Vol. 13 / No. 6 / June/July 2014
The member magazine of The American Society For Biochemistry And Molecular Biology CONTENTS
NEWS FEATURES PERSPECTIVES
2 24 32 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE VITAMIN D CAREER INSIGHTS A president’s perspective How much is enough? 32 Location, location, location! on Experimental Biology 2014 33 e cool professor 5 6 34 Quick guide to career fairs ANNUAL MEETING 36 5 Experimental Biology 2014 tweet analysis MENTORING 6 Scenes from the annual meeting e measure of success 9 38 NEWS FROM THE HILL OPEN LETTERS A challenge reissued e road to professor 10 40 MEMBER UPDATE 38 OUTREACH 11 New members of the American Science-communication training Academy of Arts & Sciences for graduate students 12 44 NEWS OPEN CHANNELS ASBMB wins two NSF grants Reader comments to support teachers and students 14 20 9 JOURNAL NEWS 18 LIPID NEWS Intracellular lipid transport 20 RETROSPECTIVE Malcolm Daniel Lane Sr. (1930–2014) 24 14 Science writer Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay explores the debate over how much vitamin D is enough for good health.
JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
tary appeared in the Proceedings of exploring the possibilities of strategic the National Academy of Sciences, use of these tools and even attended THE MEMBER MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY written by Bruce Alberts, Marc a breakfast meeting built around a FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY A president’s Kirschner, Shirley Tilghman and Twitter tutorial. Harold Varmus, titled “Rescuing U.S. ASBMB sta and others used OFFICERS COUNCIL MEMBERS biomedical research from its systemic Twitter as a useful tool for highlight- SUMMERS HRABOWSKI Steven McKnight Squire J. Booker perspective aws” (4), which noted our e orts. ing upcoming events at the meeting President Brenda Schulman one of the early leaders in the eld of and for calling out exciting com- David Sabatini is paper, which identi ed many Jeremy M. Berg the biochemistry of zinc (my favorite ments or results in real time. Indeed, Past President Melissa Starovasnik of the same issues that we had raised Wesley I. Sundquist element), and Gottesman is a cancer and proposed some potential solu- the societies involved with Experi- Karen Allen Gregory Gatto Jr. on Experimental Secretary biologist I got to know well during mental Biology enlisted the services Natalie Ahn tions, has led to much discussion in Toni Antalis Anjana Rao my time at the National Institutes of the scienti c community. of social-media-savvy individuals to Treasurer Daniel Leahy Health who got his start in research Our panel discussion at the annual live tweet selected events. Biology 2014 as a medical student in Vallee’s meeting was lively, with di erent EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ASBMB TODAY laboratory. Summers, a professor at perspectives on these complex issues, On to Datahound Geeta Narlikar EDITORIAL ADVISORY By Jeremy Berg University of Maryland, Baltimore as anticipated, and it was covered Enrique de la Cruz BOARD It has been a great honor to serve as Co-chairs, 2014 Annual County, shared the Kirschstein by o cial meeting blogger Biochem ASBMB president following in the Meeting Program Charlie Brenner with UMBC President Freeman Committee Chair Belle (5). Spurred by our e orts and footsteps of many great scientists and Carol Shoulders s a society president, attend- to update ASBMB leadership on their Hrabowski III for their development the Alberts et al. paper, we anticipate leaders. I have greatly enjoyed the Peter J. Kennelly Shiladitya Sengupta ing the annual meeting is a e orts, get feedback and advice, and of the Meyerho Scholars Program Chair, Education and Yolanda Sanchez that much discussion and, with luck, opportunity to write these monthly Professional Development (2), a leading initiative to launch stu- Floyd “Ski” Chilton A great pleasure, and this year’s plot the paths forward for the next some needed action will occur over columns and have been grati ed by Committee Cristy Gelling Experimental Biology meeting in San year. Although there are, of course, dents from diverse racial and ethnic the next year. many positive comments that I have Daniel Raben Peter J. Kennelly Diego was no exception for me. With many challenges, I am pleased to say backgrounds into careers in science Chair, Meetings Committee Michael Bradley Rajini Rao many events to lead, participate in or that the society is in reasonably good and technology. Mike gave an engag- Takita Felder Sumter at least make an appearance at, the shape. ing presentation about the conceptual Chair, Minority A airs I found it interesting to watch the body language in the Committee ASBMB TODAY meeting is quite full. However, the framework for the program and pre- omas Baldwin Angela Hopp bene ts of attending many outstand- Award lectures sented both anecdotes and data about room that revealed attitudes ranging from skepticism to Chair, Outreach Committee Editor, [email protected] ing talks, catching up on science and the program’s successes. He con- Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay Once the Experimental Biology meet- confusion to excitement. Bob Matthews other activities with old friends and cluded with a discussion of e orts to Sr. Science Writer, ing formally begins, a considerable Chair, Public A airs [email protected] acquaintances, seeing long-planned replicate the program at other institu- Advisory Committee amount of the president’s schedule Marnay Harris projects come to their next phase, and tions. I was just sorry that he did not received over the years, including Kathleen Collins Designer, [email protected] revolves around the award presenta- have time to discuss the outstanding The role of social media Chair, Publications meeting young students and excited some at the meeting. Andrew Harmon tions. e society gives more than 15 Committee teachers and hearing them talk about research in RNA structural biology Discussions of the role of social Science and Technology awards (1), and the award lectures Indeed, as my term approached its Martha J. Fedor Publishing Manager, new educational programs make it that he and his largely undergraduate media were a thread that ran through end, I realized that I likely needed to Editor-in-chief, JBC [email protected] give the society members an opportu- all worthwhile. is year’s meeting research team have completed over the meeting, starting at the ASBMB nd another outlet, particularly for Herbert Tabor Ciarán Finn nity to hear the winners describe the the years (which also has roots in zinc Web Assistant, c [email protected] also provided many new perspec- Council meeting. Social media have the data analyses that I nd helpful Co-editor, JBC work that led to their selection. ese biochemistry). Karen Schools Colson tives on social media that, I believe, potential roles to play in many activi- for my own thinking about science- A. L. Burlingame presentations come from a mix of Director of Publications, were thought-provoking for many ties related to the ASBMB, including policy issues that also help shape Editor, MCP [email protected] well-established investigators describ- involved. The Public Affairs Advisory meetings, publications, education Edward A. Dennis Barbara Gordon discussions in more productive direc- ing long careers’ worth of work and and outreach. Indeed, considerable Joseph L. Witztum Executive Director, relatively young investigators who Committee panel on tions. One of the happy outcomes Co-editors, JLR [email protected] Before the meeting coverage of the sustainability panel of the Experimental Biology meet- have made important contributions sustainability came from tweeting with the hashtag early in their careers. ing was a chance to meet with some For the president and other o cers #SBRE, as summarized in the Storify and sta members at the Ameri- For me, two special treats this year One of my major e orts during my science bloggers who operate the For information on advertising, contact Fox Associates Inc. summary by Biochem Belle (6). can Society for Biochemistry and were the inauguration of the Bert and term has been to stimulate discus- collective blogging platform called at 800-440-0231 or [email protected]. Some of the younger ASBMB Molecular Biology, the activities start Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical sions about addressing some crucial Scientopia (7). issues that have made the biomedical sta members gave the Council a before the opening of Experimental Science, awarded to Michael Got- I was invited to join the group research enterprise unsustainable in presentation on the rudiments of Biology with meetings of the ASBMB tesman, and the and have started a new blog called its present form. I wrote about this Twitter and some other social media www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday Council and other committees. Ruth Kirschstein Datahound (8). I already have posted e ort a year ago (3), and a key next tools. I found it interesting to watch PRINT ISSN 2372-0409 ese meetings allow the groups who Diversity in on many topics, including trends step was a panel discussion at Experi- the body language in the room that in training stipends, the distribu- Articles published in ASBMB Today re ect solely the are working on both longstanding Science Award authors’ views and not the ocial positions of the mental Biology. revealed attitudes ranging from skep- ASBMB activities, such as publica- presentation by tion of indirect cost rates and gaps American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular While we were in the nal stages ticism to confusion to excitement. A Biology or the institutions with which the authors are tions, and more recent initiatives, Mike Summers. aliated. Endorsement by ASBMB Today or ASBMB of preparation for this, a commen- few Council members moved toward CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 of products or services mentioned is not implied. such as public outreach, to meet and GOTTESMAN Bert Vallee was
2 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 3 ANNUAL MEETING
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 McKnight. Steve and I have known zipper DNA- each other since I was an assistant binding domains in research funding. I am looking professor in the chemistry depart- recently discov- Experimental Biology 2014 tweet analysis forward to continuing to post and ment at Johns Hopkins University ered in eukaryotic Shortly after the Experimental Biology meeting ended, Colby Vorland, a Ph.D. student in nutrition science at welcome thoughts about topics of and he was a sta member at the transcription Purdue University who tweets under the handle @nutsci, created a fascinating analysis of the meeting chatter on interest. nearby Carnegie Institution for Sci- factors. Steve is Twitter. Here are just a few of his ndings. See more of his analysis from this year and his analysis from last year Finally, the meeting gave me a MCKNIGHT ence. We shared many spirited con- one of the most on his blog: http://nutsci.org. great opportunity to interact with the versations about the then-unknown passionate advocates for the science of incoming ASBMB president, Steve structures of zinc nger and leucine biochemistry that I have ever known, HASHTAGS TOP 10 TWEETERS and I am thrilled to hand over the 2014 REFERENCES reins to him. In 2013, the meeting hashtag was #EB2013. But this year it was changed to #xBio. Some users just assumed it was #EB2014. Here’s Handle Tweet count 1. http://www.asbmb.org/awards what Vorland found: ASBMB 226 2. http://meyerho .umbc.edu • 83% of tweets contained only the #xBio hashtag biochembelle 196 3. http://bit.ly/1n53mfn Jeremy Berg ([email protected]) is the associate senior vice-chancel- • 12% contained only the #EB2014 hashtag daviddespain 190 4. http://bit.ly/1eIYqI1 lor for science strategy and plan- • 5% contained both hashtags drugmonkeyblog 159 5. http://bit.ly/1u2iDj2 ning in the health sciences and 6. http://bit.ly/1kY4qUH a professor in the computational expbio 112 7. http://scientopia.org/blogs/about and systems biology department BIG NUMBERS cjmetzgarrd 104 at the University of Pittsburgh. nutritionorg 88 8. http://scientopia.org/blogs/datahound In 2013, there were 5,455 tweets with the meeting hashtag (#EB2013) drdairy50 81 over a 10-day period, and in 2014 there were 6,223 with the meeting phlane 77 hashtags (#EB2014 and #xBio) over an 18-day period. paulaike 74
NETWORK GRAPH 2013 Handle Tweet count Vorland created a biochembelle 292 network graph of the relationships among drdairy50 243 the most common ASBMB 223 The University of Vermont has openings for both Ph.D. and postdoctoral training positions in fields related to words in tweets and daviddespain 211 blood coagulation research, encompassing vascular biology, hemostasis, hemorrhagic diseases and thrombosis. retweets with the bwcorb 185 Programs extend over a broad range of basic, translational and population science. Graduate students and M.D. meeting hashtags. He licorbio 122 and Ph.D. fellows are invited to apply for positions in this NIH-sponsored training program leading to either the explained: “ e con- dramyrd 116 Ph.D. degree or to postdoctoral studies. Past fellows have been from the fields of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, nections between words nutritionorg 92 Hematology, Cardiology, Surgery, and Pathology. For fellows pursuing hematology-oncology training, integration are weighted by how chrispickett5 81 with clinical training is offered. Specific areas of interest include: common they appear phyziochick 81 • Blood coagulation reaction mechanisms together in tweets.” Source: Colby Vorland (http://bit.ly/1hJwmeg) • Biochemical/biophysical/X-ray structural characterizations of protein-protein, protein-metal ion, and protein-membrane interactions • Dynamics and proteomics of the blood coagulation/fibrinolytic systems ONE DEMOGRAPHIC SLICE • Platelet/megakaryocyte biology e ASBMB asked its undergraduate • Epidemiology attendees which society social-media • Treatment of hemophilia and venous thrombosis, and thrombosis prevention channels they used. is is what they Participating mentors are in the fields of Biochemistry, Pathology, Cardiology, Hematology, Epidemiology, reported. Surgery, Genetics, Vascular Biology and Cell Biology. Applicants must be citizens, noncitizen nationals or permanent residents of the U.S. Additional information can be found on our websites: http://biochem.uvm.edu/ www.med.uvm.edu/lcbr www.med.uvm.edu/pathology www.fletcherallen.org/services/heart_health/specialties/cardiology www.uvm.edu www.fletcheraller.org
Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Send inquiries to: Dr. Kenneth G. Mann, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, 208 South Park Dr. Rm 235, Colchester, VT 05446 or email [email protected].
4 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 5 ANNUAL MEETING Scenes from the annual meeting
Incoming ASBMB President Steven McKnight of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Jeremy Berg, president of ASBMB Dallas chats with Bruce W. Stillman of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (left), the winner of ASBMB’s Herbert Tabor Research Award.
Journal of Biological Chemistry reception
ASBMB travel award recipient Treniqka Walters of Meharry Medical College in Nashville talks about her research with Bettie Sue Masters of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Dana Carroll of the University of Utah School of Medicine gives the Herbert A. Sober Lectureship. The ASBMB photo booth in the exhibition area was a hit. Muhammad Allele, ASBMB’s mascot, is always a sought-after tchotchke. From left: Phil Ortiz, Tayla Olsen, and Kristin Fox
6 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 7 NEWS FROM THE HILL A challenge reissued Can the ASBMB membership conduct at least one meeting with federal representatives and senators in each and every state? By Chris Pickett
ou did it! Two years ago, we challenged the American How to participate
Y Society for Biochemistry and Do you want to meet Molecular Biology membership to with your member of conduct 100 or more meetings with Congress and his or her U.S. representatives and senators dur- sta during the summer ing the summer congressional recess. recess (Aug. 1–Sep. 5)? And last year, you had 105 meetings. Register now for the Congratulations! ASBMB 50-State While we are still guring out the Challenge and help us logistics for your ticker-tape parade, meet our goal of having we at the ASBMB have started think- members conduct at ing about our next step. One hundred least one meeting in meetings is an astonishing feat, but all 50 states! researchers are still confronted by http://bit.ly/1qwKcEK myriad problems. Despite all of your advocacy e orts, the budgets for the National Institutes of Health, the every state. A 50-state challenge. Can weeks starting at the beginning of National Science Foundation and the ASBMB membership conduct at August. During this time, federal others are not growing fast enough to least one meeting with federal repre- policy makers and their sta s will be keep up with the demand for grant sentatives and senators in each and in their states and districts meeting money. Jobs for newly minted Ph.D.s every state? We think you can, but it’s with concerned constituents. is is are scarce, and legislative issues con- up to you to prove it. your window to set up a meeting with cerning immigration reform, travel is challenge is issued to all your representatives. As always, the by federal scientists and changes to scientists, from undergrads to grad ASBMB Public A airs O ce is here peer review remain unresolved. And students, postdocs, technicians, sta to help you as much or as little as you recent events on Capitol Hill indicate scientists and faculty members. Your want. We can set up meetings for you that, despite bipartisan support, voice is important to your members and provide you with materials to funding for scienti c research is not of Congress, and they need to hear help you make your points. We will a high priority for many members of about the bene ts your research even travel and escort you on your Congress. brings to the states and districts meetings if that is what you want. is is why we’ve decided to renew you live in. You are the one work- We are here to make sure that your our challenge to the membership ing toward breakthroughs in criti- voice can be heard. And we’re chal- while at the same time setting our cal issues related to human health. lenging the ASBMB membership to sights on a higher target. A thriving Your work brings federal dollars into make your voice heard in every state local research community provides the community and improves the in the nation. jobs, encourages entrepreneurship economic well-being of surrounding A 50-state challenge. ink you’re and makes the occasional ground- areas. And your discoveries have the up to it? potential to make signi cant change. breaking discovery. And this happens Chris Pickett (cpickett@asbmb. in every single state in the nation. at ese are the stories that will moti- org) is a policy analyst at ASBMB. is why we are now challenging you, vate members of Congress to raise the the members, to demonstrate this to pro le of science. the congressional representatives of Congress will go on recess for ve
8 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 9 MEMBER UPDATE
and in vivo. He also has employed Protein Society honors White, Hurley and Fierke the enzyme to investigate metabolic processes as they occur in the cell by New members of American Academy of Arts & Sciences monitoring light emission. Baldwin currently serves as the chairman of the ASBMB Public Outreach Committee and is ASBMB’s representative on the FASEB board of directors. He will begin his new term as VP-elect for science policy July 1. WHITE HURLEY FIERKE ree members will be celebrated at e Protein Society’s annual Baltimore appointed symposium in July. Stephen H. White of the University of California, co-chair to National Acad- DILL GLASS GOURSE HUNT Irvine, won the Carl Brändén Award. Sponsored by Rigaku Corp., the emy of Sciences panel award is issued to “an outstanding protein scientist who has also made exceptional contributions in the areas of education and/or service to the e National science.” James H. Hurley of the University of California, Berkeley, won Academy of the Hans Neurath Award, sponsored by e Neurath Foundation, “for Sciences his ground-breaking contributions to structural membrane biology and appointed David membrane tra cking.” Carol A. Fierke of the University of Michigan Baltimore, president emeritus won the Emil omas Kaiser Award for “exceptional contributions to BALTIMORE our understanding of the metal homeostasis, and to understanding of and Robert the structure and mechanism of ribonuclease P.” Andrews Millikan professor of biology at the California Institute of MERCHANT ROSENZWEIG SILVERMAN VAN DER DONK Technology, as co-chair of its Committee on Science, Technology e Academy of Arts & Sciences announced the members of the class of 2014. e academy e Stowers Institute is the home IN MEMORIAM: and Law. e CSTL was established has served as the nation’s champion of scholarship, civil dialogue and useful knowledge since its to many biomedical researchers, in 1998 to examine the areas where James E. Stowers Jr. including several ASBMB members, founding in 1780. Its members contribute to publications and studies of science and technol- science, engineering and law inter- James E. Stowers and continues to make large contri- ogy, policy, energy and more. e members include some of the world’s most accomplished sect. CSTL is a unique body where Jr., the co-founder butions to the eld. Stowers is leaders from academia, business, public a airs, humanities and the arts. is class of members the legal and scienti c communities of the Stowers survived by his wife, three children come together for needed discussions. includes many winners of notable awards in a wide range of disciplines. e new class includes Institute for Medi- and six grandchildren. the following ASBMB members: cal Research, died Baltimore is one of the world’s most March 17 at the inuential biologists. In 1975, he was • Ken A. Dill, Stony Brook University STOWERS Baldwin will be FASEB’s age of 90. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiol- known as one of the world’s biggest next VP for science policy ogy or medicine for research into viral • Christopher K. Glass, University of California, San Diego replication that helped scientists philanthropists after giving most of omas Baldwin, • Richard L. Gourse, University of Wisconsin-Madison his fortune to the biomedical research a professor of better understand the life cycle of institute. Stowers was born in 1924 biochemistry at retroviruses. His work has contrib- • Donald Frederick Hunt, University of Virginia and, after studying medicine for the University of uted widely to the understanding of several years, chose to leave medicine California, cancer, AIDS and the molecular basis • Sabeeha Merchant, University of California, Los Angeles to pursue a career in business. He Riverside, has of the human body’s immune BALDWIN • Amy C. Rosenzweig, Northwestern University went on to become the founder of been elected the response. Baltimore said he is looking what now is American Century next vice president for science policy forward to working with CSTL • Richard B. Silverman, Northwestern University members to identify pertinent issues Investments, and it is there that he of the Federation of American • Wilfred A. van der Donk, University of Illinois at Urbana- established his wealth. After several Societies for Experimental Biology. where a better understanding of the personal health crises, including Baldwin’s research primarily focuses science–law interface can lead to Champaign and Howard Hughes Medical Institute prostate cancer, Stowers, along on studies of the heterodimeric more informed policy decisions. e new class will be inducted at a ceremony Oct. 11 at the academy’s headquarters in Baltimore will co-chair the committee with his wife, decided to pour their avoprotein monooxygenase bacterial Cambridge, Mass. wealth into biomedical research. is luciferase. His lab has studied the with Judge David S. Tatel from the led to the founding of the Stowers mechanism of the bioluminescence U.S. Court of Appeals for the District Institute in 1994. It opened in 2000 reaction, as well as the folding and of Columbia Circuit. in his hometown of Kansas City, Mo. assembly of the enzyme, both in vitro Written by Nicole Parker
10 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 11 NEWS
e ort at www.asbmb.org/teachbmb. faculty and teacher collaborations e continued success of these Finally, another ongoing NSF- aimed at bringing real-world, hands- initiatives is dependent on smart, ASBMB wins two NSF grants to funded ASBMB initiative is the on science into K – 12 classrooms. enthusiastic and dedicated ASBMB HOPES program, which is short for Find out more about the HOPES committee and sta members. We Hands-on Opportunities to Promote grants at www.asbmb.org/hopesgrant. hope to keep up our funding momen- Engagement in Sciences and is led by Along with the programs high- tum as the ASBMB rmly positions support teachers and students Regina Stevens–Truss of Kalamazoo lighted above, the society also itself in a leadership role in life-sci- College and Peter Kennelly of Vir- launched in 2013 the BMB Accredi- ences education in the 21st century. New awards expand and bolster the society’s leadership ginia Polytechnic Institute and State tation Program. Fourteen schools Weiyi Zhao ([email protected]) is in BMB education and professional development University. already have received ASBMB the ASBMB manager of education Since 2012, the society has accreditation. More information and professional development. By Weiyi Zhao awarded up to 10 seed grants worth can be found at www.asbmb.org/ $2,000 apiece annually to support accreditation.
he American Society for Bio- the online survey that will be emailed nominations, from which 32 were chemistry and Molecular Biol- to annual meeting attendees. selected to attend. is year, we T ogy has won two new National e second NSF award supported received 48 nominations, many from Science Foundation awards to sup- the “ASBMB Mentoring Program leading research institutions, such as port emerging and ongoing educa- for Early-Career Scientists” proj- the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- tion and professional-development ect, a grant-writing and mentoring nology, Stanford University and Johns initiatives. workshop for postdoctoral fellows Hopkins University. New funding and assistant professors held in June is overwhelming response in Washington, D.C. e project was from the ASBMB community One initiative that spearheaded by the ASBMB Minor- demonstrates that there is a clear won NSF funding, ity A airs Committee under the need for well-planned and -executed titled “Creating leadership of Takita Felder–Sumter professional-development programs a Community of of Winthrop University; Marion emphasizing grant writing and men- Scientists: Supporting PUI Faculty Sewer of the University of California, toring for young scientists and that and Undergraduates at the ASBMB San Diego; Squire Booker of e the society is responding to the needs National Meetings,” is part of a more Pennsylvania State University; Sonia of its members. Learn more at than ve-year e ort by the society’s Flores of the University of Colo- www.asbmb.org/grantwriting. Education and Professional Develop- rado Denver; and David Wilson of ment Committee and Undergradu- the Society for the Advancement of Existing funding ate A liate Network to highlight Chicanos and Native Americans in In addition to the grant-funded research conducted at primarily Science. e orts noted above, the society won undergraduate institutions. A precursor workshop in 2013 in 2009 a ve-year NSF Research Each year, students and faculty elicited more than 75 participant Coordination Network Undergradu- members from primarily undergradu- ate Biology Education grant. e ate institutions are invited to present RCN-UBE award has funded more their work during platform sessions than 30 teacher-focused workshops at the ASBMB annual meeting. around the country, six in the rst is year, we expanded our focus to half of 2014 alone, which have include faculty members and students brought together hundreds of under- from minority-serving institutions graduate biochemistry and molecular and community colleges. Addition- biology educators. ally, funding was designated to pro- As a result of this project, a set mote greater student engagement and of undergraduate biochemistry and networking at the meeting. molecular biology foundational A formal evaluation of this year’s concepts and skills was developed and e orts will be conducted in the published in the journal Biochemistry coming months. If you attended the A student at Hernandez Elementary School partici- and Molecular Biology Education, annual meeting in April, please help pates in a HOPES seed grant project organized by commonly referred to by its acronym, us in our evaluation by completing faculty at the school and at Texas State University. BAMBED. Find out more about the
12 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 13 JOURNAL NEWS Human retinal progenitor cell Two new studies on oral bacterium transplantation to preserve vision that causes lethal heart valve infection By Lesley Wassef By Sapeckshita Agrawal
Photoreceptor cells in the retina Two back-to-back studies published class Ib RNRs, along with an iron provided direct evidence about which are involved in detecting light and in The Journal of Biological cofactor, also appear to employ a components are required for RNR converting it into neural signals for Chemistry have provided signi cant dimanganese-tyrosyl radical cofactor activity.” vision. Retinal degenerative diseases, insights into virulence of Streptococ- for in-vivo activity. “We wondered Emboldened by those ndings, the such as age-related macular degenera- cus sanguinis, which causes a poten- whether the oxygen-dependent class researchers in the second study created tion, are the leading cause of blind- tially lethal infection of heart valves. Ib RNR might be the manganese- mutant strains of S. sanguinis lacking ness in the developed world. While Infective endocarditis occurs when requiring enzyme we were seeking,” class Ib RNR or other RNR-related very few e ective treatments exist to the otherwise innocuous S. sanguinis, Kitten says. enzymes and tested those mutants for slow the progression of these diseases, a Gram-positive, facultative aerobic, In the rst study, the researchers growth competency under aerobic a new study in The Journal of Bio- oral bacterium, enters the blood demonstrated that the S. sanguinis and anaerobic conditions. logical Chemistry provides what stream and colonizes vulnerable RNR can not only self-assemble a e authors reported that the the authors say is proof of concept heart valves or endocardial tissue, an diferric-tyrosyl radical in the pres- mutants lacking the genes for that dying photoreceptors can be infection that proves to be lethal for ence of oxygen, but also assemble synthesis of class Ib RNRs or the rescued by cell transplantation. more than 20 percent of patients. e a dimanganese-tyrosyl radical, if manganese cofactor were unable to e study, led by Kang Zhang at severity of this disease and the lack provided with an additional enzyme grow aerobically (but grew normally Central South University in China of a vaccine for it make it impera- called NrdI. under anaerobic conditions) or cause and conducted with collaborators in tive to understand the mechanism of “In my view, the main contribu- endocarditis in a rabbit model system. the U.S. and Europe, set out to virulence by S. sanguinis to facilitate tion of the rst study was that it is phenotype, however, could be determine whether transplanted the development of potent antimicro- identi ed all the components and partially rescued by heterologous human retinal progenitor cells, or bial agents. established that the S. sanguinis RNR complementation with a class II RNR hRPCs, have protective or restorative e studies in the JBC resulted had the properties that were expected gene, which codes for an oxygen- e ects. After all, many lives have from a collaboration between the labs of it,” says Kitten. “We con rmed independent, adenosylcobalamin- been saved by replacing dying organs led by Todd Kitten at Virginia Com- that RNRs behaved the way we cofactored RNR. through transplantation. In addition, monwealth University and JoAnne thought they would in vitro, and we ese results allowed the authors studies in animal models of retinal Stubbe at the Massachusetts Institute to conclude that manganese was degenerative diseases have dem- of Technology. indeed critical for the proper function onstrated that transplanted retinal Two past observations prompted of RNRs and, consequently, for the progenitor cells can migrate into the the research teams to examine the virulence of S. sanguinis. activity of the bacterium’s class Ib e work is signi cant because the retina and di erentiate into photore- -/- The transplanted RFP-tagged p53 MRPs (red) formed an epi-retinal tissue onto the retinal ganglion cell layer ribonucleotide reductase, or RNR. results provide a novel target — ceptor cells. 3 weeks post transplantation. A subset of cells expressed retinal ganglion cell markers such as Brn3 (A and So the team turned to a widely B), Islet1 (C and D, small white arrows) and Tuj1 (E and J). Incorporation of transplanted cells into the retinal ese essential enzymes rely on manganese cofactored RNRs — for used animal model for inherited ganglion cell layer was also observed (H–J). Scale bars, 25m (A and B) and 50 m (C–J). metallo-cofactors to convert ribonu- developing antimicrobial agents retinal degeneration: the Royal Col- cleotides into deoxyribonucleotides, designed to treat infective endocar- lege of Surgeons, or RCS, rat. In one acuity (i.e., clarity), whereas deterio- replacement. precursors for DNA replication and ditis, and that is made even more group, researchers injected hRPCs ration was seen in eyes of RCS rats is proof-of-concept study repair. In S. sanguinis, RNRs occur promising by the fact that such RNRs (in solution) into the retina of only that had not been injected. showed that hRPCs “o er protection in two forms: the aerobic class Ib and do not exist in eukaryotes. e results one eye per rat, leaving the other eye Further testing showed that hRPCs of visual function via mechanisms the anaerobic class III. also may answer the longstanding as a control. Two additional groups preserved the outer nuclear layer by that rescue host photoreceptor cells e rst observation was that dele- question of why some bacteria require of rats were used as well: One group increasing its thickness, increasing when transplanted into a degenerative tion of a manganese transporter called manganese for oxygen tolerance and was injected with a vehicle (solution the number of cells and increasing retina,” the authors wrote. SsaB drastically reduces the virulence virulence. without the hRPCs), and another the spread of cells. e results, the of S. sanguinis and its ability to False-colored transmission electron micrograph of Streptococcus sanguinis cells (purple ovals) encased Lesley Wassef (lesleywassef@ tolerate oxygen. So the researchers set Sapeck Agrawal (sapeck. group was not injected at all. researchers say, are believed to be a within an infected heart valve in an animal model yahoo.com) was a research asso- out to “identify manganese-requiring [email protected]) recently e researchers report that 12 result of hRPCs rescuing the host of infective endocarditis. Mutants lacking either the ciate at the Rutgers University earned her Ph.D. in molecular proteins that would also be required NrdEF ribonucleotide reductase or the NrdI protein weeks after the injection, only the photoreceptors through the delivery Food Science Department and microbiology and immunology for growth in oxygen,” explains Kit- required for manganese cofactor formation were eyes that had been injected with of the right ingredients (for example, Rutgers Center for Lipid Research. from The Johns Hopkins University. unable to cause disease. hRPCs showed preservation of visual neurotrophic factors) rather than cell She is now a medical writer. ten. e second observation was that
14 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 15 processes associated with testosterone- a ected metabolism. ey fed the Realizing when proteins go bad induced metabolic alterations, such mice a high-fat diet “to mimic the as body weight and body fat content, human situation where obesity devel- By Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay energy metabolism, and glucose toler- ops as a result of disruption of homeo- ance.” Based on this nding, Kypreos stasis between food intake and energy Just as some plastics warp when left nothing to do with patient medical clinical test kits designed to quantify adds that scientists can now focus on expenditure,” explains Kypreos. out in the heat and sun, some pro- histories or diagnoses. When they the protein,” explains Borges. “In drugs to treat metabolic disorders that e investigators discovered that teins are destroyed under suboptimal analyzed the two proteins by liquid other words, protein oxidation may modulate the number of functional the LDL receptor “is a main switch of conditions. Knowing when changes chromatography-mass spectrometry, invalidate some clinical assays — and LDL receptors on cells. testosterone actions on body metabo- in proteins are caused by poor condi- which are common in clinical analyses it may be the molecular root cause Kypreos and colleagues have a lism,” says Kypreos. e receptor helps tions and not disease is critical. In laboratories, they discovered that these behind the eventual disappearance of longstanding interest in metabolic testosterone trigger those pathways a paper recently published in the proteins spontaneously oxidize if they other candidate markers of biospeci- disorders in which testosterone is involved in maintaining blood sugar journal Molecular & Cellular are not completely frozen below -30 men integrity that simply disappear involved. Testosterone de ciency and triglyceride levels. e investiga- Proteomics, researchers have dem- °C. “ is point will not come as a sur- when a sample has gone bad.” in men, called hypogonadism, is tors’ data also suggest that the receptor onstrated that changes in two major prise to most chemists,” says Borges. ird, Borges says the oxidation considered a primary risk factor for a a ects how testosterone activates blood proteins, considered by some “But it has three major rami cations phenomenon could be turned around number of disorders. ese disorders fat burning in white adipose tissue. scientists to be signs of cardiovas- for clinical investigators.” to bene t clinicians: It could be used include obesity, insulin resistance, A mouse from the Kypreos laboratory study about Kypreos says one of the group’s aims to monitor how well blood samples the role of the low-density lipoprotein receptor in now is to search for “molecular targets cular disease, actually correlate with First, he states, validating protein and dyslipidemia, a condition where modulating testosterone’s effects. improper handling and storage. oxidation as a biomarker of disease are handled and stored and determine LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol for new pharmaceuticals that will Chad Borges at Arizona State requires di erentiating between whether results from assays are reliable. levels in blood are raised. colleagues decided to investigate the promote fat burning through thermo- University was interested in albumin biochemical e ects caused by dis- is aspect goes beyond the Kypreos says he and his colleagues potential involvement of the LDL genesis as a treatment of obesity and and apolipoprotein A-I as possible ease from artifacts brought on by clinic. Laboratories that test for came across research that suggested receptor superfamily in the metabolic obesity-related complications.” markers for cardiovascular disease in improper handling and storage. performance-enhancing substances that the LDL receptor was an impor- actions of testosterone. e investi- in athletes have to prove that samples Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay patients with type 2 diabetes. “ ere Second, says Borges, it would be tant receptor in diet-induced obesity. gators used genetically engineered were properly handled and stored ([email protected]) is a track record in the literature naïve to think that albumin and apo ere is also research that shows that male mice that were missing the LDL whenever their data are disputed in is the senior science writer and suggesting that the oxidized forms A-I are the only proteins to get dam- mutations in LDL receptor cause coro- receptor. ey surgically castrated blogger for ASBMB. Follow her legal courts. e nding by Borges of both of these proteins are associ- aged under incorrect storage and han- nary heart disease and dyslipidemia. these mice to see how low testoster- on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ and colleagues that some key proteins rajmukhop. ated with diseases involving oxidative dling conditions. It’s very likely that Putting it all together, Kypreos and one levels and a lack of LDL receptor stress,” says Borges. “Some research- most proteins with free cysteine and oxidize under suboptimal conditions ers are supporters of this hypothesis methionine residues, which are most could be applied in sports doping. for one or both proteins, and other susceptible to oxidation, will break researchers remain unconvinced.” down under suboptimal conditions. Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay ([email protected]) Introduction When Borges and colleagues started “When these chemical modi cations is the senior science writer and James A. Shayman to look more closely at the changes occur on proteins, they may very well blogger for ASBMB. Follow her in oxidation of albumin and apoA-1, a ect the manner in which the protein on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ Lysosomal exocytosis and lipid storage disorders rajmukhop. they started to notice trends that had interacts with antibodies employed in Mohammad Ali Samie and Haoxing Xu The development and use of small molecule inhibitors of glycosphingolipid metabolism for lysosomal storage diseases James A. Shayman and Scott D. Larsen Niemann–Pick C disease and mobilization of lysosomal cholesterol by cyclodextrin A critical lipoprotein receptor reduces metabolic Jean E. Vance and Barbara Karten Gene therapy for the neurological manifestations in lysosomal storage disorders disorders brought on by low testosterone Seng H. Cheng By Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay Development of targeted therapies for Parkinson disease and related synucleinopathies Testosterone is the male sex hormone metabolic pathways is not clear. In a of lipid-modi ed proteins and the Edmund Sybertz and Dimitri Krainc involved in sex di erentiation, libido paper just published in the Journal regulation of blood cholesterol levels. Lysosomal storage diseases and the heat shock response: and erectile function. It’s also known of Lipid Research, investigators e study is important, says lead convergences and therapeutic opportunities to play a role in metabolism and demonstrate that the e ects of testos- author Kyriakos Kypreos at Uni- Linda Ingemann and omas Kirkegaard inuence obesity, type 2 diabetes and terone on metabolism may be altered versity of Patras Medical School in other metabolic disorders. But how by the low-density lipoprotein recep- Greece, because it reveals “a novel role To read these reviews, visit www.jlr.org/site/collections/lysosomes. testosterone participates in various tor, a critical protein for the transport of the LDL receptor as a switch for
16 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 17 LIPID NEWS
lipid between organelles. that are local- Similarly, cholesterol, which is ized to speci c Intracellular lipid transport mainly synthesized in the ER, reaches organelles, which organelles, including the plasma can lead to local By Frederick R. Max eld membrane, independently of vesicle changes in the transport pathways. Our work on lipid composi- LDL internalization naturally led to tion. Addition- questions about how cholesterol gets ally, these trans- lthough much of my laboratory with nearly 100 percent e ciency, the biosynthetic pathways. While from lysosomes to the ER, where the formations can now works on various aspects but obviously some lipids were general principles based on lipid cell’s sterol regulatory machinery is lead to changes of lipid biology, my interest in required to form the membranes phase separation and curvature pref- A located. Using uorescent sterols, we in curvature lipids started accidentally. We were that went to late endosomes. Were erences also are likely to play a role in have made some progress in identi- preference or in studying membrane protein tra c, there lipids that would be targeted these secretory pathways (6), much fying nonvesicular sterol transport the susceptibility and the transferrin receptor and the preferentially to these organelles? If remains to be learned about how this mechanisms (9), but overall it has to extraction of a low-density lipoprotein receptor were so, how? While we did make some works. been challenging to identify the lipid and binding the major objects of our interest. progress on this by showing that e second major mechanism for carriers for cholesterol (or ergosterol to a nonvesicular Illustration of some cholesterol trafficking pathways COURTESY OF DAVID B. IAEA While recognizing the importance of some uorescent lipid analogs could lipid sorting involves nonvesicular in yeast). transport protein. membrane lipids, I mainly ignored be sorted e ciently to late endosomes transport processes that exchange In yeast, members of the oxysterol For example, removal of an acyl chain Studies in a variety of yeast them. I also assumed that much was (2), this type of sorting remains lipids among membranes. ere binding protein family have been from a glycerophospholipid creates a mutants have been interpreted as known about lipid tra cking — just poorly understood for natural lipids are several examples of lipids that proposed as nonvesicular sterol car- lysolipid that has di erent curvature indicating that a phosphatidylinositol not by me. Eventually, I realized that in cells. are delivered from a speci c donor riers, but elimination of many (or preferences and is easier to extract transport protein, Sec14, coordinates much is known about lipid tra ck- transiently all seven) of the OSBPs from the bilayers compared with the lipid levels with membrane transport ing, but there are fundamental issues does not fully block sterol transport parent lipid. in the trans-Golgi network and endo- in this very important area of biology In addition to being a fascinating area of scienti c between the ER and the plasma A major challenge in the eld is to somal compartments. Members of the that are not well understood by inquiry, intracellular lipid transport plays a key role membrane (10). In mammalian cells, understand how all of these mecha- OSBP family have been implicated anybody. an additional family of lipid-binding nisms are integrated to maintain the in the transport of sterols and other Basic mechanisms for maintain- in dyslipidemias, which are a growing health problem proteins, the START domain pro- proper balance of lipid compositions lipids, but they also can regulate ing distinct lipid compositions in teins, has been proposed to play a role in various organelles. An intriguing vesicle formation and the structure of di erent organelles are only partially throughout the world. in nonvesicular transport of sterols nding that provides a possible gen- the trans-Golgi network. It is unclear understood, which means that this is and other lipids, but much more eral mechanism for such integration if these proteins play a signi cant role an area where fundamental principles Our results with uorescent lipids organelle to a speci c acceptor, based work is required to understand their is that several lipid transport proteins in sterol transport among organelles are still awaiting discovery. In addi- were an example of one mechanism in large part on binding speci city of role (9, 11). also are involved in regulating the or if they are primarily lipid sensors tion to being a fascinating area of for lipid sorting: segregation of a the carrier proteins (7). e third mechanism for regulat- vesicle transport machinery. It has that regulate metabolic pathways and scienti c inquiry, intracellular lipid subset of lipids during the formation One example is the transport ing lipid composition of organelles been proposed that these proteins membrane tra cking. transport plays a key role in dyslip- of vesicles and tubules in membrane of ceramide by the ceramide- is enzymatic transformations in may serve as coincidence detectors New tools, including lipidomics idemias, which are a growing health vesicular tra cking. In a recent Lipid transfer protein, CERT, which has a speci c organelles. is can include to ensure that an appropriate set of and high-resolution uorescence problem throughout the world. News column (3), Patricia Bassereau ceramide-binding START domain. modi cations of head groups as well lipids is available in a donor compart- microscopy along with genetics and My rst foray into lipid trans- discussed the role of lipid curvature A pleckstrin homology domain can as exchange of acyl chains. ese ment before allowing the formation molecular biology methods, nally port was using uorescent lipids as induced by proteins on the selec- target CERT to Golgi membranes, reactions are carried out by enzymes of a transport vesicle or tubule (12). are allowing us to make signi cant a control for a membrane protein tion of lipids into highly curved and a FFAT motif binds the endo- headway in understanding the details tra cking experiment. We found membranes, such as those formed plasmic reticulum protein VAP (8). of intracellular lipid transport. It is REFERENCES that, after endocytosis in broblasts, in vesicular membrane tra cking. us, CERT can shuttle e ciently likely that sophisticated computa- 1. Mayor, S., et al. J. Cell Biol. 121, 1257 – 1269 (1993). the recycling of the lipid analog was While the preference of individual ceramide from its site of synthesis tional modeling and systems biol- 2. Mukherjee, S., et al. J. Cell Biol. 144, 1271 – 1284 (1999). kinetically and morphologically lipid molecules for curved regions on the cytoplasmic side of the ER ogy approaches will be required to 3. Bassereau, P. ASBMB Today 4, 15 – 16 (2014). indistinguishable from the recycling does not impose a strong selection, to the cytoplasmic side of the Golgi, develop an integrated understanding 4. Callan-Jones, A. et al. Cold Spring Harbor Perspect. Biol. 3 (2011). of the transferrin receptor (1). is curvature can contribute to lipid where it can be converted to gluco- of the many processes that play a role 5. Sorre, B. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106, 5622 – 5626 (2009). supported our hypothesis that speci c sorting in lipid mixtures in which sylceramide. is type of selective in determining lipid distribution. protein-protein interactions were not the composition is close to a phase nonvesicular transport process plays 6. Klemm, R. W. et al. J. Cell Biol. 185, 601 – 612 (2009). required for rapid and e cient recy- separation boundary (4, 5). a role in determining the speci c 7. Lev, S. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol. 11, 739 – 750 (2010). cling of transferrin receptors. Just as lipids are recycled at the membrane composition of di erent 8. Hanada, K. et al. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1791, 684 – 691 (2009). Frederick R. Maxfield (frmaxfie@ is satisfying result was pub- plasma membrane, there must be organelles. However, in general, we 9. Mesmin, B. et al. Mol. Biol. Cell 22, 4004 – 4015 (2011). med.cornell.edu) is a professor in lished, but it left some gnawing ques- similar mechanisms to sort lipid do not know the relative contribu- 10. Georgiev, A. G. et al. Trac. 12, 1341 – 1355 (2011). the biochemistry department at Weill Cornell Medical College. tions. e lipid analog we studied components in anterograde and tions of vesicular and nonvesicular 11. Clark, B. J. J. Endocrinol. 212, 257 – 275 (2012). recycled to the plasma membrane retrograde transport at each step of transport pathways to the ow of 12. Bankaitis, V. A. et al. Curr. Biol. 22, R414 – R424 (2012).
18 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 19 RETROSPECTIVE
ogy of lipid-metabolizing enzymes journal clubs. is ability to inspire (for a recap, see 1) has been comple- his colleagues spilled over into his Malcolm Daniel Lane Sr. mented by his contributions to our formal teaching skills, which remain mechanistic understanding of insulin legendary at Hopkins. Physicians who (1930 – 2014) signaling and to the transcriptional trained at Hopkins from 1970 until regulation of lipogenesis and the 2006 (when Dan formally stopped By Daniel M. Raben and Gerald W. Hart role of hypothalamic malonyl-CoA teaching) remember the “Lane in the control of hunger and satiety. Lectures” he gave in the metabolism is work led to the identi cation of section in medical school. It was not fter a long battle with cancer, genes essential for adipogenesis and surprising, and it was well-deserved, our friend, mentor, preeminent the elucidation of the regulation of when he was recognized by the Johns A biochemist and consummate these genes at a molecular level (for a Hopkins community with the Johns humanitarian M. Daniel Lane passed review, see 2). Hopkins University School of Medi- away April 10 at the age of 83. Almost from the beginning of his cine Professor’s Award for Distinction Dan was not only a major leader career, Dan maintained an interest in in Teaching. in biochemistry but also contributed the regulation of hunger and satiety. substantially to the success of the In an insightful series of studies, Dan, the humanitarian American Society for Biochemistry Dan discovered that hypothalamic and mentor and Molecular Biology. He served on elevation of malonyl-CoA, a key Dan was not only a consummate the ASBMB Council (1982 – 1985 component in fatty-acid synthesis, Dan Lane on his boat fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. scientist; he was also a compassionate and 1986 – 1992), as program chair- suppressed hunger. His work on humanitarian and supportive men- man (1987 – 1989) and as president lipogenesis and satiety formed the ylase, the key regulator of fatty-acid tor. Dan always nurtured younger (1990 – 1991). Dan also served two bases of other studies currently being biosynthesis. His work de ned the investigators, and this nurturing led terms on the editorial board of the pursued by other investigators. enzymology, partial reaction mecha- to the development of many of our Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Dan’s enthusiasm for science was nisms, and regulation and structure current leading investigators. Virtu- he won the 1981 William C. Rose infectious. He often was engaged in of this enzyme. e importance of ally everyone Dan recruited to the Award for his outstanding enzymol- scienti c discussions that inspired this work is underscored by the fact faculty has had a highly successful ogy and metabolism research. new and exciting hypotheses. Dan it is now required reading found in and internationally recognized career. always asked insightful and stimu- most textbooks of biochemistry. He constantly supported his faculty lating questions in seminars and Dan, the scientist Dan’s classic work in the enzymol- for awards, elections to national acad- and teacher emies and even Nobel prizes. e son of Danish immigrants, Dan Dan Lane’s discoveries earned him many honors and awards, Dan truly believed that a key was born in 1930 in Chicago. After including the following: responsibility of a department chair obtaining his B.S. in 1951 and M.S. • American Society for Nutrition’s Mead Johnson Award, 1966 is to create a supportive environment in 1953 from Iowa State University, • American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (formerly Ameri- that promotes creativity, love of sci- he went on to earn his Ph.D. in 1956 (then called the physiological chemis- carboxylase. is was a seminal nd- can Society of Biological Chemists) William C. Rose award, 1981 ence and a vigorous interchange of at the University of Illinois. Dan’s try department) from 1978 to 1997. ing that launched our mechanistic • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Professor’s Award for Distinc- ideas. Under Dan’s direction, the bio- unique scienti c talents were so In 2001, he was named a University understanding of these enzymes. tion in Teaching, 1986 logical chemistry department felt like • National Institutes of Health MERIT award, 1990 apparent that he was soon recruited Distinguished Service professor, and He then turned his attention to a family in which we all supported to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and he became a professor emeritus in methylmalonyl-CoA:pyruvate trans- He was recognized by election to numerous societies, including the following: and cared for each other. When State University in Blacksburg, Va., 2008. carboxylase, another biotin-dependent • American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1982 faculty members left Dan’s depart- as an associate professor and was Dan’s scienti c career was remark- enzyme. He developed an apoenzyme • National Academy of Sciences, 1987 ment, it was usually thanks, in part, promoted to professor of biochemis- able, with numerous seminal contribu- system to investigate the biotin- • American Society for Nutritional Sciences, 1996 to Dan’s unsel sh promotion of them try in 1963. tions to our understanding of enzy- loading reaction, which stimulated to assume leadership positions. He held numerous leadership positions, including the following: Dan was fearless in his defense of After a sabbatical in Munich, he mology of lipid-metabolizing enzymes, further investigations into these • President, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology science, science education and train- left Virginia Tech to become an asso- insulin signaling, adipogenesis, and enzymes. It is because of Dan’s work • Member, ASBMB Program Committee, Membership Committee and Public ciate professor at the New York Uni- the regulation of hunger and satiety. that we now have an understanding A airs Committee ing, and scientists. is contributed to versity School of Medicine, where he Dan began his career studying of the enzymatic mechanisms of these • Editorial board member, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemistry et his ability to provide a productive and was promoted to professor in 1969. carboxylases. It was Dan’s discovery enzymes. Biophysica Acta, the Archives Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Annual Reviews supportive intellectual atmosphere In 1970, Dan moved to the Johns that propionyl-CoA carboxylase While Dan made seminal contri- of Biochemistry. for the scienti c community. He and Hopkins University School of Medi- is a biotin-dependent enzyme and butions to our understanding of other • Executive editor and editorial board member, Biochemical and Biophysical his wife, Patricia Sonquist Lane, were cine and served as director of the that the biotin prosthetic group is enzymes, he is perhaps best known Research Communications CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 department of biological chemistry covalently linked to propionyl-CoA for his work on acetyl-CoA carbox-
20 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 21 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 ily. For 60 years, Dan was married His warmth, compassion and to Pat, who preceded him in death scienti c acumen will be missed by true champions of human rights, and in 2010. Pat also played a key role family and colleagues alike. It is sad their sense of humanity was palpable. in creating a familylike environment to realize that future scientists will Dan was not only aware of violations in the department. Dan’s pride for not have the opportunity to enjoy of human rights and dignities and his family was apparent in his o ce, and be inspired by contributions he assaults on the environment, but he which was lled with family pictures. would have made if he were still with also worked hard to alleviate those And it must be said that these us. Dan has inuenced us all, and for violations and curb those assaults. pictures were not alone; they were that we can all be thankful. Dan fought to maintain voting accompanied by photos of his boats rights and protect our environment, and the sh he had caught. Boating Daniel M. Raben (draben@jhmi. including e orts to improve the water and shing were two of Dan’s true edu) is a professor in the depart- quality in the Chesapeake Bay. joys. Dan was a premier sherman — ment of biological chemistry at Any discussion of Dan also must of ground-breaking data and young the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an ASBMB include his personal love for his fam- scientists as well as big sh. Lipid Research Division leader. ily, boating and shing. It was always e loss of Dan has left a huge Gerald W. Hart (gwhart@jhmi. obvious that Dan cherished his fam- void in our scienti c community. edu) is director of the biological chemistry department at the Johns Hopkins University School of REFERENCES Medicine and an associate editor for Molecular & 1. Kresge, N. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 49, e40 (2006). Cellular Proteomics and for the Journal of Biologi- cal Chemistry. 2. Mandrup, S. and Lane, M.D. J. Biol. Chem. 9, 5367 – 5370 (1997).
22 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 23 FEATURE
er body hurt. It wasn’t the ache J. Wesley Pike at the University of of tired bone and muscle after Wisconsin–Madison. “ e fact of the H a long day but severe musculo- matter is that’s just simply not true.” skeletal pain that had been progress- ing over ve years. e 35-year-old What is vitamin D? woman underwent extensive medical ere are two types of vitamin D: workups, which resulted in her being vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin o ered narcotics and antidepressants. D2 is generally found in forti ed She declined those. She even had a foods, such as milk and some other bone scan that showed abnormalities dairy products, cereals and orange that no one could explain. Finally, juice. e few natural sources of the day came when the pain weak- vitamin D include shitake mush- ened the woman to the point that she rooms and fatty sh, such as salmon, couldn’t stand at the kitchen counter. sardines and mackerel. Vitamin D3 Her children were taken away from is the product of sunshine. Ultra- her because she was unable to ful ll violet light from the sun converts her parental duties. 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin into en she showed up in Gregory previtamin D3. e previtamin D3 Plotniko ’s o ce at Allina Health gets turned into vitamin D3. Care in Minneapolis. He noted that But both forms of vitamin D need the woman had trouble getting up to be activated to work. Vitamin D2 from a chair and the bone abnormali- and D3 get hydroxylated by a P450 ties recorded in her medical reports. enzyme in the liver to be turned into He ordered a vitamin-D test. e test 25-hydroxyvitamin D. is prohor- results showed that she was pro- mone binds to a protein in the blood foundly de cient in vitamin D, so he called the serum vitamin D-binding prescribed her supplements. “Truly, protein. Clasped to its binding $100 worth of vitamin D, and she partner, the prohormone then got her two kids back,” he says. travels through the blood circulation Plotniko brings up this anecdote system for about two weeks. When when he argues that we, as a popu- the bound prohormone gets to the lation, need to increase our intake kidneys, an enzyme called CYP27B1 of vitamin D. He is one of several hydroxylase in the proximal tubular clinicians who are convinced that an epithelial cells turns it into the active unrecognized vitamin-D de ciency hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. is the root of a slew of illnesses that is active form of vitamin D has are not limited to only bone. ey a eeting existence in plasma. In the include cardiovascular disease, various parathyroid gland, bone, kidney and cancers and autoimmune disorders. intestine, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin ey say that the current recommen- D binds to the vitamin-D receptor, dation by the Institute of Medicine which is part of the nuclear recep- that everyone, from toddlers to the tor family of transcription factors. elderly, take 600 international units e transcription factor forms a of vitamin D every day is woefully heterodimer with the retinoid-X inadequate (1). receptor. e heterodimer binds to Other experts disagree. ey say hormone response elements on DNA that there is solid evidence to connect to turn on or turn o the expression vitamin D only to bone health, on of a variety of genes, such as ones which the IOM based its recommen- involved in calcium absorption in the dation in 2011. “ ere’s this view intestine. that vitamin D is a miracle hormone that does literally everything,” says CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
24 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 25 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 29 ng/mL of 25-hydroxyvitamin on vitamin D supplements, compared the connections between vitamin D D was considered to be su cient with $40 million in 2001; orders by and other health outcomes other than for maximum bone health. is is physicians for vitamin D tests with bone disease: the range being disputed between Quest Diagnostics dramatically rose “ ese include the di culty of vitamin-D experts. Some believe we in 2009. isolating the e ects of a single nutri- need a blood level of more than 30 So the IOM committee, spon- ent under investigation from the ng/mL of 25-hydroxyvitamin D; oth- sored by the U.S. Department of confounding e ects of other nutri- ers think the IOM committee behind Agriculture, U.S. Department of ents and non-nutrient factors; the the report got it right. Defense, U.S. Department of Health multi-factorial etiology of the chronic e split comes over whether and Human Services, and Health diseases the committee considered; vitamin D does more than maintain Canada, was tasked with analyzing the paucity of data from random- bone health. Some experts think that the vitamin-D literature and making ized controlled clinical trials, which vitamin D plays more roles than we appropriate recommendations that typically provide the highest level of give it credit for and that we should could be applied to the general North scienti c evidence relevant for (daily be taking higher doses of it so that it American population. recommended intake) development; can do all its di erent physiological e committee had to follow a and the mixed and inconclusive When is someone jobs. Other experts say the evidence risk-assessment model. In that model, results from observational studies.” deficient? for vitamin D in diseases beyond ones explains Ross, there has to be a causal Some vitamin-D experts say that found in bone and parathyroidism is link between the intake of a nutrient the IOM’s need to see data from ran- Warped bones in children with rickets weak; they worry that higher doses and a physiological outcome, such as domized controlled trials is misguided and adults with osteomalacia are signs may cause more harm than good. a bone disorder. “If you don’t have and bewildering. “ ey said there’s of inadequate vitamin-D intake. In e dispute actually has been solid evidence that A is causally not su cient evidence to suggest that 1922, a group led by Elmer Verner going on for decades, and it was related to B, then it becomes not vitamin D has any real e ect outside McCollum at Johns Hopkins Univer- further fueled by the 2011 IOM appropriate to use it” for establishing of the skeletal system because there sity demonstrated the existence of a report. ree years after the report, a dietary reference intake, she says. weren’t any appropriate randomized fat-soluble nutrient that was involved the debate hasn’t abated, as evidenced For cardiovascular disease, autoim- controlled trials,” says Bruce Hollis in calcium absorption (2). ey called by two meta-analyses published in the mune disorders and cancer — physi- at the Medical University of South this nutrient vitamin D. In 1924, British Journal of Medicine in April Carolina. “Randomized controlled Harry Steenbock and A. Black at the ological disorders suggested to be that attempted to make sense of the connected to a vitamin-D de ciency trials were designed for drugs, not University of Wisconsin–Madison vitamin-D literature (4, 5). Based on nutrients.” demonstrated that irradiating certain — the committee could not nd the conclusions of the two studies, causal links. “ ere is quite a bit of Both he and Robert Heaney of foods, most notably milk, and feeding the BMJ editorial urged caution in Creighton University say that ran- those foods to animals reversed rickets literature,” acknowledges Ross. “But attributing diseases (besides the ones some of it is of the type where an domized controlled trials in nutrition (3). Steenbock patented his discovery, in bone) to a vitamin-D de ciency are not feasible in most cases. Vitamin and the 1930s saw the introduction observation was made in a popula- (6). tion with cardiovascular disease, and D is an essential nutrient. To test of foods forti ed with vitamin D. By its e ects on a certain physiological serum vitamin-D levels may have the end of the 1930s, rickets was no outcome in a randomized controlled The 2011 IOM report been measured and were a little bit longer a public health problem. trial, a signi cantly large group of low. But that’s not establishing a e de nition of a vitamin-D e IOM report on vitamin D and participants within the study would link.” de ciency has morphed over time. calcium came about because “the have to be denied all sources of vita- Ross says the only clinical outcome Until the 1930s, rickets and osteoma- federal agencies that make use of min D. But this kind of trial simply that the committee could see where lacia were most the visible signs of the the dietary reference intakes were cannot be done for ethical reasons, vitamin D had a direct e ect was de ciency. ese days, a de ciency in aware that there was the perception explains Heaney, when you know you bone health. e literature on that vitamin D is determined by a blood that the public might be becoming are depriving people of an essential was more extensive and conclusive, test. e test, usually based on an more vitamin-D de cient,” says A. nutrient. But then organizations like so the committee used it to base its immunoassay, measures the level of Catharine Ross at Pennsylvania State the IOM turn around and say they recommendation of a daily vitamin D the prohormone 25-hydroxyvitamin University, who chaired the IOM can’t make recommendations for a intake of 600 IU. D. It’s clear that if someone has a committee for the 2011 report. Data nutrient without data from random- “It wasn’t that we ignored the other blood level less than 20 ng/mL, that were showing that clinicians and the ized controlled trials. person is in danger of developing a public were increasingly shelling out studies. It wasn’t that we said they “We’ve got a catch-22,” says bone disorder or hyperparathyroid- money for vitamin D. In a New York were uninteresting or they were not to Heaney. “Randomized trials are ism. Times story published in 2010, jour- be considered,” Ross says. But in the purely empirical, which is ne for e IOM report in 2011 stated nalist Tara Parker Pope noted that in report, the committee described the that a level between 21 ng/mL and 2008, consumers spent $235 million problems it ran into in trying to nd CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
26 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 27 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 than 30 ng/mL,” says Adams, “it’s 95 percent of the population.” drugs. ey are foreign agents. But Sun exposure at di erent latitudes nutrients and hormones are not is another aspect that clinicians say foreign agents. ey are native to the needs to be considered. Plotniko body. ey should be there.” says that he and colleagues have Critics of the IOM report had observed that Southeast Asians other bones to pick. One was the moving from their home countries question of sun exposure. Sun-driven to higher latitudes in the Western production of vitamin D is the most Hemisphere develop cardiovascular e ective source of the nutrient. In diseases and autoimmune disorders the summer, a white person can make like multiple sclerosis. In these stud- 10,000 IU after spending 30 minutes ies, patients were shown to have low in the early-afternoon sun without levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. sunscreen. But Ross explains that But Hector DeLuca at the Univer- the committee couldn’t recommend sity of Wisconsin–Madison counters that people catch more sun because those studies. DeLuca, who served as of the relationship between skin a consultant to the IOM committee, cancer and ultraviolet light exposure. uses multiple sclerosis as an example. “We ended up saying we will try to “ ere is clearly a relationship specify a recommended daily intake between sunlight and the incidence in the absence of sun,” says Ross. “We of this disease. It’s been known since, realized there really is no such thing I think, 1964. You know what? ere as absence of sun, but we called it are other things that sunlight does vitamin-D hormone is tightly have been higher.) “I think they did minimal sunlight exposure.” She says besides produce vitamin D,” he says. regulated. Popping more vitamin a great job because, believe it or not, the 600 IU recommended for vitamin “But because the vitamin D system is D supplements may not actually what people don’t realize is before D was made to maintain an adequate so well-known and we know that it’s a ect your level of active vitamin D. they met the actual recommendation serum level of the vitamin even in very important for health, every- e prohormone may just wind up for vitamin D in all children and the absence of sun “but knowing full one focused on the idea that maybe leaving your body through urine. adults was 200 units a day,” he says. well that, for many people, sun adds vitamin D” has something to do with “If you get out in the sunlight, “ ey now say no, no, no, it’s actually to that. Chances are their actual total multiple sclerosis. DeLuca says sub- particularly in the equator, and you 600. To me, that’s a big change.” exposure, considering both diet and sequent studies have shown in animal have a lot of exposed skin, you can In the meantime, everyone is wait- sun, is actually higher.” models that a vitamin-D de ciency make 25,000 or even 50,000 units ing to see the results from a large- Meanwhile, experts point out that doesn’t cause multiple sclerosis. of vitamin D in an hour,” says Pike. scale randomized trial now happening black people have di erent require- e IOM report set the upper limit “But it’s not active because it needs under the purview of the National ments for vitamin D and calcium; for taking vitamin D at 4,000 IU for to be converted eventually to (1α,25 Institutes of Health. e agency is supporting a long-term study of daily melanin absorbs UV light and adults and between 2,500 and 3,000 dihydroxyvitamin D), irrespective of intake of vitamin D3 pills of 2,000 interferes with its transmission into IU for children, based on their ages. how much you have. It’s very tightly IU. Spearheaded by JoAnn Manson the skin, reducing the production of Critics say the upper limit could have controlled. at’s really the key to the and Julie Buring at Harvard Univer- vitamin D. Also, black Americans been higher. ey point to a review vitamin-D system — the hormone is sity-a liated Brigham and Women’s tend to consume less dairy, which that showed that doses of vitamin D exquisitely regulated.” Hospital, the trial is called the vita- is usually forti ed with vitamin D. up to 10,000 IU were not toxic (7). Michael Holick at Boston Univer- min D and omega-3 trial, from which As John Adams at the University of But Ross explains, “We’re making sity chaired the Endocrine Society’s various letters have been plucked to California, Los Angeles, explains, the recommendations that might have committee on vitamin D (8). e give the trial the name VITAL. rst values for serum levels of vitamin a shelf life of a decade or more. You goal was to provide guidance to clini- VITAL is tracking 25,875 men D were established by studying white have to be cautious under those cir- cians for the prevention and treat- and women across the U.S. e study people. He says that, if we look at cumstances. I think that really helps ment of vitamin-D de ciency; the participants are divided into four the U.S. population today, about 60 to explain why we stop at 4,000, even IOM’s goal was to provide guidance groups: One group is taking both percent of the white population has though some people might say you for the general population. Holick vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid a serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin could take more and it wouldn’t be defends the IOM committee, even capsules; one group is taking vitamin D of less than 30 ng/mL. “If you harmful. We were not so certain.” though he doesn’t agree with its D and a placebo; one group is taking look at African-Americans who have Pike and Adams both point out recommendation. (He too thinks that a (25-hydroxyvitamin D) level less that the production of the active the recommended daily intake should CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
28 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 29 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 nonskeletal outcomes.” mone. is is important, says Adams, think we should be taking in higher because some isoforms of the serum doses of vitamin D are frustrated. omega-3 pills with a placebo pill; and vitamin D-binding protein bind more ey believe that scienti c and health the nal group is taking two placebo Not done with D avidly to 25-hydroxyvitamin D. ese authorities have paid no heed to pills. Manson explains that the trial Many of the observations of vitamin isoforms are known to be expressed their warnings. Plotniko says it’s has a cost-e ective design that allows D a ecting the cardiovascular, muscle speci cally in blacks, once again heartbreaking to see patients, like the investigators to study two separate and liver hepatic systems may be indi- giving a misleading interpretation of the woman he took care of, suf- nutrients e ciently and look at their rect e ects, points out Pike. “Vitamin their overall vitamin-D levels. fer. “People are miserable. ey are e ects both independently and in D has a pervasive e ect on the main- Questions also persist about the put on all kinds of medications and combination. tenance of calcium and phosphorus vitamin-D receptor, which are as misdiagnosed with metastatic breast e aim of the VITAL study is to levels in the blood,” he says. When simple as “Where is it found?” Some cancer or depression or something see if taking daily dietary supplements systems go awry in the presence of the experts, like Plotniko , say that else,” he says. “Vitamin D is cheap of vitamin D3 or omega-3 fatty vitamin-D de ciency, it is not clear vitamin D’s far-reaching e ects in and easy.” acids reduces the risk for develop- whether the organs are experiencing the body make sense because the But observations like this are not ing cancer, heart disease and stroke a direct e ect of the de ciency or an receptor is found in every tissue. But yet backed up by large-scale studies, in people who do not have a prior indirect e ect through the disruption others disagree. “Some of us are not says Pike, and lead to problems: “Cli- history of these illnesses. Manson of mineral metabolism brought on by convinced that signi cant levels of nicians see one patient that happens says that VITAL has placed special the vitamin-D de ciency. vitamin-D receptors are routinely to take a vitamin D pill and the next emphasis on recruiting black partici- Experts say that the controversy expressed in many of those cells and day, they get over the u. Vitamin D pants and has enrolled 5,108, which over vitamin D also highlights the tissues” in the cardiovascular and treats the u! is is nonsense.” is 20 percent of the study popula- need to rethink using the prohor- muscle systems, says Pike. “Try as we e need for more research is a tion. “We’re very much interested in mone 25-hydroxyvitamin D as a might, but over literally 30 years we unifying sentiment. Experts say that, whether vitamin-D supplementation measure of the body’s overall vitamin- have never been able to show vitamin- despite vitamin D being discovered may narrow the gap between whites D status. We measure 25-hydroxyvi- D receptors present in gross muscle a century ago, research into it lapsed and blacks in terms of cardiovascu- tamin D because it’s blood-borne tissue.” once rickets was cured. e eld saw lar mortality, heart failure, prostate and stable over several days. But just Pike says some claims have been a resurgence once DeLuca and col- cancer, breast cancer mortality, stroke because it’s easy to measure doesn’t made in the literature about nding leagues demonstrated in 1968 that and diabetes,” she says. “Many of mean it’s the right thing to measure. the vitamin-D receptor in all kinds vitamin D required activation inside these outcomes have higher rates in Adams, Hollis and others say that of tissues but the data are gener- the body to work (9) as well as after blacks than whites.” the standard serum measurement is ally weak. In those cases, investiga- the cloning of the vitamin-D receptor But until the study concludes in a surrogate measure: It doesn’t show tors studying skeletal muscle, as an in the late 1980s. But fundamen- 2017, Manson says, “ e jury is still how much of the prohormone is free example, “grind up tissue, let cells tal gaps in understanding remain. out on the bene ts and risks of high- of the binding protein and available grow in culture and then measure the For instance, researchers still don’t dose vitamin-D supplementation for to be turned into the active hor- vitamin-D receptor. Sure enough, know the molecular details of how there it is,” explains Pike. “ e reality the vitamin-D receptor heterodimer is growing those cells causes them complex works at regulatory sites to to di erentiate and change. Smooth inuence gene expression. muscle cells are notoriously able to So when Plotniko says “It’s mind- di erentiate into other cell types. e boggling that there isn’t more atten- presence of receptor in those cell lines tion to be paid to vitamin D,” that’s just doesn’t cut it. It’s just not right.” a statement all vitamin-D experts can Plotniko , Hollis and others who agree on.
REFERENCES 1. “Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D.” Institute of Medicine (2011). 2. J. Biol. Chem. 53, 293 – 312 (1922). 3. J. Biol. Chem. 61, 405 – 422 (1924). 4. eodoratou, E. et al. BMJ doi: 10.1136/bmj.g2035 (2014). Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay 5. Chowdhury, R. et al. BMJ doi: 10.1136/bmj.g1903 (2014). ([email protected]) 6. Welsh, P. and Sattar, N. BMJ doi: 10.1136/bmj.g2280 (2014). is the senior science writer and 7. Vieth, R. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 69, 842 – 856 (1999). blogger for ASBMB. Follow her 8. Holick, M.F. et al. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 96, 1911 – 1930 (2011). on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ rajmukhop. 9. Blunt, J.W. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 61, 1503 – 1506 (1968).
30 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 31 CAREER INSIGHTS CAREER INSIGHTS Location, location, location! The cool professor Graduate school and postdoctoral stints o er By Prof-like Substance a nice change of place, so choose wisely By Shaila Kotadia hen I started my lab, I had a leading your people in the general free from the lab’s reporting, pub- very distinct idea of the type vicinity of water, and sometimes you lishing and proposal-writing needs. W of principal investigator I have to hand them a cup and tell Otherwise, as the lab goes, so go one’s wanted to be. I had experienced some oung scientists repeatedly hear them to drink. opportunities. di erent styles and observed many When I say that, I often hear I still care that I have a good rela- that they will not have the free- Salary Respondent Location Difference others. I knew what my needs were as people tell me, “Well, my adviser was tionship with my people. I still hope Y dom to be selective about where Comparison* a graduate student and as a postdoc they live when they are searching for totally hands-o , and it helped us be that they like me and that we can and recognized gaps in what my men- faculty positions. Unfortunately, this Justin Crest Santa Cruz, Calif. $40,000 32.1% independent and successful!” Whereas sit down over a beer and enjoy the tors had provided for me. Above all, is true in most cases, especially now, I won’t dispute that many people can time spent together. But I’m far less I thought I could navigate that line with only about 20 percent of Ph.D.s New York $58,952 do well in that environment, it’s concerned about blurring the between friend and boss where all my obtaining academic, tenure-track often convenient to leave out the line between personal and profes- Shondra Miller Dallas $40,000 26.7% trainees would both respect me and positions. But this is also great moti- long list of those who ounder in sional relationships. I want to put want to hang out with me. vation to put a lot of thought into those conditions and spend years of people in the position to succeed La Jolla, Calif. $54,607 Oh, and I wanted to ride a unicorn where you will live during graduate their lives without advancing their at doing whatever it is they want to to work every day. career goals. do while advancing the lab’s overall school and during your postdoctoral Mark Chen San Diego $40,000 -28.1% I’m soon to nish up my sixth training years. ere are times when certain agenda. If that sometimes means year as a PI and have mentored two Since location can inuence your Ann Arbor, Mich. $31,224 things need to get done for the lab pushing people to get certain things cohorts of students at this stage. I’m happiness, here are stories of scientists and the trainee alike, and there are done, so be it. hardly a grizzled vet of the mentoring who determined their paths partly Shaila Kotadia Santa Cruz, Calif. $40,000 -52.6% times when the fostering of indepen- Editor’s note: is piece originally game, but I’ve had enough experi- by location and have never looked dence yields tremendous results. To appeared April 14 on the author’s blog Kansas City, Mo. $26,214 ence to change my views on my role. back. pretend that a PI never has to act like and has been reprinted with permission. ere’s been a discussion on Twitter a boss to make sure the bills get paid Justin Crest is a postdoctoral *All data collected on CNNMoney with closest comparable city: http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/cost-of-living/ recently about whether someone is a research fellow at the University of and the science gets done is a ridicu- Prof-like Substance (proflikesubstance@gmail. mentor or a boss. It’s a false dichot- com) is an evolutionary biologist and blogger. Visit California, Berkeley. He started his lous view of how a lab functions. If a omy. An e ective mentor is both. scientopia.org/blogs/proflikesubstance for more higher-education path on the Califor- student comes in with all his or her Having grown up and completed doing it with a little space to call my Sometimes you can spend your time own funding, then he or she can be viewpoints and commentaries. nia coast, attending graduate school her undergraduate studies in Arkan- own.” at the University of California, Santa sas, Shondra Miller had become After completing his Ph.D. in Cruz. But before accepting UCSC accustomed to a reasonable cost of Dallas, Mark Chen considered his as his graduate school of choice, he living. Regardless, she applied to options for his postdoctoral research. CAREER INSIGHTS CONTINUED was o ered a fellowship at Columbia graduate schools across the U.S. She He had grown up in Michigan and University in New York that would was fortunate enough to get accepted Southern California and was fond CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 And then there’s me. When choos- As much as I struggled with the cover ve years of funding. Despite to several schools, including e of both locations. Knowing that he ing my postdoctoral lab, I had it nar- decision, and while Kansas City was the wonderful o er from Columbia, Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, would be happy in either place, he spot in my heart for Ann Arbor, I felt rowed down to the Stowers Institute unexpectedly charming, it took just he says, location was key to making Calif., and the University of Texas limited himself to Ann Arbor, Mich., going to San Diego would be new for Medical Research in Kansas City, one look at the ocean to know that I his decision: Southwestern Medical Center in Dal- and San Diego for postdoctoral labs. and exciting. It didn’t hurt either that Mo., or the University of California, was moving to Santa Cruz. It was the “Graduate school is a di cult las, Texas. Ultimately, she says, the In the end, he decided to live in San the average temperature of San Diego Santa Cruz. Both o ered wonderful best decision I’ve ever made and an initial step into academic research. decision came down to a ordability Diego and enjoyed his time back on was 70 degrees. Looking back, I think mentors who I knew would help me experience I never will forget. Choosing the wrong program can of each location: the West Coast. He explains: choosing a location that you are ourish as an independent scientist. make this step even more di cult, “I considered my options. I could “I was very interested in the happy outside of work is very impor- e faculty members I spoke to Shaila Kotadia is the education which is why I considered many go to Scripps and live with four other work of both labs, in Michigan and tant to your mental well-being. In encouraged me to go to Stowers, given and outreach manager for the factors — from prestige, to class size, people in a studio apartment, or I San Diego. Ultimately, I wanted to the end, your experience is what you Synthetic Biology Engineering its prestige and limitless resources. My to distance from my family. Not to could go to UTSW and actually own experience not just science but life make of it, but there are certain char- Research Center (Synberc) and friends didn’t understand why I was mention, living in a beautiful location a two-bedroom, two-bath home. I in a new location. While I had a soft acteristics of a location that appeal to the California Institute for Quan- like Santa Cruz makes every failed gured I could do excellent science at your interests that makes the grind of even thinking about it; clearly, Santa titative Biosciences (QB3) at the University of California, Berkeley. Western blot sting a little less.” either school, but I would be happier CONTINUED ON PAGE 33 a postdoc more bearable.” Cruz was the city for me.
32 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 33 CAREER INSIGHTS
Career-Fair Preparation Guide Quick guide to career fairs By Donna Kridelbaugh What to do Virtual tip
Résumé : Design a one- or two-page résumé for a broad audience and As soon as you create your account include a clearly de ned objective statement. Check deadlines for sub- on the virtual fair website, upload a ou may be hesitant to attend of the company? Who is your ideal Donna Kridelbaugh mitting your résumé to employers before the fair. Also, consider making résumé, add URLs for your public a career fair if you are not employee? (@science_mentor) is a commu- a detailed LinkedIn pro le with a custom URL and bringing along a LinkedIn pro le or personal website, Y formally in the job market, but Varieties of organizations run nications consultant and founder business card that includes that link with a corresponding quick refer- and complete your pro le. I would encourage you to reconsider career fairs and advertise these events of ScienceMentor.Me. Her mission is to create an online field guide ence code. the value of these events for your on their websites, including the fol- to self-mentoring in science careers. She offers personal career development. A career lowing entities: writing, editing and marketing services for early- Elevator pitch : Craft a three-sentence statement that includes one sen- Cut and paste this statement into a fair is an interactive way to assess the 1) career centers at universities, career professionals who are ready to advance tence each on your background, skills and career objectives. Remember chat box or recite the words during a job market and build connections postgraduate o ces, community col- their career to the next level. Learn more at http://sciencementor.me/. to use complete sentences, proper grammar and professional language! video chat. Pay attention to charac- with future employers. leges and state governments; ter limits in the chat box. A few summers ago, I attended 2) local chambers of commerce a small career fair hosted by the and newspaper groups; Selected upcoming career fairs and national lab where I worked that was 3) professional science conferences resources events* Time off : Schedule time away from work to participate in the career fair Find an area clear of distractions attended by numerous employers. I and societies; and and consider making up the hours in the evening or using vacation time. (not your desk at work). Aug. 11 – 12 : American Chemical went armed with copies of my résumé 4) private recruiting companies Society Career Fair (Virtual and San and a mindset that was di erent (e.g., BioSpace.com). Francisco) Appearance : Wear business or business-casual dress. Wear comfortable Use a blank wall as a backdrop, turn from that of most attendees: I used Also, online career fairs are becom- Sept. 19 : STEM Diversity Career Expo shoes in case the lines are long. on adequate lighting, use a headset the event as a career-exploration ing more common. e virtual for- (New York City) and test equipment with the help- exercise to evaluate how my skills mat is a more a ordable and conve- desk tech. and quali cations might t into the nient option for both employers and Sept. 23 : National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black future employment needs of research job seekers. ese online events pro- Chemists and Chemical Engineers Navigation : View the agenda for the event and map out an itinerary Orient yourself with each virtual institutions. vide an extra opportunity to network Annual Conference (New Orleans) By chance, a senior scientist from and job hunt on a geographically for your activities. Know where each event will be held, arrive early room, take advantage of tutorials Oct. 15 – 18 : Society of Mexican Ameri- another national lab was in atten- limitless basis and allow job seekers to if possible and take advantage of the information desk if you need and ask questions at the help desk. can Engineers and Scientists Symposium accommodations. dance because the lab recruiter had maintain privacy if desired. (San Diego) a travel conict at the last minute. Both in-person and virtual career Oct. 16 – 18 : Society of Asian Scientists e scientist took the time to listen fairs require preparation. I have com- and Engineers National Conference Research : Look through the list of employers, research their open If you don’t hear from the recruiter to me explain how I like to manage piled a few general tips, based on my (Philadelphia) positions and company pro les, and narrow down the list of ones in at your scheduled time, send a polite technical projects and then suggested own experiences, along with advice Oct. 16 – 18 : Society for Advancement which you’re interested. Sign up for an appointment with each targeted message to the booth to con rm. that project management would be speci c to a virtual environment. If of Chicanos and Native Americans employer as early as possible. an ideal career path. (He also stared you’re not sold on attending a career in Science National Conference (Los at me like a weird specimen under a fair any time soon, then I de nitely Angeles) Network : Introduce yourself to other job seekers so that you can share Search pro les of attendees, nd dissecting microscope, because most encourage you to at least stop by a Oct. 18 – 22 : American Society of notes and strategies for the job search. Peers can be a great source of sup- people with related interests and scientists are not known for their virtual career fair for an hour or two Human Genetics Annual Meeting (San port and encouragement. introduce yourself through private love of staying organized!) In the to experience it for yourself. Diego) chats. end, I left the career fair with a Lastly, remember that any profes- Nov. 2 – 6 : American Association of renewed sense of purpose and the sional venue can serve as an informal Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meet- realization that I could take control career fair. Once when I volunteered ing (San Diego) Resources : Take advantage of free career-development services o ered Save links and les for download. of my career. as a poster judge during a national Nov. 13 – 15 : American Indian Science during the fair (e.g., seminars, résumé reviews and one-on-one Career fairs are just networking research conference, I inquired about and Engineering Society National Con- counseling). events. My best advice is to avoid whether any institutions had research ference (Orlando, Fla.) even asking about jobs and instead to programs starting up that would Nov. 15 – 19 : Society for Neuroscience Follow-up : ank each recruiter after the fair in a short email or handwritten note via snail mail. Reiterate why focus on building rapport with the need managers. I was surprised at the Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C.) you are interested in the company and remind him or her of your skills and quali cations. Plus, send emails or exhibitor by asking engaging ques- level of positive feedback I received, * is list is not all-inclusive, and informa- LinkedIn connect requests to other contacts that you met. tions: How do you like the com- including invitations to apply for tion is subject to change. pany? What is the future direction future positions.
34 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 35 MENTORING
The measure of success By Andrew D. Hollenbach
was sitting in my o ce one day when a student poked his head ‘ is is your degree. You do with it exactly what you want.’ I around the door and asked, “Andrew, do you have a minute? I’d colleges, high-school science teach- a molecular genetics diagnostics lab, like to talk to you about something.” ers, administrators in curriculum and even an assistant professor. Even though I was behind on development, researchers in industry, To the members of a Ruth L. deadlines (nothing new in my world), entrepreneurs for startups, program Kirschstein training grant study sec- I said, “Of course!” o cers at federal agencies, scienti c tion, I would not necessarily be con- He started talking about what he writers and editors, lawyers special- sidered a successful sponsor, because wanted to do once he defended his thesis. With hesitation (and with izing in intellectual property, activists only one of my ve students stayed in what he later told me was concern in scienti c policy, sales representa- academic science. (Trust me, I know. about disappointing me), he men- tives for scienti c companies, and I’ve heard it said many, many times tioned that he wasn’t sure he wanted — yes — even faculty members at while sitting on these study sections to go into academic science, to which research universities. myself.) I responded without hesitation (and All the people on this diverse list However, to me, I am success- with what I must admit was a little identi ed career paths for which ful beyond measure, because I have relief), “Well, what do you want to they are passionate, developed the molded minds that can think criti- do when you grow up?” skills they needed, took advantage cally about science and about their It’s important that our students be of opportunities (both planned and lives. I have tried, as a mentor, to made aware that academic science is serendipitous) and, most importantly, give them the con dence, freedom, not the only career path available to applied the critical-thinking skills support and opportunity to follow them. they developed in graduate school whatever paths make them happy. I always say that it takes a special and their postdoctoral positions to I’m extremely proud of every single kind of crazy to go into academic sci- bring a new depth and vitality to one of my students — or, as I call ence. I have that special kind of crazy. their chosen careers. them, my kids — and rejoice when- However, I realize that not all of my A big part of being a mentor, for ever they excel in their careers and students have it, will have it or even me, is getting to know my students in their lives. is, to me, is success. want to have it. and guring out exactly what it is And this is what we, as mentors, need Submit Your Next Paper to an ASBMB Journal! I do my best to be transparent — that they want to do once they earn to do for our students. to let my students see what I deal their Ph.D.s. I tell them, “ is is your Students, you also must realize with as an academic research scientist. degree. You do with it exactly what that once you have your degree, Granted, I don’t let them see all of the you want. Ultimately, it’s your life, the sky’s the limit. It’s up to you to When you submit a paper to an ASBMB ASBMB journal special features: warts (no need to scare them unnec- you’re the one that has to go to work gure out what makes you passion- journal, you can expect: • Customized eTOC alerts essarily); however, I make sure that every day, and you have to be happy!” ate, follow that passion, never give up • Thorough, constructive reviews by scientists they see the reality of being a faculty I also make a point of telling them ghting until you achieve your goal • Explore the Editorial Board what I see as their strengths and and, most importantly, understand member in the academic world, and • Affordable publication charges (*FREE color) • Meet new Associate Editors I let them decide if that is what they weaknesses and of telling them what that you can achieve whatever you want to be too. I hear them saying over a beer at the put your mind to. • Peer reviewed papers published the day of • Read Collections including: Reflections, I also let them know about career local bar on our regular lab outing. acceptance Minireviews and Thematic Series paths that are available to them. I’ve My students have gone on to become, Andrew D. Hollenbach (aholle@ been in the academic world for nearly among other things, a translational lsuhsc.edu), author of the book “A Practical Guide to Writing a 25 years. Along the way, I have made research physician, a technology Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Grant,” *ASBMB has eliminated color figure fees for members many friends who have followed transfer and intellectual property is an associate professor in the www.asbmb.org/publications publishing as corresponding authors. many di erent paths. ey have specialist, a burgeoning scienti c genetics department at Louisiana State University become faculty members at teaching writer and editor, a future director of Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
36 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 37 helps our country capitalize on the blessing — my salary will increase, focus like never before. I’m a little creative talents that it invests so much but I’ll have to work even harder to apprehensive. Maybe even a little time and money into training. Our get grants to pay for myself. It’s crazy, scared. I know there are far easier politicians love to declare war on I know. But hey, I love science. ways to make a living, but I want to cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, I sincerely hope the system evolves study biology and understand how etc. — but they have not yet realized to allow me to focus on making our cells work. I strongly believe that they need to fund it like they do innovative scienti c discoveries acquiring such knowledge is impor- The road to professor a real war. rather than how I’m going to feed my tant in its own right, but it also could Can you imagine me — your family. And keep my students and lead to revolutionary new treatments By Bill Sullivan wide-eyed little kid who loved tak- postdocs employed, as their salaries for diseases that a ect millions, ing things apart to see how they will be my responsibility too. And maybe billions, of people. I’m not work, the one who used to drive you ful ll my teaching obligations as I sure why the road ahead has been which has struggled with more than frontiers of knowledge and making Author’s note: If I were an nuts with endless questions — as a train the next generation of young littered with so many obstacles. But a decade of stagnant funding. If my remarkable, original discoveries. undergraduate today writing a professor? While that sounds like a scientists. And meet university service you know me. I am determined. I am mentor loses funding or decides to You would think this sort of e ort letter informing my parents that secure and even somewhat glamor- obligations. Oh, and I’ll have to passionate. I will do my best. I want to become a professor and leave academia, I will have to nd a would be rewarded with a sub- ous position that any parent would review grants and manuscripts for conduct research, I imagine it new lab and go back to square one. stantial paycheck. Well, compared be proud of, many people don’t the research community. But when Love, would go something like this. e good news is that we do not with graduate school, it is a decent realize that I will have to pay some I think about the euphoria of being Your Budding Scientist pay for graduate school! In fact, I get increase, somewhere in the range — maybe most — of my own salary! the rst to gure out how something Dear Mom and Dad, paid to attend! But don’t put your of $35,000 to $40,000 a year if I’m Most people assume that the univer- works, and how it may lead to the checkbook away yet: e stipend I lucky. I might nally be able to start Bill Sullivan ([email protected]) sity pays its faculty members, but in next big cure, I just can’t put a price is a professor at the Indiana ’ve decided that I want to go to receive will be only $24,000 a year. a family on that kind of dough, but reality a substantial part of my salary on that. University School of Medicine. graduate school to get my Ph.D. I know it sounds crazy for a col- please understand if I postpone that, will come from my research grants. I After writing all this down, the Follow him at www.twitter.com/ wjsullivan. I in the biological sciences. I want lege graduate to be making such a because the next stage of my career guess getting a raise will be a mixed perils of my quest are coming into to make a real di erence in the world low amount of money for working will be the most challenging yet. by contributing to society’s under- 80-plus hours a week on projects that After the postdoctoral fellowships, standing of the cells that make up our may one day bene t millions of peo- I’ll have to hope that I can nd a bodies and hopefully make a discov- ple, but I’m not in this for the money. tenure-track position somewhere. ery that helps ease su ering or even Oh, and don’t expect me home on ese are extremely hard to come by saves lives. most weekends and holidays. e right now, but since I won’t be on While this sounds like a noble cells and mice I must tend to won’t the market for more than a decade, I endeavor, I’ve heard that it doesn’t care what day it is. Not sure how I remain optimistic that the situation come without challenges and am going to a ord rent unless I live will change. I’ll be 30-something at consequences. in one of the most dangerous parts of this point and probably a little burnt For example, I’m probably going the city, but since I will be working out, but I will need to dig deep as to be behind on the usual timeline in the lab so much, perhaps I can just I approach this critical moment of for things like nancial independence live there. (Kidding!) truth. Did all of my hard work and and starting a family. I’m looking at So let’s say all goes well and I earn many years of training and sacri ce roughly ve more years of school to my Ph.D. in less than six years. I still pay o ? Will I be able to launch my get the Ph.D. — the amount of time won’t be able to get a “real job” just own research program, attract fund- depends on whether my experiments yet, because to be competitive for ing, recruit a top-notch sta to help are successful, which is impossible an assistant professor position, I will in my lab and make fundamental new to predict. Nature is a tricky beast, need to complete two — maybe three discoveries that will bene t society for and most of our guesses about how — postdoctoral fellowships. “What is years to come? things work are wrong. But it’s those that?” you ask. Well, it is kind of like Well, I must admit that the high unexpected results that usually lead an apprenticeship, during which I get failure rate is daunting. e NIH is to something amazing, and I want even more training in experimental rejecting about 85 percent of grant to be on the front lines of those techniques, critical thinking and, applications, because the agency is breakthroughs! importantly, how to communicate my not su ciently funded, although I hope that my research mentor research to attract research funding I will get a bit of an advantage for stays funded, which I understand to as a principal investigator one day. being a newbie. Again, I am hopeful be nearly impossible these days. e As a postdoc, I will be working even that a decade from now our govern- major source of research funding is harder than as a graduate student, if ment will support basic biological the National Institutes of Health, you can imagine that, pushing the research with a realistic budget that
38 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 39 OUTREACH
‘To create a new voice’ Science communication By Sarah Reinhard Seven years ago, when I was struggling to decide on my college major, I was torn between psychology and writing. Eventually, psychology won out, and I put my writing career on hold — hoping that one day I could integrate writ- training for graduate students ing into some other career. Now I’m in graduate school, where science and research take up the vast Two-part course at UC Riverside instructs and inspires young scientists majority of my time. I was excited recently to take a class in which I could polish my writing skills and use my newly acquired skills in science to to tell stories that provoke ‘meaningful exchange of ideas’ with the public create a new voice as a science writer … I have had the opportunity to meet with several local science writers and to collaborate with fellow students on By omas O. Baldwin two articles. In addition, through the course, I was introduced to an oppor- tunity for a summer science-writing internship — an opportunity I actively sought. is course has taught me new techniques on packaging the science I write about to make it relevant and interesting to others. ese are skills I will hree years ago, when the chair develop a scoring rubric with which associated with communication with take with me throughout my career. of the biochemistry department they evaluate all seminars in the nonscientists. After several weeks of Sarah Reinhard is pursuing a Ph.D. in neuroscience. T of the University of California, department for that quarter. Little reading and group discussion, we ‘My responsibility’ Riverside, asked me to teach a gradu- do our visitors realize that they invite guests to join the class to allow By Shirin Mesbah ate seminar course, I was somewhat are being scored by the graduate the students to experience rsthand unsure and took some time to think students! the issues involved in communication My interest in science communication was sparked at a young age — while about the request. ese generally e rst 15 minutes (of the with various audiences. listening to National Public Radio on long car rides with my parents as well as are considered to be plum teaching two-hour class period) each week is Our visitors have included impulsively oohing and aahing as Bill Nye, a.k.a. the Science Guy, explained assignments, because they require devoted to discussing that week’s sem- reporters who write about scienti c the inner workings of the natural world on PBS. My father, an avid amateur minimal preparation and grading inar — not just the science but the topics; the chief science writer for the astronomer, introduced me to the likes of Carl Sagan, known for both his bril- involves listening to students deliver mechanics as well. Did the speaker university; U.S. Rep. Mark Takano, liant scienti c work and his e ective and engaging communication style. short seminars on their research. Still, tell a story with a beginning, a middle D-Calif.; California State Assembly Today, living in Southern California, I nd myself in slow-moving tra c my hesitancy was due to my belief and an end? Did the speaker lead the Rep. Jose Medina and information- far too often. And I have found solace in NPR once again — in shows such that, while most graduate depart- audience on a memorable journey? technology professionals who talked as Radiolab and Science Friday — and I am pleasantly surprised at how the ments of biochemistry do o er some Or was the presentation more of a about use of social media. hosts raise awareness of scienti c issues without compromising the science sort of training in how to deliver a chronology — “we did this and then inking back on my initial hesi- or baing their audiences. We are fortunate to have a course in science seminar, such courses in fact do little this and then this”? is exercise does tancy in taking on the assignment, communication … is class not only has allowed me to learn and practice to prepare our students to give e ec- more to enlighten the students to I am somewhat amused. I now have various mediums of communication (oral and written) but also has given me the opportunity to meet with my local representatives, Congressman Mark tive seminars. what makes a seminar good, or not so taught these courses three times, with Shirin Mesbah is pursuing a Ph.D. in bioengineering. To better inform my decision, I good, than any amount of lecturing each experience being enormously Takano and Assemblyman Jose Medina, as well as other important gures read a few books on the subject of by me or reading of experts in the rewarding to me. e students leave of the community, including the editor of our local newspaper, the Press-Enterprise, and members of the local school science communication — speci - eld. the course with a totally di erent board. cally, Randy Olson’s “Don’t Be Such en the students develop and feeling about the importance of More than ever, I have realized my responsibility as a Ph.D.-in-training to communicate and share the implications a Scientist,” Cornelia Dean’s “Am I deliver three presentations: rst, a mastering the skills of communica- and importance of my work in a manner that is engaging for scientists and the public alike. e pressures of competi- Making Myself Clear?” and Nancy 15-minute narrative that would be tion. Equipped with these new skills, tion, lack of resources and slim job prospects after graduation contribute to a cruel reality for the younger generation of Baron’s “Escape from the Ivory tting for the third-year undergradu- they are aware that for any form of scientists. One way to ameliorate this gloomy future is to reignite the conversation between scientists and the public. We Tower” — that left me energized and ate biochemistry course; second, a communication to be successful they must nd a way to regain the public’s interest in and support for our work by focusing on one of our most important ready to take on the course. I elected 15-minute discussion appropriate must rst develop a good understand- tasks as scientists: outreach. to do the course as a two-quarter for a senior-level high-school sci- ing of their audience. Only then sequence rather than in a single quar- ence class; and nally, a 30-minute can they bring forth a meaningful ‘This situation is not the politicians’ fault’ ter as it always had been. research presentation appropriate exchange of ideas. By Jon Sudduth e rst quarter focuses on the for rst-year graduate students. e e state of California has 80 members in the state assembly. e members have varied backgrounds … ey vote on mechanics of delivering a strong students grade each other using the Thomas O. Baldwin (thomas.bald- up to 75 bills a day, some of which they don’t see beforehand. is pace makes careful study of the issues impossible. Of research seminar. Students sit rubric they used to score the visiting [email protected]) is a professor at these 80 men and women, only one has a Ph.D. in the sciences. e idea of the 80 members of the state assembly voting together and discuss what makes speakers. the University of California, Riv- on issues such as climate change, (genetically modi ed organism) laws or the energy crisis without time to study the bills a seminar good and memorable. e second quarter focuses erside, and chairman of ASBMB’s From these discussions, the students students’ attention on the problems Public Outreach Committee. CONTINUED ON PAGE 42
40 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 41 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 Lack of time and lack of training in communication are major hurdles that limit our engagement in outreach activities. and with only one scientist in the assembly is perhaps cause for concern. We talk science every day — in the lab discussing research data with col- is situation is not the politicians’ fault. Rather, it is the responsibility leagues, in the classroom teaching undergraduate students or in the audito- of scientists to bridge this gap. An important responsibility of scientists is rium giving a scienti c seminar. Yet when it comes to communicating with to inform their colleagues and the public about what they discover. For this nonscientists, we are ill-prepared. to be done e ectively, scientists need training in the art of communicating As graduate students, we fail to explain our research adequately to our with the public and with our elected representatives. Stimulating discussions parents when they ask about our work. It is frustrating to receive limited sup- that eschew scienti c jargon can convey the story of scienti c discoveries and port and appreciation from the public for the work we dedicate ourselves to technical advances in a way that empowers the o cials in state and federal due to our inability to communicate. e problem, however, resides with us, governments to make informed decisions. not the public. Last quarter, when I heard about a class in science outreach and com- We are fortunate to have a course in science communication taught by munication, I was thrilled and signed up. e class has given me a chance Tom Baldwin … (He) emphasizes that the key to e ective communication to speak with science journalists, a state senator and our local congressman is to know your audience — who they are and what matters to them — and about spanning the gulf between scientists and the public. O ered only once then to choose your approach carefully. When communicating with the Lisa Tang is pursuing a Ph.D. in botany and plant sci- ence. a year, the class should be a requirement for every graduate student. public, scientists often use too much jargon, which, instead of fostering a With the decline in federal funding for the sciences, it never has been Jon Sudduth is pursuing a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology. reciprocal conversation, deepens the gulf between them. Another common mistake scientists make is that they fail to more critical for the public to be aware of the importance of our work. address why the story they are telling matters to the nonscienti c community, perhaps under the assumption that it is all Research funding in the United States has built the strongest economy in the history of the world, a status that is at risk obvious. if we lose the trust and support of the public. As the scientists of tomorrow, current graduate students bear the responsi- Science is a way to describe the world we live in, and it is scientists’ responsibility to step out of their ivory towers to bility to seek training in the art of science communication with a broad audience. Such communication needs to be both share with the public how their discoveries elucidate the world. By taking this class, I have learned not only the skills of constant and e ective. communication but also the importance of scientists engaging in outreach. e next time my parents ask me about my research, I will be able to explain it with a better storytelling approach without losing the science. I will add, too, that ‘The importance of personal branding’ science really isn’t that di cult. e di culty lies in the words we use. By Cole Symanski I registered for a course in science communication this quarter to develop the skills required for e ective communication. Over the past several years, it has become increasingly clear to me that communication is not a well-polished skill of most scientists; nor is e ective communication commonplace in aca- demic circles. As a graduate student, I su er through many poorly prepared and delivered research presentations. I often have trouble understanding the scienti c content of these seminars. is should not be the case. So my goal in taking the science communication class was clear — learn how to present my own research simply and with meaning. Almost immediately, I learned that the greater science community su ers from a more important problem. Scientists do a poor job engaging the public in discussions of what they do, why they do it and why it is impor- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEW ONLINE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION TRAINING COURSE tant. Tom Baldwin, who teaches the science-communication course, stressed early on why we should want to do this: It a ects our careers! Basic-research The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is seeking participants to take part in a pilot ver- funding often is a function of public trust and interest in science. And just Cole Symanski is pursuing a Ph.D. in entomology. sion of “The Art of Science Communication,” an online course being developed by the ASBMB Public Outreach as important, the inherent value of scienti c discovery is reduced greatly when the information is poorly Committee as part of its science communication training program. disseminated. The course will be about eight weeks long, starting in September. During that time, we will cover the important In this class, my peers and I have been able to discuss the process of advocating for science with several important components of what makes for a successful presentation, such as messaging, generating interest and engag- class guests. One of these guests, Congressman Mark Takano, related his own experience of addressing issues of vital ing your audience. Training will be provided via a combination of lectures, live mentoring sessions and virtual importance, like climate change, through, of all things, social media. His visit opened my eyes to the importance of per- discussions. The course will culminate with each participant giving his or her own live presentation, utilizing the sonal branding when advocating for an issue. I know I will bene t professionally and personally by continuing beyond skills learned in the course. this course to develop the skills required for e ective communication with broad, nontechnical audiences. I also plan to integrate public-policy training into my graduate studies. We expect participants will spend two to three hours on the course each week. As this is a pilot version, we want, and expect, participants to provide extensive feedback, both good and bad, on the content, format and ‘Know your audience’ merits of the course. Those insights will greatly assist the development of both this course and our science com- By Lisa Tang munication training program, helping us to grow the community of scientific communicators. e idea of science outreach is important but not new. But let’s be honest. Many scientists, including me, don’t think Interested in participating in our pilot program? Contact us at [email protected]. about outreach until faced with writing the “broader impacts of research” section of a grant or fellowship application.
42 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014 JUNE/JULY 2014 ASBMB TODAY 43 OPEN CHANNELS Reader comments
showcasing it as the work of one or crisis. In the show, I invited people to Re: “Give credit more trainees, either with pictures of imagine what would have happened where credit is due,” the trainees or “he/she did this or that if the AIDS epidemic had struck in key experiment,” especially when they 1950 instead of 1981. It’s not an May issue want to illustrate the talent/creativity exaggeration to estimate that it might I liked (Eleftherios P. Diamandis’) of the individuals involved. is is in have killed a quarter of the world. article in ASBMB Today. I concur contrast with having a laundry list of – ALAN D. ATTIE, with (his) observation in the last people at the end of the talk with a UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN−MADISON paragraph as I have transitioned from couple of names highlighted in bold postdoc to (principal investigator). font. anks! Re: “Grant-writing One thing I take away … is how − JUNIOR INVESTIGATOR important it is for PIs to acknowledge advice,” May issue the people who did the work when Re: “Desperately Dr. (Andrew) Hollenbach’s piece on they give talks to large audiences. grant-writing advice o ers helpful Some PIs do a really good job of seeking Sputnik for information. But, let me o er one fundamental science,” additional piece of advice: Get your message out there early and emphati- May issue cally. During my tenure as chair, I Dear Drs. (Daniel) Raben and read many drafts of grant proposals. (Joseph) Baldassare: I guess many Too often I would nd a statement of us are thinking along similar such as “ is disorder a ects 20 mil- lines. I recently did a radio show on lion Americans...” resting serenely in Wisconsin Public Radio (http://bit. the middle of a paragraph far into the ly/1il2hgd) and posed the very same proposal, when it should have been question by recalling how e ectively given top billing. Donald Newlove’s (President John F. Kennedy) rallied “First Paragraphs: Inspired Openings the country to achieve an ambitious for Writers and Readers” provides scienti c goal. I think the big dif- helpful (and entertaining) insight into ference is that now Americans don’t ways to capture the grant reader’s tired want to invest public money for the eyes. greater good. I do think the next – M.W. ANDERS, Sputnik might be a public health UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER
44 ASBMB TODAY JUNE/JULY 2014