotton. The bulletin is titled, “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 1935 Percy Lavon Julian 1864 Rebecca Lee Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption.” completes the synthesis of Crumpler becomes the physostigmine, a drug now used first black woman to to treat glaucoma, to improve graduate from medical memory in Alzheimer’s patients school in the U.S. and and as an antidote to nerve gas. the only black woman 1889 Alfred Oscar Coffin to graduate from the becomes the first black person New England Female to obtain a doctorate degree in biological sciences. Medical College, which 1932 Hildrus Augustus merged with Boston Poindexter becomes the first University in 1873. black person to receive both an M.D., which he earns at Harvard University in 1929, and a Ph.D., 1914 Charles H. Turner is the first which he earns in bacteriology at to demonstrate that insects can hear. Columbia University in 1932.
1864 1876 1889 1893 1914 1915 1916 1925 1932 1933 1935 1941 1947 1965 1966 1972 1973 1976 1977 1979 1987 1988 1991 1993 2006 2011
1925 Lloyd Augustus Hall develops a food preservation process 1941 The first blood known as flash-drying, which still is bank in the U.S., set up used by medical professionals today. by Charles Richard Drew, begins operating.
1915 Ernest Everett Just becomes the first recipient of the Spingarn Medal 1893 Daniel Hale Williams performs the first successful from the National Association for the open heart surgery. Advancement of Colored People.
1876 Edward Alexander Bouchet 1933 Ruth Ella Moore earns a doctorate in physics from Yale becomes the first black University, becoming the first black woman in the U.S. to earn person to receive a doctoral degree, a Ph.D. in bacteriology. in any subject, from an American university.
18 ASBMB Today February 2011 featurestory
n honor of Black History Month, we put together a timeline of noteworthy black researchers Iand their contributions to the life sciences. The list is by no means complete, and you should feel free to go to the online version of this article at bit.ly/ATodayTimeline and add your favorite black scientist in the comment section.
1973 Shirley Ann Jackson becomes the first 1991 Kenneth Olden is appointed director of black woman to earn a 1987 Benjamin S. Carson the National Institute of doctoral degree from the leads the first medical team Environmental Health Massachusetts Institute of that successfully separates Sciences and the National Technology. Jackson later Siamese twins conjoined at Toxicology Program, goes on to become the first the back of the head. black woman president becoming the first black of Rensselaer Polytechnic person ever to head an Institute in 1999. institute of the National Institutes of Health.
1966 Samuel Proctor Massie, Jr. becomes the 1977 Henry Hill first black professor at becomes the first 2006 Clifford W. Houston the U.S. Naval Academy, black president is chosen as the first making him the first black of the American black president-elect of person to teach full-time at Chemical Society. the American Society for any U.S. military academy. Microbiology.
1864 1876 1889 1893 1914 1915 1916 1925 1932 1933 1935 1941 1947 1965 1966 1972 1973 1976 1977 1979 1987 1988 1991 1993 2006 2011
1988 Patricia Era Bath receives 1972 Roland B. Scott, a patent for the cataract laser probe, sometimes called the father of a device that painlessly removes sickle cell disease research, cataracts, becoming the first black founds the Howard University woman doctor to receive a patent for Center for Sickle Cell Disease. a medical purpose.
1976 Alexa Irene Canady 1993 M. Joycelyn Elders becomes the first black becomes the first black woman to enter the field of person to be appointed neurosurgery as a physician as Surgeon General of the in training. United States.
1965 David Harold Blackwell, a mathematician 2011 William G. Coleman, Jr. is named who made important contributions to the fields of scientific director of the National Institute on applied mathematics and statistics, becomes the 1979 LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr. becomes Minority Health and Health Disparities, becoming first black person to be inducted into the National the first black person to serve as national the first black scientific director in the history Academy of Sciences. president of the American Cancer Society. of the National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Program.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 19 sciencefocus Ruma V. Banerjee and Stephen W. Ragsdale: deciphering sulfur and carbon metabolism BY NICK ZAGORSKI
cientists are used to expecting the unexpected Sin their research, but sometimes the surprising discoveries occur outside the petri dish. Such is the case of Ruma V. Banerjee and Stephen W. Ragsdale, both professors in the department of biochemistry at the University of Michigan. In the halls of Medical Science Research Build- ing III, which houses the biochemistry department, Banerjee and Ragsdale are independent researchers who tackle intriguing biological problems. Banerjee, the Vincent Massey collegiate professor of biological chemistry, focuses on mammalian sulfur metabolism and its reliance on enzymes utilizing the cobalt-
containing vitamin B12, while Ragsdale studies the microbial metabolism of one-carbon compounds, One day, he received a call from Rowena Matthews, a which also relies heavily on metalloenzymes. colleague and fellow microbial biochemist at the University However, their connection goes beyond cobalt, nickel of Michigan. The two had conversed previously at a micro- and iron. Banerjee and Ragsdale are partners in life as well biology conference, where she described her frustration at as in the department; they have been married for nearly 20 not being able to obtain redox measurements for a particu- years and share the successes and challenges that come with lar enzyme because the cobalt-containing cofactor had such a life in research that intertwines with life outside the lab. a low redox potential. “I had told her I’m sure I could get the measurements Chemistry in action because my lab was working on a corrinoid/iron-sulfur Their initial encounter occurred in 1989, when Stephen protein with a similarly very negative redox potential, but Ragsdale was a young assistant professor who had just we had managed to develop some techniques to overcome established his own lab at the University of Wisconsin- that, so she should let me know if she wanted any assis- Milwaukee. In graduate school, he became fascinated by tance,” recalls Ragsdale. microbes and the vast and unusual types of chemistry they In the phone call, Matthews took Ragsdale up on his could carry out and he decided to take up research in ace- offer and mentioned that she had just the perfect person, a togenesis, the metabolic process used by certain anaerobic bright and talented postdoctoral fellow, to come to Rags- bacteria to create energy by converting carbon sources into dale’s lab and collaborate on this effort. acetate. • • • In particular, Ragsdale was examining the enzymes In Michigan, Ruma Banerjee was packing her bags for involved in the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, which fixes a trip. She had been working with Matthews for about organic carbon from carbon dioxide with the aid of coen- a year and a half on methionine synthase, which adds a zyme A. (Considering he did his graduate and postdoctoral methyl group to homocysteine to complete the biosynthe- studies with Lars G. Ljungdahl and Harlan Wood, respec- sis of the amino acid methionine. tively, Ragsdale certainly had the credentials to tackle this Her initial experiments had gone quite well— Banerjee pathway.) had managed to clone and characterize the gene from
20 ASBMB Today February 2011 sciencefocus
this enzyme in E. coli; however, her kinetic studies were Convergent evolutions stalling, as she was unable to analyze the transition of the If one subscribes to the theory that opposites attract, then
vitamin B12 (cobalamin) cofactor from cobalt (II) to cobalt certainly Banerjee and Ragsdale were destined to find a (I) during the reaction. spark from the moment they met, as their histories up to Matthews had arranged for Banerjee to do some that point were a contrast in styles if ever one existed. measurements with a colleague in Milwaukee, Stephen Banerjee, for her part, had quite a transient youth; as Ragsdale. He had developed a new type of cell for spectro- the daughter of a general in the Indian army, her family electrochemical analysis (a method allowing spectroscopic moved around quite a bit across the country, and she had detection of changes in oxidation state) that could analyze attended 10 different schools by the time she was get- even minute changes. ting ready for college— a dizzying journey made even After arriving, Banerjee and Ragsdale spent the more astounding by the fact that Banerjee graduated high next several days carrying out a host of experiments on school at the age of 14. methionine synthase. “It was intense,” she recalls. “We did Despite this constant fluidity, her goals solidified early all these electrochemical and spectroscopy studies, and on, and by the time Banerjee was 11, she had developed a were getting great data. strong desire to pursue scientific research, which she sub- “At the same time, there was definitely more than spec- sequently did, obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degree troelectrical chemistry going on in that lab.” in plant science from Delhi University. “I can’t really put my finger on any event or influence that seemed to steer me to science,” she says. “It was more of a subcon- scious unfolding in that I always had a sense I was going down the right path.” Ragsdale, by comparison, grew up in rural Rome, Ga., and spent his formative years in constant intellectual flux. He did enjoy sci- ence a great deal, but the manner in which science was typically taught— involving the rote memorization of terms and concepts— kept it as a secondary interest. “I’ve always had a mind that was better at understanding things than memoriz- ing things,” he says. “So in high school and college I was always drawn more to arts and humanities classes, though it was really hard to corral myself to any one discipline.” Ragsdale’s other great passion was music; in fact, he took a few years off from full-time studies at the University of Georgia to pursue a music career, singing at various bars and coffeehouses while working odd jobs to sup- port his dreams of folk stardom. But some chance encounters steered these distant partners a little closer together, both in physical distance and in academic fields. Banerjee came to the United States to con- duct her doctoral work at Rensselaer Poly- Vitamin B12 is an essential cofactor that is both reactive and rare. Research in the Banerjee laboratory is revealing how an intricate network of proteins tailor technic Institute in upstate New York after and escort the vitamin from its point of entry to its target enzymes in cells. she met someone affiliated with the university
February 2011 ASBMB Today 21 sciencefirstsecondfocus continued continued
A gas channel between the active sites of CO dehydrogenase (C) and acetyl-CoA synthase (A). Ragsdale is studying this enzyme
complex, which is responsible for reductive conversion of CO2 to acetyl-CoA. Revised from Doukov, T. I., et al. (2008). Biochem. 47, 3474-3483.
in India who encouraged her to attend, noting it was a fine like solving a puzzle,” Ragsdale says. “It only took one day scientific institute. for me to get hooked.” The only problem, Banerjee discovered, was that RPI did not have a botany program, so she switched her stud- Balancing life and lab ies to chemistry, one of the school’s strengths. At first, she More than two decades later, Banerjee and Ragsdale still considered switching schools, but she quickly became are hooked, both on each other and on their research in enamored with medicinal chemistry and synthesis reac- metabolism and enzymology, though they certainly have tions and decided to stay. had to maneuver through the delicate balancing act of Meanwhile, Ragsdale had reinvigorated his science family and research. interests through personal readings and eventually Their first significant challenge was finding a suitable decided to return to university full time. Not long after, he destination once Banerjee had finished her postdoc and bumped into renowned scientist Marion M. Bradford at a was ready to start her independent career. The main goal soda machine. was to find a place together, for, despite the relative prox- As it happens, Bradford (inventor of the Bradford pro- imity of Milwaukee and Ann Arbor, the constant travel tein assay) and Ragsdale shared the same hometown and between the cities was a hassle. knew each other from church, so Ragsdale mentioned that “We also made the conscious decision that we would he needed work to help pay for school and wondered if not work in the same lab,” Banerjee says. “Steve was a little Bradford had any jobs in his lab for an undergraduate. ahead of me in his career, so when I started my indepen- “He said sure and told me to stop on by,” remembers dent work, I did not want to be seen as riding his coattails Ragsdale. or risk working in his shadow.” Ragsdale took up a project studying the acrosome They eventually found a suitable joint destination at reaction in sperm, and immediately, the concept of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and both took posi- research— using deductive skills and reasoning to solve tions there in 1991. “Initially, it was a compromise desti- a daunting biological problem— struck a chord. “It was nation,” Banerjee says, “but we quickly felt right at home,
22 ASBMB Today February 2011 sciencefirstsecondfocus continued continued
and the time we spent there was extremely positive.” tive molecule to various destinations and some novel Along the way, they also helped bolster Nebraska’s enzymes that tailor the cobalamin molecule to its enzyme- research reputation through their prolific research and specific active form. For example, she recently solved a
numerous honors; Banerjee even helped establish the long-standing mystery by revealing that a B12 chaperone National Institutes of Health-funded Redox Biology Cen- called MMACHC also was responsible for cleaving off the ter at the university in 2002 to explore redox metabolism cyanide group in cyanocobalamin, the form that’s most and its connection to disease. prevalent in vitamin supplements. Such outstanding work received notice, and the pair Ragsdale has expanded his field of research to include eventually was recruited back to Michigan in 2007 (though methanogenesis in addition to acetogenesis, and his group Ragsdale never officially attended Michigan, he says he felt recently elucidated the reaction for the final step in meth- like an adopted member of Matthews’ lab, so it felt like a ane synthesis, demonstrating that the process is nickel- return trip). dependent. Today, they continue exploring the frontiers of redox “I’ve been getting excited about that area because enzymology and one-carbon metabolism, though in not only does methane have many wonderful chemical different ways— Banerjee through studying mammalian properties, but it could be a great source of future energy,” pathways and clinical applications and Ragsdale through Ragsdale says. “There’s lots of stored methane available, it’s his work on microbial chemistry and applications in got a great energy potential and it’s clean burning.” biotechnology. Following an eye-opening Gordon Conference on “We do have joint lab meetings, so our students benefit metals in biology, the formerly inorganic-adverse Rags- from the shared expertise in our groups,” Banerjee says. dale also has become interested in other classes of metal- “But over the years we have managed to keep our research loproteins. One intriguing area his lab has just started aims different and maintain scientific independence.” investigating involves a potentially novel type of metabolic There were a couple of moments when they considered regulation in which thiol/disulfide redox switches regu- running a lab in parallel, she notes, but in the end they late a protein’s affinity for heme; these heme-regulatory thought the management involved would be a little too motifs respond to conditions like oxidative stress and complex. subsequently adjust protein function. The heme function- “It’s kind of funny,” Ragsdale adds. “We started our rela- ality also allows the protein to respond to gas-signaling tionship with a scientific collaboration, but in the 20 years molecules like carbon monoxide and nitric oxide. since, we’ve both had independent careers; we’ve only And, in a discovery that definitely pleased his music- published one Annual Reviews article together.” loving soul, Ragsdale even found one such thiol/disulfide redox switch on a key nuclear hormone receptor involved Molecular traffic patterns in the circadian cycle called Rev-erb. “It was not a planned Banerjee, who also serves as a member of the American occurrence, and I didn’t name the protein,” he says, “but Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology council, it kind of highlights the wonders of science and how the has focused her efforts on looking at how sulfur enzymes right protein, or person, seems to find you.” operate in the framework of a network. “What are the traf- fic lights that govern the flow of sulfur to help furnish cells Nick Zagorski ([email protected]) is a freelance science with some very important reagents?” writer. In recent years, her group has been particularly inter- References ested in the trafficking of vitamin12 B , an essential vita- Banerjee, R. V., Harder, S. R., Ragsdale, S. W., and Matthews, R. G. (1990) Mechanism of reductive activation of cobalamin-dependent methionine min that requires 30 dedicated enzymes to synthesize in synthase: an electron paramagnetic resonance spectroelectrochemical study. Biochemistry 29, 1129 – 1135. bacteria. Although humans only have two B12-requiring enzymes, both of which support sulfur metabolism Kim, J., Gherasim, C., and Banerjee, R. (2008) Decyanation of vitamin B12 by a trafficking chaperone, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 105, 14551 – 14554. (methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase), Padovani, D., Labunska, T., Palfey, B. A., Ballou, D. P., and Banerjee, R. (2008) Adenosyltransferase tailors and delivers coenzyme B12. Nature Chem. Biol. this rare vitamin is extremely important for every cell, 4, 194 – 196. as evidenced by a complex protein network involved in Li, X., Telser, J., Hoffman, B. M., Gerfen, G., and Ragsdale, S. W. (2010) Observation of organometallic and radical intermediates formed during the B12 trafficking. reaction of methyl-coenzyme M reductase with bromoethanesulfonate, Banerjee’s group has been busy identifying and assign- Biochemistry 49, 6866 – 6876. Gupta, N., and Ragsdale, S. W. (2010) Thiol-disulfide redox dependence of ing functions to the genes involved in B12 maintenance, heme binding and heme ligand switching in a nuclear hormone receptor which include chaperones that escort this highly reac- Rev-erb{beta}. J. Biol. Chem. [Epub Dec 1 ahead of print].
February 2011 ASBMB Today 23 asbmb meetings 20 things to do in D.C. BY NICOLE KRESGE
he 2011 American Society for Biochemistry and 9. Have a pint and a delicious plate of corned beef and TMolecular Biology annual meeting is fast approaching, cabbage and catch a (European) football match at and although your main purpose in Washington, D.C. will be Fado Irish Pub in Chinatown. to attend lectures and network, you probably will have some 10. Sit on a bench at the National Gallery of Art downtime in which to explore the city. Sure, you can visit Sculpture Garden and reflect on all the sculptures, the U.S. Capitol or the Smithsonian National Air and Space including a giant typewriter eraser by Claes Oldenburg and a two-dimensional house by Roy Lichtenstein that Museum and take a tour of the monuments, but the city has recedes into space. lots of other things to offer. To help you fill your free time, we 11. Visit the National Zoo and watch giant pandas Mei polled the ASBMB staff and came up with the following list Xiang and Tian Tian or visit the giant Pacific octopus in of 20 of our favorite things to do in the city. the invertebrate exhibit. 1. View 15 buildings from around the world made entirely 12. Do some shopping, sample a variety of foods and of LEGO® bricks at the National Building Museum. catch some music at the free Lunch and Listen concert Many consider this museum’s shop to be the best in the series at the Old Post Office Pavilion. city, so even if you’re not that interested in buildings, you may want to check it out! 13. Meet up with friends, pick up some books and grab a bite to eat at Kramerbooks and Afterwards Café 2. Go to the top floor of theNational Gallery of Art East and Grille in Dupont Circle. Building and view Henri Matisse’s paper cutouts. He created these by cutting colored paper into shapes, pinning them loosely to his studio walls, and later adjusting, recutting and combining them to his satisfaction. 3. Explore the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral and take a gargoyle tour to see the gargoyle fashioned after Darth Vader. 4. View one of the largest known blue diamonds, the Hope Diamond, at the National Museum of Natural History. The museum also has an 8.62 meter- long giant squid on display and an insect zoo with tarantula-feeding demonstrations. 5. Get a real taste of D.C. and order a chili half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street. For those of you who don’t eat meat, Ben’s also serves vegetarian chili and veggie dogs. 6. See Kermit the Frog, the Fort McHenry American flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner” and Julia Child’s kitchen at the National Museum of American History. 7. Check out the National Museum of Women in the Arts— it’s the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to recognizing the contributions of women artists. 8. Take advantage of the mild spring weather and go for a walking tour of the city. Washington Walks conducts a variety of tours, including a haunted house tour and a memorial by moonlight walk.
24 ASBMB Today February 2011 asbmb meetings
14. Join in the annual spring celebration at the National Georgetown Cupcake, meet the sisters from the TLC Cherry Blossom Festival, commemorating the gift of reality show and grab a tasty bite to eat. Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo 20. Learn about the lives, languages, literature, history to the city of Washington. You can catch the parade on and arts of the Native Americans of the Western April 9 or take a leisurely walk along the Tidal Basin to Hemisphere at the National Museum of the view the blooms. American Indian. Don’t forget to save room for some 15. Take in a free performance at the Kennedy Center’s food at the museum’s Mitsitam Native Foods Café. Millennium Stage every evening at 6 p.m. Acts include everything from performances by the National Nicole Kresge ([email protected]) is the editor of ASBMB Symphony Orchestra to gospel groups. Today. 16. Head over to the up-and-coming Atlas District for drinks and dinner. You can enjoy a beer and a game of Skee-ball or indoor miniature golf at the H St. Country Poster competition Q&A Club. The 15th annual American Society for Biochemistry and 17. View some of the amazing photographs that never Molecular Biology Undergraduate Student Research Poster made it into National Geographic at the National Competition is at 1 p.m. on April 9 at the Washington, Geographic Museum. D.C., convention center. In addition to showcasing quality 18. See the taped door that led to Richard Nixon’s undergraduate research, the competition will award cash resignation and try your hand at being a reporter or prizes to poster winners. Here are some answers to questions photographer at the Newseum. you might have about the competition. 19. Go for a mule-drawn canal boat ride along the C&O Canal in Georgetown. When you’re done, stop at Q: If I submitted my abstract by the November 2010 deadline, am I automatically entered into the poster competition? A: No, you are not automatically entered into the poster competition. However, you are eligible to sign up for the competition beginning in January. We encourage all eligible undergraduates to enter the competition.
Q: How do I sign up for the poster competition? A: If you are a first author and submitted your abstract to an ASBMB topic category, you will have received an e-mail in January inviting you to sign up for the competition online. You also can go to the ASBMB website for information or follow us on Facebook.
Q: I submitted a late-breaking abstract; am I eligible to enter the poster competition? A: No, late-breaking abstracts are not eligible. However, you are welcome to visit the poster competition as a guest.
Q: I’m a travel award recipient; am I automatically entered into the poster competition? A: No, you are not automatically entered into the competition. You will need to sign up in early February (see above). Travel award recipients are required to participate in the poster competition.
Above: View the giant typewriter eraser by Claes Oldenburg at the For a complete schedule of poster competition events, go to National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. bit.ly/2011Poster. Left: Get a real taste of D.C. and order a chili half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Photo credit: Bob Jagendorf.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 25 sci.comm Online resources that make science fun for all ages BY LOLA OLUFEMI
t’s no secret that U.S. students I are not as competitive in the sciences as their counterparts in other countries. While this can, in part, be attributed to the way science and math are taught in our nation’s schools, it also stems from students’ lack of interest in science. Fortunately, the internet offers a bevy of resources that make science less intimidating and more exciting.
Experiencing science through experiments Websites like Science Kids and Kids Science Experiments expose children to science through a variety of hands-on experiments using reagents that easily can be found around the house. For example, an experiment on Science Kids explains how to make a crystal snowflake using a supersaturated borax Episodes of “Sid the Science Kid,” an interactive cartoon that solution and some pipe cleaners. Detailed instructions teaches the basics of experimental science, can be viewed online. are provided for the experiments on both sites, along with an explanation of the principles involved. The experi- ments can be easily adapted for classrooms, home or properties of everyday materials like silly string, wasabi as a presentation at an event. And, when paired with an and trick birthday candles. If you like what you see, the insightful question, the experiments make great science site also lists upcoming chemistry-related events that are fair projects. The Science Kids website also has a number open to the public. of educational games, quizzes and videos. Anchored in a desire to increase science literacy, Bas- Companion sites sam Z. Shakhashiri, a chemistry professor at the Univer- The “Sid the Science Kid” website is a companion site for sity of Wisconsin-Madison, created the Science is Fun the Public Broadcasting Service TV show “Sid the Science website. Featuring mostly chemistry, the resource offers a Kid.” Visitors can view episodes of the interactive cartoon, variety of experiments that can be done at home. Visitors which teaches the basics of experimental science, such to the site also are encouraged to expand their knowledge as observing, comparing and contrasting. Each episode is by learning about the chemical of the week, which ranges built around a single scientific concept that is teamed with from acetic acid to ozone. Under the Explore heading, two or three experiments that can be performed at home. the site offers chemical explanations for things observed Characters on the show keep track of their findings by in everyday life, such as the chemistry of color change recording their data in journals. The site also contains sim- in tree leaves. The site also contains links to other online ple animated games, such as “Super Duper Antibodies,” resources, such as the American Chemical Society’s in which kids can fight the flu by clicking on antibodies and “What’s that stuff?” website, which explains the chemical placing them on flu viruses. Parents also can print activi-
26 ASBMB Today February 2011 sci.comm
ties from a large coloring book for offline entertainment. features a host of videos that have taken science and put The PBS website Kids Zoom also offers excellent tools it to music. Using melodies from popular songs, gradu- for kids interested in science. The site is very child-friendly, ate students and professors introduce concepts like and kids easily can navigate through it by themselves. apoptosis, the polymerase chain reaction, glycolysis and The site is an online version of the children’s show “Zoom” gene regulation. (Some of these videos were featured where kids can try the activities featured on the show. The in the June issue of ASBMB Today.) In addition to being site also allows kids to send in their favorite experiments, entertaining, each song, paired with illustrations, helps recipes, brain-teasing riddles and thoughts on current make the concepts easy to understand and even easier to events. For example, Anastasia from Texas submitted remember. instructions on how to make a biome in a baggie. Experi- While not everyone will gravitate toward science ments listed on the website cover various subjects, includ- explained via catchy songs, most will enjoy Science Songs ing chemistry, engineering and life sciences. Each experi- for Teaching. This website features science songs, such as ment gives kids the opportunity to share their feedback “Ana and the Telophase” by The Trigs, “The Mitosis Square on how well they thought the experiment worked, allowing Dance” by Robin Walling and “The Senses Boogie” by readers to incorporate changes to perfect the experiment. Mark and Morgan Kasmer. Much like the videos, the songs The site provides a healthy balance that allows kids to offer students a means of easily remembering concepts have fun while they learn. about a particular subject. The site also offers printable lyrics and teaching tips. Interactive lessons By creatively weaving science concepts with today’s Today’s technology also offers students the opportunity technology, educators have developed these informative to learn science in ways previous generations could not. yet entertaining resources to make science fun and easier Instead of being confined to textbooks and blackboards, to learn. With the ability to access the internet from smart students can experience science through interactive, illus- phones and laptops, the resources can be used anywhere. trated, online lessons. The lessons often are paired with So whether you’re a teacher with students working on a exercises, problem sets and quizzes, allowing students to science fair project or a parent with children looking for a challenge their newly acquired knowledge. way to entertain themselves, these engaging resources are The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Cool Science for sure to captivate their interest. Curious Kids site is geared toward younger scientists, such as those in primary school. Lessons here include “Classify- Lola Olufemi ([email protected]) is a doctoral candidate/ ing Critters,” which explains taxonomy and asks viewers to NSF BRIDGE fellow at the Southern Illinois University School of group animals in the correct categories, and “Plant Parts Medicine. Salad,” in which kids learn about edible plant parts. The Interactive Concepts in Biochemistry website is Online Resources an interactive multimedia companion to Rodney Boyer’s • Science Kids: sciencekids.co.nz “Concepts in Biochemistry” textbook. This resource, • Kids Science Experiments: aimed at high school and college students, offers every- kids-science-experiments.com thing from interactive animations of the Citric Acid Cycle to • Science is Fun: scifun.org links to cutting edge articles highlighting recent develop- • What’s that stuff?: pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff ments in biochemistry. • Sid the Science Kid: pbskids.org/sid Impressively, online lessons are not limited to English- • Kids Zoom: pbskids.org/zoom speaking students. The Biology Project at the University of • Cool Science for Curious Kids: hhmi.org/coolscience/forkids Arizona website offers problem sets and tutorials on cell • Interactive Concepts in Biochemistry: and human biology in Spanish and Italian. bit.ly/InteractiveConcepts • The Biology Project: www.biology.arizona.edu Science put to music • Science Songs for Teaching: songsforteaching.com Alternatively, if students are not visual learners or if they Do you have a favorite science website? Post it on the online have difficulty remembering concepts, they may benefit version of this article at http://bit.ly/ATodaySciResources. from an array of online science music videos. YouTube
February 2011 ASBMB Today 27 minorityaffairs MAC still on task BY CRAIG E. CAMERON
or more than a decade now, I have been a mem- leadership on the second night of the meeting. The event Fber of the American Society for Biochemistry and was such a big success that we exceeded the capacity Molecular Biology Minority Affairs Committee. During this of the venue. I received positive feedback throughout the time, the committee’s roster has expanded to its current meeting and already have received inquiries about the size of 12. MAC’s overarching mission is to inspire and 2011 reception. We were able to establish a community facilitate diversity in biochemistry and molecular biology, for many of the students early enough in the meeting to and the increase in membership has led to more ideas for increase the overall quality of their experience. We will new directions and activities for the committee. During hold a similar event this year and hope to see you there. my tenure as chairman, my primary objective has been to At the 2011 annual meeting in Washington, D.C., keep the committee focused on bringing a few of these MAC will pilot a program aimed at enhancing the level of ideas to fruition. As I will discuss briefly here, the commit- engagement of our students at the poster session. The tee remains on task and is having a positive impact not general concept was inspired by MAC member Michael only on minorities in ASBMB but also on the wider com- Summers. We will deploy groups of our travel award munity of junior scientists who belong to the society. recipients and their mentors to the poster sessions. By mixing and matching travel award recipients and men- The ASBMB annual meeting: tors, we hope to expand the passive mentoring that a warm climate for all occurs for these trainees. And by having these groups When I think back to the first time I attended a large seek out students who are not being engaged, we will scientific conference like the ASBMB annual meeting, I increase the quality of the experience for our poster pre- still get chills. I was excited about presenting my work senters. As a member of ASBMB, we ask you to join with but intimidated by the vast number of people whom I did MAC to accomplish this important goal. If each member not know and even more concerned about their (pos- pledges to visit five posters at random with the sole sibly negative) responses to my work. The meeting came intention of engaging those who are not interacting with and went, but the perceptions from that first experience others, then all of our poster presenters will return home remain vivid some 20 years later. Having come of age with a better perception of the meeting. in Richard Hanson’s biochemistry department at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, I went to Making use of the Partnership for Diversity the meeting with graduate and postdoctoral students from In order for ASBMB to have a sustained, diverse member- the department as well as a third or so of the faculty. The ship, we not only need to recruit new, diverse members but networking opportunities were enormous; the number of also to retain our existing, young, diverse members. It is my people who engaged with me positively at my poster was belief that both recruitment and retention will be affected huge. The impression on me was indelible: It motivated me positively by having a diverse platform of award recipients to do more work, to attend more meetings and, ultimately, and lecturers. Identifying people of color who are doing high to commit to the service that I now do for ASBMB. quality science in biochemistry and molecular biology has Unfortunately, the experience I had may now be more not been easy. More than a year ago now, we launched of an exception than a rule. Trainees do not, generally, the Partnership for Diversity to identify minorities in science attend our meeting as a part of a pre-existing community and champions for diversity. While the list of partners still is of members. Of even greater concern is the number of short, we have been able to use it to increase the diversity students who are not being engaged during the poster of our platform at the 2011 annual meeting. In addition, we sessions. MAC has been active in developing strategies have been able to use this information to contribute to the to address some of these issues. Last year, we hosted a list of scientists who we are featuring each month in the networking reception that brought together minorities and “Research Spotlight” section of our website. If you embrace travel award recipients, their mentors and the ASBMB diversity, please join the partnership.
28 ASBMB Today February 2011 minorityaffairs
The Ruth Kirschstein reach activity will have on educating the public and hope Diversity in Science Award to repeat this line of programming annually. A few years ago, the ASBMB council approved the cre- MAC is busy! My priority has been to make the meeting ation of an award to recognize an outstanding scientist a memorable experience for both our under-represented who has shown a strong commitment to the encourage- and junior scientists; to create scientific programming that ment and/or mentoring of under-represented minorities is of broad appeal and will permit a platform of diverse entering the scientific enterprise. The call for nominees scientists to be assembled; and to begin to prevent leaks went out for the first time last year. The inaugural award in the pipeline of future scientists by targeting the under- will be presented at the 2011 annual meeting to Arthur served junior high school population, their teachers and Gutierrez-Hartmann, a professor at the Anschutz Medical their parents. Campus of the University of Colorado-Denver School of February is Black History Month. As important as it is Medicine. to remember our past, it also is important to remember that the impact of blacks, Hispanics and Native Ameri- Obesity, obesity, obesity cans on the life sciences has yet to be fully realized. So as In keeping with tradition, our scientific programming for we look back, let’s also look forward and use this month the annual meeting will deal with a disease of high public to say or do something to inspire the next generation of health significance— obesity. Sessions will cover topics black scientists. ranging from the molecular basis of obesity to medical complications of obesity. I am particularly excited about Craig E. Cameron ([email protected]) is the Paul Berg professor the lecture from Nora D. Volkow. Volkow is the director of of biochemistry and molecular biology at The Pennsylvania the National Institute of Drug Abuse and will tell us how State University and chairman of the ASBMB Minority Affairs the science of addiction also may apply to the treatment Committee. of obesity.
Outreach For more information • The ASBMB Partnership for Diversity: The final activity that I would like to mention is our latest www.asbmb.org/MinorityAffairs/register.aspx foray into outreach. In collaboration with the Education and • The MAC Research Spotlight: Professional Development Committee, Regina Stevens- bit.ly/ResearchSpotlight Truss and Ishara Mills-Henry of MAC will bring junior high • The Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award: school science students and their teachers from the D.C. bit.ly/KirschsteinAward area to the annual meeting for some special programming • Obesity Programming at the annual meeting: that promises to convey the thrill of discovery to all. The bit.ly/Obesity2011 programming will emphasize strategies that each of us • Annual meeting STEM outreach programming: can use to connect with and engage this important, at-risk bit.ly/2011Outreach cohort. We are excited about the potential effects this out-
Are you interested in public policy? Do you want to meet Your chance is coming this spring when ASBMB hosts with Congressmen its annual Student Capitol Hill Day on March 15. We are now accepting applications from undergraduate to advocate on and graduate students to join us for an all-expenses behalf of science? paid visit to Washington, D.C.! For more information, go to www.asbmb.org/HillDay2011Registration/reg.aspx
February 2011 ASBMB Today 29 education and training Accreditation 2011— turning the corner BY PETER J. KENNELLY AND J. ELLIS BELL
Background: to accredit, or not to accredit? commercial/industrial sector who often are frustrated with the heterogeneity in knowledge and skills exhibited Biochemistry, molecular biology, and the combination by BMB majors emerging from different programs. of both biochemistry and molecular biology (hereafter referred to as biochemistry and molecular biology or Receipt of an accredited degree will certify for pro- BMB) have emerged as the majors of choice for large spective graduate schools or employers that the degree numbers of scientifically oriented college and university recipient in question has a) matriculated through a students across North America. On many campuses, program whose curriculum and infrastructure meet the enrollment in undergraduate BMB degree programs expectations of ASBMB and b) performed at a level approaches or exceeds that of the well-established, cen- competitive with his or her peers across the nation. turies-old disciplines of mathematics, chemistry, physics Students graduating from lesser-known schools will be and biology. This transformation from a fairly special- able to demonstrate their competitiveness with alumni ized subject pursued by a small cadre of aspiring faculty of well-known programs. The prescription of minimum members and physicians into a widely recognized and infrastructure and curriculum requirements by ASBMB heavily subscribed college major suggests the question, will provide program faculty members with a lever to use What role should the American Society for Biochemistry in negotiations with administrators for personnel and and Molecular Biology play in promoting and support- other resources. ing high quality bachelor’s degree programs in BMB? If For the past three years, the members of the Edu- we are and wish to remain the preeminent professional cation and Professional Development Committee, the society in biochemistry and molecular biology, shouldn’t regional directors of the Undergraduate Affiliates Net- we be as active in promoting high quality undergraduate work, and the members of the ASBMB council have education in our core discipline as we are in other areas, engaged in vigorous discussions regarding the potential such as research? benefits, form and cost of an ASBMB-sponsored accred- Whenever our members find themselves discussing itation program for bachelor’s degrees in BMB. As is typi- how ASBMB might act to promote the improvement cal for so many things of this magnitude, many aspects and growth of high quality undergraduate education in were found to cut both ways. The wide reach that ren- BMB, the same question eventually arises: Why doesn’t ders accreditation so attractive is inexorably linked to the ASBMB accredit bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and logistical problems of working with hundreds of programs molecular biology? Despite persistent misgivings regard- and many thousands of graduates. ing the feasibility of implementation, its logical simplicity and directness, along with the precedents offered by Where do we go from here? several other disciplines, render the question impossible Much remains to be determined, tested and modified. to ignore. However, with the help of grants from the National Science Foundation and the Teagle Foundation, we are ready to What’s in it for us? move beyond discussion to piloting a prospective model An accreditation program for bachelor’s degrees in bio- for the accreditation process. If this empirical venture chemistry and molecular biology constitutes a powerful proves productive, we should be in a position to phase vehicle by which the ASBMB can in a full, national degree accreditation program during the • actively and visibly promote excellence and innovation next few years. in undergraduate BMB education, The pilot accreditation model is designed to empha- • connect with and recruit aspiring young biochemists size outcomes over form. To receive an ASBMB-certified and molecular biologists on a nation-wide scale and degree, each student must graduate from an ASBMB- • raise the profile and relevance of our society with accredited program and exhibit a satisfactory perfor- BMB educators as well as professionals working in the mance on ASBMB’s assessment. Students whose
30 ASBMB Today February 2011 education and training A report from the Education and Professional Development Committee.
performance is deemed outstanding will be recognized society to play a more active and assertive role in shaping as graduating with distinction. No attempt will be made college-level science, technology, math and engineering to specify a sequence of required courses. On the other education in general and BMB in particular. hand, the requirement of a substantive experiential learn- ing component and support for undergraduate research Peter J. Kennelly ([email protected]) is a professor and head of reflects the high priority placed by our society on these the department of biochemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute components of BMB education. and State University. He also is chairman of the ASBMB Perhaps the biggest challenge to be faced by the pilot Education and Professional Development Committee. program will be the design of an assessment instrument. J. Ellis Bell ([email protected]) is a professor of chemistry The sheer number of students to be evaluated renders and chair of the biochemistry and molecular biology program the use of a standard examination virtually inevitable. at the University of Richmond. Ideally, such an exam should require students to dis- play well-developed analytical and quantitative reason- ing skills and to utilize several core defining concepts in ASBMB Receives Teagle Grant biochemistry and molecular biology to synthesize their The Teagle Foundation has awarded $40,000 to the American answers. Our goal is to incorporate this into an exam Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to construct that is composed of roughly 10 questions answerable and pilot a concept-based exam suitable for assessing the within a typical class period of one hour. While it should core knowledge and fundamental skills of students graduating prove challenging to come up with a set of 10 questions with bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biol- each year that collectively possess the requisite range ogy. Development of this assessment instrument is a direct and balance, this approach will greatly deflate the value outgrowth of the 2008 white paper, “Biochemistry/Molecular of rote memorization and render it difficult to teach to the Biology and Liberal Education,” published by ASBMB and test. Detailed rubrics will be provided to guide scoring by funded by Teagle. The long-term goal of this pilot project is to faculty members from participating institutions. establish the experience and expertise necessary to construct and verify an assessment instrument suitable for use in the A community effort outcomes-based accreditation of bachelor’s degree programs Our proposed model for degree certification and pro- in biochemistry and molecular biology and certification of the gram accreditation is unique in its reliance on community performance of individual students. participation, its flexible approach to required curricula The two principal investigators on the grant are Peter J. and its abandonment of the traditional omnibus multiple- Kennelly, chairman of the ASBMB Education and Professional choice examination. The coming months should deter- Development Committee and professor of biochemistry at Vir- mine whether assessment of student performance can ginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Adele J. be accomplished using a relatively small set of high value Wolfson, professor of chemistry at Wellesley College. questions. If so, we will be poised to move forward as a
Applications are now being accepted for ASBMB’s Science Policy Fellowship The fellowship offers exposure to a range of activities regarding science policy and congressional and government relations. For more information, go to www.asbmb.org/PolicyFellowship.aspx
February 2011 ASBMB Today 31 journalnews
The Journal of The Journal of Lipid Research Biological Chemistry Noteworthy Two high notes JLR papers for ‘Eddy’ Fischer BY MARY L. CHANG in the JBC The February issue of the Jour- BY ANGELA HOPP nal of Lipid Research features a commentary by Ruth Prassl (1) The Jan. 21 issue of the Journal on a paper in which Yuhang Liu, of Biological Chemistry contained et al. demonstrate a successful advanced method that allows two classic articles (1, 2) by Ed- for the quick freezing of low-density lipoprotein particles (2). mond H. Fischer, who shared the Using this technique, Liu and colleagues were able to capture 1992 Nobel Prize in physiology or the intermediate state between isotropic and liquid crystalline. medicine with Edwin G. Krebs for The sample was examined by electron microscopy and their research on reversible protein 3-D reconstruction, and interestingly, the central density phosphorylation. layer of LDL was perturbed, and its outer two layers were Krebs trained with Carl and described by the authors as having a “disrupted shell”- Gerty Cori, who discovered that muscle phosphorylase exists shaped density. This paper’s findings, taken together with in two forms: phosphorylase a, which is easily crystallized and the existing two-state phase transition model, demonstrate active without the addition of AMP, and phosphorylase b, a the dynamic nature of lipid nucleation from isotropic to lay- more soluble protein, which is inactive without AMP. ered packing during the lipid core phase transition. Previously, however, Fischer had purified potato phos- Another study of note is a paper looking at the feasibil- phorylase, which had no AMP requirement. It seemed ity of using the apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide L-4F as unlikely to Fischer and Krebs that muscle phosphorylase but a potential therapeutic to increase high-density lipoprotein not potato phosphorylase would require AMP as a cofactor, function in patients with coronary heart disease (3). Cath- so they set out to elucidate the role of AMP in the reaction. erine E. Watson and colleagues performed two clinical trials, They never discovered what the nucleotide was doing, but one in which patients were given a daily dose of intravenous they did discover that muscle phosphorylase was regulated L-4F for seven days and another in which L-4F was adminis- by an enzyme-catalyzed phosphorylation-dephosphorylation tered by subcutaneous injection daily for 28 days. reaction. The peptide generally was well tolerated by both stud- The articles reprinted this January were both first pub- ies’ participants, but no improvement in HDL inflammatory lished in JBC in 1955. index or paraoxonase was observed after single or multiple In the first, Krebs and Fischer describe experiments meant doses. Surprisingly, increases in two inflammatory markers, to determine whether environmental temperature affects the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleu- phosphorylase content of skeletal muscle. Though unable kin-6 (IL-6), were observed following multiple doses of L-4F. to detect temperature effects, they did make the surprising Because the increase in hs-CRP was not dose-dependent, discovery that the muscle extracts contained mainly phos- further study is needed to determine if L-4F is the sole culprit phorylase b rather than phosphorylase a. of the increase. In the second article, the researchers examine the require- ments for the phosphorylase conversion and show that Mary L. Chang ([email protected]) is managing editor of the Journal the conversion of phosphorylase b to phosphorylase a in of Lipid Research. cell-free muscle extracts requires a nucleotide containing high-energy phosphate and a divalent metal ion. References 1. Prassl, R. (2010) Human low density lipoprotein (LDL): the mystery of core lipid packing. J. Lipid. Res., published online Dec. 3. Angela Hopp ([email protected]) is managing editor for special 2. Liu, Y., Luo, D., and Atkinson, D. (2010) Human LDL core cholesterol ester projects of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. packing: 3D image reconstruction and SAXS simulation studies. J. Lipid. Res., published online Nov. 3. References 3. Watson, C. E., Weissbach, N., Kjems, L., Ayalasomayajula, S., Zhang, Y., Chang, I., Navab, M., Hama, S., Hough, G., Reddy, S. T., Soffer, D., Rader, 1. Krebs, E. G., and Fischer, E. H. (1955) Phosphorylase activity of skeletal muscle D. J., Fogelman, A. M., and Schecter, A. (2010) Treatment of patients with extracts. J. Biol. Chem. 216, 113 – 120. cardiovascular disease with L-4F, an Apo-A1 mimetic, did not improve select 2. Fischer, E. H., and Krebs, E. G. (1955) Conversion of phosphorylase b to biomarkers of hdl function. J. Lipid. Res., published online Nov. 10. phosphorylase a in muscle extracts. J. Biol. Chem. 216, 121 – 132.
32 ASBMB Today February 2011 journalnews For more ASBMB journal highlights go to www.asbmb.org
Molecular and The Journal of Cellular Proteomics Biological Chemistry Digital journal access: as you like it BY ANGELA HVITVED there by simply clicking the link at the bottom of the mobile It’s not easy keeping up with the latest advances in re- home page. The creation of MCP’s mobile website was part search, but it can be even trickier keeping up with the tech- of a development test by the journal’s publishing platform, nology that helps you keep up on the science. Fortunately, HighWire, and feedback from users of the new website has the American Society been quite positive thus far. for Biochemistry and Building on the successful introduction of MCP’s mobile Molecular Biology is website, JBC announced the launch of an iPhone app in doing its best to con- January, which can be downloaded for free from the iTunes tinue putting the con- app store. Although it is tailored to operate on iPhones, the tent of our journals at app also can be installed and run on iPads. Different from your fingertips— wher- a mobile website, the ever those fingertips iPhone app is based on RSS feeds and may be. does not retain all The tremendous of the functionality popularity of smart of the full website, phones and tablet but users can move computers allows easily between the full access to the inter- website and the app net, and thus journal interface. An added content, at almost any feature of the app is time or place. Although a “share this” button some may argue about that allows users to the merits of reading quickly share a link to this week’s Papers in Press while on a family vacation at the article via e-mail, the beach, remotely accessible resources can be a great Facebook or Twitter time-saver. with the click of a To this end, two of ASBMB’s journals, Molecular and Cel- button. lular Proteomics and the Journal of Biological Chemistry, The JBC app cur- recently announced the release of alternate platforms for rently is limited to viewing content on the go. iPhone users, who comprise the bulk of ASBMB’s mobile In December, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics users. However, Nancy Rodnan, ASBMB’s director of launched a mobile website with a pared down homepage publications, has indicated that plans are under way to that loads quickly and cleanly on mobile devices. The new develop mobile websites for both JBC and the Journal of mobile website retains all the features of the full website Lipid Research that will be usable on any mobile device. with an easy-to-use interface that is optimized for small Additionally, the society is investigating the development screens. The mobile site can be used on most devices of a full-fledged iPad app for JBC that would allow users to including iPhones and Android and Blackberry phones. cache content so articles could be viewed offline. This truly ASBMB members and MCP subscribers who go to would allow for access to content anytime and anywhere, mcponline.org from a mobile device will be redirected au- provided you are not caught without your trusty mobile tomatically to the mobile site, where they can view full-text device. versions of any MCP article, including all archived material and MCP’s Papers in Press. Although the mobile site is de- Angela Hvitved ([email protected]) is managing editor of signed specifically for optimized viewing on mobile devices, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics and a science writer readers who would rather use the full site still can navigate for ASBMB Today.
February 2011 ASBMB Today 33 careerinsights Fellowships 101: policy opportunities for scientists BY SARAH EDWARDS
or those of you who crave a During orientation we delved Institutes of Health, the American Fcareer outside of the lab, you into the workings of the National Chemical Society, and the Ameri- are in luck— there are loads of Academies (this includes engineer- can Society for Biochemistry and fellowship opportunities for scien- ing, medicine and science). The Molecular Biology. On Capitol Hill, tists who want to work in the policy National Academy of Sciences was I observed House and Senate realm. Whether pre- or post-doctoral the first of the academies, chartered hearings on science policy from degree, you can help translate sci- by President Abraham Lincoln as an advancing STEM education to find- ence into policy for executive and independent organization to provide ing solutions for global warming. legislative branch leaders. A policy the nation’s leaders with scientifi- I attended lectures at think tanks fellowship provides you with the cally sound advice. The twelve-week like the Brookings Institution and opportunity to communicate science fellowship program places fellows in the Potomac Institute, and I visited to nonscientists, conceivably shap- a variety of departments within the the Smithsonian museums carpet- ing legislation at the state or federal National Academies, from science ing the National Mall. The twelve levels. education to astronomy to climate weeks flew by, and after the fellow- change. ship ended, I took a Duke University Life as a National My home department at the job in science administration. My Academies fellow National Academy of Sciences was fellow fellows returned to academia I recently completed one of these the Board on Army Science and to finish graduate school or begin fellowships: the Christine Mirzayan Technology. Here, my doctorate professorships, entered or returned Science and Technology Policy degree in chemistry finally came in to the business world, went to teach Graduate Fellowship at the National handy as I immersed myself in the high school, stayed at the National Academies in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Army’s chemical weapons dis- Academies, or started new jobs or fellowship appealed to me, and likely posal project. The U.S. has stock- fellowships in the policy world. The to my 25 fellow fellows, because piles of the blister agent mustard National Academies is one of the it’s a quick and dirty introduction to gas, several nerve agents and the few places you can jump into policy federal science policy in our nation’s arsenic-containing Lewisite left over before finishing your doctorate, capital. from the cold war era and before. To but post-doctorate, you have your The fellowship began with an increase our safety a few notches, choice of opportunities. intensive one-week orientation. the U.S. has ratified an international Former fellows told us about their treaty to destroy all of these stock- Fellowship offerings current positions in the departments piles. I learned this as I traveled to In the realm of public policy, but not of State, Energy, Agriculture and army bases, met with BAST com- specifically science policy, the Presi- Defense; in the House and Sen- mittee members from academia and dential Management Fellowship is a ate science committees; and at industry, and talked to experts about two-year fellowship open to science think tanks or private firms. We also the army’s chemical demilitarization doctorate holders as well as nonsci- met the director of the President’s progress. entists holding advanced degrees. Council of Advisors on Science and D.C. has a ready supply of gov- This fellowship program seeks Technology, who works in the White ernmental and nongovernmental future federal leaders, and PMFs are House’s Office of Science and Tech- policy organizations, so I met with placed in a variety of federal agen- nology Policy. A bowl of alphabet program directors at the National cies. Two of my National Academies soup, anyone? Science Foundation, the National classmates accepted positions
34 ASBMB Today February 2011 careerinsights
within the NIH at the National Insti- Washington and in the field across along in your careers, the Franklin tute of Allergy and Infectious Dis- a number of different countries in Fellows Program in D.C. offers a eases. NIH fellows can rotate every Africa.” one-year placement in the Depart- three to six months, a key attribute Another AAAS, the American ment of State or USAID. I met a of this fellowship. Current fellow Academy of Arts and Sciences, Franklin fellow at a congressional Mengfei Huang says, “As a Presiden- offers their Hellman Fellowship in hearing on science education; she tial Management Fellow, I have an science and technology policy. The was on a one-year sabbatical from unparalleled opportunity to shape my academy, a policy think tank in her university and likely will be an fellowship experience across differ- Cambridge, Mass., selects one or invaluable resource on science edu- ent content areas and functionalities two fellows with science doctorates cation policy once she returns. within my institute, across the NIH as to work on the social implications of If you are interested in broad- well as other federal agencies. Talk current science research questions. casting or publishing, the American about being a kid in a candy store!” This one-year fellowship program Association for the Advancement The most prominent fellowship currently is in its third year. of Science offers a program where in science and technology policy ASBMB offers a fellowship similar fellows spend ten weeks at a major is the American Association for the to the American Academy of Arts media outlet within the U.S. This Advancement of Science policy and Sciences one. It also is geared Mass Media Science and Engineer- fellowship in Washington, D.C. This toward science doctoral degree ing summer program is a nonpolicy program hosts more than 100 new holders but has a few extra perks: fellowship where you can learn how fellows annually in a variety of federal It can last up to 18 months and to communicate science to the agencies. The three main fellowship offers a more personal exploration of general public. This program is open divisions are diplomacy, security and federal science policy. The selected to pre- and post-doctoral degree development; energy, environment, ASBMB science policy fellow works holders, and each fellow has the agriculture and natural resources; directly with ASBMB Director of option to work behind the scenes in and health, education and human Public Affairs Benjamin Corb, in research, as a production assistant services. One or two AAAS fellows Bethesda, Md. or editor, or even in front of the cam- can score a congressional fellow- California offers a state version era as a reporter. ship— working as committee staff or of the American Association for the Besides these programs, other personal staff for a senator or repre- Advancement of Science federal sci- smaller and subject-specific fellow- sentative— but the more common ence and technology policy fellow- ships abound— check with your route for this fellowship is through a ship through the California Council professional organizations, the policy scientific professional society. The of Science and Technology. In this office at your local university, a local American Chemical Society, the program, 10 fellows (all with science think tank or a career center at your American Geological Institute, the doctorates) work in Sacramento workplace. Think broadly and apply American Physical Society and many for the state legislature on policy for any program that strikes your others sponsor a fellow each year for issues important to California. This interest. the AAAS Congressional program. one-year fellowship is in its second Of the three AAAS fellows who year, and my National Academies Sarah Edwards ([email protected]) were my National Academies class- classmate Tony Marino is a cur- is a science administrator at Duke mates, two chose the diplomacy, rent fellow. According to Marino, University’s Center for Systems Biology. security and development fellowship “California has been a bellwether for with placements at the U.S. Agency science policy, being the first state to for International Development and pass an e-waste recycling program, For more the third works on the Hill. Current green chemistry and a carbon cap- information AAAS fellow Hadas Kushnir says, “At and-trade. It’s a great place to learn For links to these fellow- USAID, I am learning how science about where the country is headed.” ships, and more, go to can best inform policies, strategies, For those of you interested in http://bit.ly/ATodayFellowships. and program implementation both in global science policy and further
February 2011 ASBMB Today 35 lipid news A report from the ASBMB Lipid Division. The Lipid Research Division: director’s update BY DANIEL RABEN
new year has begun, and it’s time to reflect on Goals for 2011 A our past year as well as look ahead. The Lipid There are a couple of important goals ahead of us for Research Division continues to grow, and we’ve made 2011. First, the Lipid Advocacy Committee, chaired progress in a number of areas. Two are of particular by Yusuf A. Hannun of the Medical University of South interest. First, the Steering Committee developed Carolina, is increasing its efforts to address the difficul- an LRD handbook and bylaws, both of which will ties of lipid research funding. Hannun has organized be posted soon for all LRD members to review and an discussion between the Lipid Research Advocacy comment on. Second, thanks to Katherine E. Ward, Committee and scientific research administrators from a graduate student in Rob Stahelin’s laboratory at the the National Institutes of Health at the 2011annual University of Notre Dame, our Lipid Corner website has meeting. The hope is to begin outlining the problems been greatly improved. Ward is our new Web editor and possible solutions to the ever deepening funding and is doing a terrific job. The website has a new look, crisis. This is the first step in our efforts to address this and we are constantly adding updates, including meet- important issue. ing announcements, award notices and job openings. The second goal pertains to some critical LRD administrative issues. One of the important outcomes The annual meeting of formulating division bylaws is the establishment of Each year, two LRD members are selected to orga- procedures for nominating and electing new leader- nize the lipid theme for the American Society for Bio- ship. While I have fully enjoyed being the de facto chemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting. Last director for the LRD, it’s time we instituted a system for year’s meeting was very successful, largely due to the regular nominations and elections of LRD directors. We efforts of Mary F. Roberts from Boston College. The plan on holding our elections in alternate years from 2010 symposia were well attended, especially the talk the election of the ASBMB president. Thus, 2011 will by Sarah Keller, who was the first recipient of the LRD mark the first year in which we hope to nominate a new Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research. This award, director. With that in mind, be sure to start thinking like the senior Avanti Lipid Research Award, is gener- of energetic and creative people you believe will help ously supported by Walter Shaw of Avanti Polar Lipids. move the LRD even further. Shaw also awarded a lipid extruder to a lucky attendee Here’s wishing for another successful year and for at a lipidology workshop organized by Wonhwa Cho of more exciting science from our members! the University of Illinois at Chicago, Lina M. Obeid of the Medical University of South Carolina and Robert Stahelin Daniel Raben ([email protected]) is director of the ASBMB of Indiana University. Shaw continues to support the Lipid Division and a professor in the department of biological Young Investigator Award and plans on giving another chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University School of door prize at the 2011 annual meeting lipid workshop. Medicine. Speaking of the annual meeting, Vytas A. Bankaitis of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and Teresa M. Dunn of the Uniformed Ser- vices University of the Health Sciences have organized For more information a very exciting theme for 2011. The theme will cover a • The ASBMB Lipid Research Division: breadth of topics, including phosphoinositides, phos- www.asbmb.org/lipidcorner pholipase D and phosphatidic acid, sphingolipids and • The 2011 annual meeting lipid theme: neutral lipid metabolism and trafficking. The sessions bit.ly/2011LipidTheme will highlight the emerging topics in these fields.
36 ASBMB Today February 2011 Can it be that simple?
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