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AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OCTOBER 2006 Volume 5, Issue 7 features 8 Osaka Bioscience Institute: A World Leader in Scientific Research

11 JLR Looks at Systems Biology

12 Education and Professional Development ON THE COVER: Human growth hormone 14 Judith Klinman to Receive ASBMB-Merck Award residues colored by contribution to receptor 15 Scott Emr Selected for ASBMB-Avanti Award recognition: red, favorable; 16 The Chromosome Cycle green, neutral; blue, unfavorable. The top left 17 Chemical Biology Theme view, obtained by quantitative scanning, 20 Remote Control for Human Growth Hormone Gene encompasses views obtained Expression by conventional alanine (top right), serine (bottom left) 23 Scientists Reverse Evolution or homolog (bottom right) scanning. See page 28. 24 Mitochondrial Protein Has Unusual Location 32 October MCP: a Special Issue on Clinical Proteomics

departments

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE: 3 From the Desk of the President MOST IMPROVED MAGAZINE 4 Washington Update 23 COLUMNS &EDITORIALS 6 NIH News DESIGN &LAYOUT 22 Career Insights 26 Spotlight on Members 28 ASBMB BioBIts 30 Biotech Business 33 For Your Lab 34 Career Opportunities 36 Calendar BRONZE AWARD WINNER 2003 From the Desk of the President:

ASBMB Today is a monthly publication of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Officers Heidi E. Hamm President Judith S. Bond Past-President Peggy J. Farnham Secretary Merle Olson Treasurer The Erosion of Funding for Biomedical Council Members Joan W. Conaway Councilor s scientists, we are engaged future of biomedical research, which Robert A. Copeland Councilor in research that will have an is their future. They are also willing to Kuan-Teh Jeang Councilor A impact on human health, as be challenged by the tough task of John D. Scott Councilor William S. Sly Councilor well as training the next generation convincing those who oppose Kevin Struhl Councilor of scientists that will maintain our increases in funding biomedical Suzanne Pfeffer Councilor Linda Pike Councilor competitiveness in the world. Thus, research. Think about inviting your activism and advocacy by biomedical congressman or congresswoman to Ex-Officio Members J. Ellis Bell scientists to increase the NIH budget your department or laboratory, and Chair, Education and Professional Development are not issues of self-interest for sci- get students involved in that visit. Committee entists. As citizens, we need to take They may accept your invitation and Laurie S. Kaguni Chair, Meetings Committee this message to our local community. come visit, as they are trying to George Hill We recently sent a survey to all increase their visibility during this Chair, Minority Affairs Committee Benjamin F. Cravatt ASBMB members asking for your electoral campaign. Be sure that there Michael Rosen help in reaching your local congress- are professors who are long-term con- Co-chairs, 2007 Program Committee William R. Brinkley man or congresswoman at home. It stituents in the group. Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Committee was gratifying to see that 92% of The majority of responses to the Ralph A. Bradshaw Deputy Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Commit- those who responded are willing to survey were from those would like to tee do this, and 92% are willing to work participate, but don’t really know Shelagh Ferguson-Miller Chair, Publications Committee with ASBMB as issues related to bio- how. It’s not as hard as you might Herbert Tabor medical research funding are taken imagine, and you might really enjoy Editor, JBC Ralph A. Bradshaw up by Congress. it! A detailed set of instructions for Al Burlingame Your comments fell into two cate- how to find your congressional Co-Editors, MCP gories. Many of you are extremely rep[resentative, get in touch with Edward A. Dennis Editor, JLR sophisticated and have worked him or her, and make your case that actively to educate your representa- biomedical research is a good invest- Editorial Advisory Board tives. The most active of you already ment is found on a new web site Irwin Fridovich Richard W. Hanson have long-standing relationships with that ASBMB has put together Bettie Sue Masters your congressional representatives. (www.faseb.org/asbmb/pa/advocacy/ J. Evan Sadler Robert D. Wells Many of you feel that your congress- index.html). Your representative has men and congresswomen are strong a local office, and you can set up a ASBMB Today advocates of biomedical research meeting with the local staff. You can 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3996 already. But there were some mem- provide examples from your own Phone: 301-634-7145; Fax: 301-634-7369 bers who are in districts of Bush con- research of the breakthroughs that John Thompson servatives, who felt that nothing may result from it, and the benefits [email protected] Editor could be done to get through to to human health. You should think Nicole Kresge [email protected] them. I would suggest that those are about a concise message, and you Science Editor exactly the most important people to should expect to field hard ques- Nancy J. Rodnan [email protected] Director of Publications keep going after!! I am getting gradu- tions. Certain representatives feel ate students involved in local meet- that the NIH budget is not properly For information on advertising ings with members Congress, and deployed. You can point to the fact contact FASEB AdNet at 800-433-2732 ext. 7157 or 301-634-7157, or they are interested in being involved, that the NIH Reauthorization Act, email [email protected]. as they are very uncertain about the the goal of which is to make sure the

2 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 Dr. Heidi E. Hamm Research Will Not Change on its Own!

NIH is as effective as it can be, is now home, campaigning, and wants to struction sector, and those dollars making its way through Congress. Be reach out to his or her constituency. flow through the economy. In addi- prepared to answer the question, You have a great opportunity to tion, there are local tax benefits from “What have we gotten for doubling make the case with him or her that these high-quality jobs. There are the NIH budget?” According to NIH the inflow of NIH dollars locally many intangible returns from bio- Director Elias Zerhouni, “One of the leads to a sizeable economic boost, medical research nationally as well as things that occurred during the dou- the creation of many high-quality locally. We are training the next gen- bling is we added another year to the jobs, and the generation of new, eration of creative scientists, and life expectancy for Americans.” Con- state-of-the-art biomedical research their innovations and breakthroughs sider, too, that there are now 10 mil- buildings. The multiplier effect of in research and technology will help lion cancer survivors living in NIH dollars flowing into a local to maintain our competitiveness in the U.S.; these people and their fami- economy can be substantial (studies the world. Research breakthroughs lies have been touched directly in different states have documented can prevent disease before it strikes, by research. effects of anywhere from 1.6 to 4- impacting positively on the costs of I think there is a common percep- fold) since the people who are hired health care. tion among scientists that they have on new grants are consumers and Mary Wolley of Research!America to go to Washington to meet with spend locally, biomedical supplies wrote this: Every stake-holder in their representatives. But especially and equipment are bought, buildings research should ask themselves now, your representative is often at being built create jobs in the con- whether their own elected representatives are on the record as active current supporters of research. If there is NIH 2006 Budget no active support of those who champion research and no perceived consequence to voting to cut research, and if the voters at home seem to be paying no attention, law- makers will not necessarily vote for research funding. We all must be clear about the political realities of an enterprise that is funded with public dollars and regulated in the public’s interest, but which remains nearly invisible to the public. So please, get to know your congressional representatives, establish a relationship with them and become someone they can turn to when they need information about your university, your medical center, or biomedical research. And Breakdown of the 2006 NIH budget. The RPG portion, 53% this year, is down from a high of 56% educate them about the best invest- in 2001. Other portions of the NIH budget are used in extramural research, such as the training, ment for a higher quality of life in K awards, research centers and contracts; 10% goes to the intramural research program. the future: biomedical research!

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 3 FASEB WASHINGTON UPDATE

FASEB Grassroots Campaign Stresses Critical Value of NIH-Funded Research During the August Congressional research in concept is no longer arranged meetings with senior staff in recess FASEB focused on a program to enough.” The FASEB slide presen- the home offices of Representatives Gil recruit scientists for a nationwide grass- tation can be accessed at: Gutknecht (R-MN) and Mark Kennedy roots campaign in support of medical http://opa.faseb.org/pages/Advocacy/ (R-MN). Joining him at the Gutknecht research. “It is time to reeducate Con- advocacyresources.htm meeting were three researchers from gress and the public about the critical According to Wolinetz, FASEB is the Mayo Clinic: Tom Spelsberg, Ph.D., value of NIH,” said Leo Furcht, FASEB working to create versions of the pre- member of ASBMB and two other President. “There’s overwhelming sup- sentation for every state. “We would FASEB societies; Sundeep Khosla, M.D.; port for medical research—everyone like to see researchers presenting this and Virginia Miller, Ph.D. Partnering looks forward to the next breakthrough, to community groups, neighbors, col- with FASEB in this meeting was the the next new treatment. We just need leagues, and even their members of American Heart Association, who was to make the connection between life- Congress when they’re at home in represented by Bradley Peterson, saving advances and funding of the their districts.” She added that FASEB Senior Advocacy Director, Greater Mid- National Institutes of Health.” will continue to produce additional west Affiliate. Retzlaff also met sepa- To kick-off the campaign, FASEB is advocacy material for use by scientists, rately with the Regional Affairs and unveiling a customizable slide presen- all of which will be freely available on Policy Liaison staffer for Senator Norm tation that scientists, department the FASEB website. Currently, available Coleman (R-MN). heads and deans can use locally to advocacy resources include, but are not These meetings were in part to intro- demonstrate NIH’s impact on human limited to: a timeline of medical duce FASEB and to demonstrate that health. “The truth is that we’ve made research breakthroughs aimed at we represent local researchers living remarkable advances in heart disease, demonstrating the span between basic and working in their districts,” said cancer, infectious illnesses, just to research discovery and medical Retzlaff. “Another main topic of dis- name a few, and these can all be traced advancement; information on NIH cussion was our proposal for working back to NIH funded research,” stated funding trends; illustrations and high- together to organize a public forum in Carrie Wolinetz, FASEB Director of lights related to embryonic stem cell Minnesota on advances in medical Communications. “We wanted to pro- research; slides on the importance of research.” The forum would be an vide scientists with a tool to help them animal research; and the Breakthroughs opportunity for the general public and tell the stories behind medical break- in Bioscience series. The Breakthroughs health professionals to meet with sci- throughs: how basic research is trans- are colorfully illustrated articles entists, clinicians and practitioners, lated; how NIH funds research in their describing scientific breakthroughs and learn about the progress being own community; and how our quality that have impacted society, including made on a range of research initiatives. of life has improved thanks to NIH- the most recent edition on breast can- According to Retzlaff, this idea is being sponsored discoveries.” cer, estrogen receptors and the devel- modeled after events that took place in “Nothing is more important than opment of tamoxifen. These articles 2002 and 2003 when NIH Institute the health and well-being of the Amer- can be downloaded from the FASEB and Center Directors traveled to dis- ican people. We are all only one diag- website or requested as high-quality tricts in Wisconsin, Minnesota and nosis away from needing the hope that hard copies at no cost from the FASEB Ohio, to participate in community NIH embodies,” Furcht continued. “It Office of Public Affairs. health forums to discuss NIH activities is our obligation, as a scientific com- As a pilot project in FASEB’s grass- and steps people can take to improve munity, to explain how science is roots program, a number of member their health. Thus far, feedback from done—to explain how continued society scientists recently met with the Congressional staff and the members improvements in human health are district offices of the Minnesota Con- for which they work has been positive. dependent on a sustained commit- gressional delegation. Jon Retzlaff, Carrie D. Wolinetz, Ph.D. ment to NIH. Supporting medical Director of Legislative Relations, FASEB Office of Public Affairs

4 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 A joint meeting of the Biochemical Society, the British Pharmacological Society and The Physiological Society 8–12 July 2007, Glasgow, UK

THEMES: ● Cancer ● Cardiovascular Bioscience ● Central Nervous System ● Education ● Exercise● GPCR ● Imaging ● Inflammation ● Ion Channels ● Metabolism ● Signalling

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 26 February 2007 EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 27 April 2007

Sign up for Life Sciences 2007 email alerts — up-to-the-minute news direct to your desktop! Bookmark the web address and put the date in your diary for 2007 www.LifeSciences2007.org for all the latest programme information NIH NEWS

Genetic Study May Help Identify Those Most at Risk for Alcoholism

esearchers at the Molecular Scan of human genome may provide Neurobiology Branch of the R National Institute on Drug important new tools Abuse (NIDA), have completed the for prevention and treatment most comprehensive scan of the human genome to date linked to the ders,” adds Dr. Ting-Kai Li, director of ate the equivalent of more than 29 ongoing efforts to identify people most the National Institute on Alcohol million individual genotypes and to at risk for developing alcoholism. This Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). “The analyze 104,268 genetic variations study represents the first time the new findings will open many new avenues from unrelated alcohol-dependent and genomic technology has been used to of research into common factors in control individuals. The scientists used comprehensively identify genes linked genetic vulnerability and common DNA samples that were collected by to substance abuse. The study will be mechanisms of disease.” investigators of the Collaborative published in the December 2006 issue NIDA researchers found genetic vari- Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism, a of the American Journal of Medical ations clustered around 51 defined study funded by NIAAA, that included Genetics Part B (Neuropsychiatric chromosomal regions that may play Howard Edenberg, Tatiana Foroud, and Genetics). roles in alcohol addiction. The candi- John Rice, who are coauthors of the “Tools such as pooled data genome date genes are involved in many key paper. These samples had been ana- scanning give us a completely new activities, including cell-to-cell commu- lyzed previously to look for genetic way of looking at complex biological nication, control of protein synthesis, associations to alcoholism, but the res- processes, such as addiction,” says NIH regulation of development, and cell-to- olution and coverage achieved in the Director Elias A. Zerhouni. “The ability cell interactions. For example, one gene present study are unprecedented. to pinpoint genes in the human implicated in this study, the AIP1 gene, “The observations from this study genome responsible for disease has the is a known disease-related gene provide a graphic display of the close potential to revolutionize our ability to expressed primarily in the brain, where relationships between genetic vulnera- treat and even prevent diseases.” it helps brain cells set up and maintain bility to alcoholism and genetic vul- “Previous studies established that contacts with the appropriate neigh- nerability to other addictions,” says Dr alcoholism runs in families, but this boring cells. Many of the nominated Uhl. “Ongoing and future studies will research has given us the most exten- genes have been previously identified help us to identify how the variations sive catalogue yet of the genetic varia- in other addiction research, providing in these candidate genes contribute to tions that may contribute to the support to the idea that common differences in addiction vulnerability.” hereditary nature of this disease,” says genetic variants are involved in human “We know that vulnerabilities to NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. vulnerability to substance abuse. substance abuse involve complex traits “We now have new tools that will The scientists, led by Dr. George Uhl, with strong genetic influences,” adds allow us to better understand the phys- included Catherine Johnson, Donna Dr. Volkow. “Finding ways to identify iological foundation of addiction.” Walther, Dr. Tomas Drgon, and Dr. who is most physiologically vulnerable “This is an important contribution Qing-Rong Liu. Their team developed, to addiction will be a tremendous step to studies of the genetics of alcoholism validated, and applied a new genetic towards more effective prevention and and co-occurring substance use disor- platform that allowed them to gener- treatment approaches.”

6 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 NAS Accepting Applications for Graduate Fellowship Program his Graduate Fellowship Pro- Applications are now being accepted forms are available on the Web gram of the National Acade- for the 2007 sessions. The program will at http://national-academies.org/ T mies of Science is designed to consist of three 10-week sessions: policyfellows. familiarize graduate and postdoctoral Winter: January 8 through March 16 The deadline for receipt of applica- students in science and technology Summer: June 4 through August 10 tion material is November 1 for the policy with the interactions among Fall: September 17 through November 21 winter program, March 1 for the sum- science, technology, and government. Graduate students, postdoctoral mer program, and June 1 for the fall As a result, students in the fields of sci- scholars, and those who have com- program. Candidates may apply to all ence, engineering, medicine, veteri- pleted graduate studies or postdoc- three programs concurrently. nary medicine, business, and law toral research within the last five Additional details about the pro- develop essential skills different from years are eligible to apply. Candi- gram and a link to join the mailing those attained in academia, which will dates should submit an application list are available on the Web site. help them make the transition from and request that a mentor/adviser Questions should be directed to: graduate student to a professional. fill out a reference form. Both [email protected].

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 7 Osaka Bioscience Institute: A World Leader in Scientific Research he Osaka Bioscience Insti- ing a strict advisory system. An advi- Japan Order of Culture, Japan Acad- tute (OBI) was established in sory committee consisting of two for- emy Prize, the Wolf Prize (Israel), the T 1987 as part of the centen- eign and three domestic scientists Jimenez Diaz Memorial Award (Spain), nial commemoration of the City of meets annually and is dedicated not the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Osaka. OBI is a non-profit organiza- only to evaluating each research pro- Research Award (USA), Howard Taylor tion with support and cooperation ject, but also the programs of the Ricketts Award (USA), Sloan Prize from the city, the Japanese govern- institute as a whole and its individual (USA), Le Prix Antoine Lacassagne ment, academia, and industry. The research departments. (France), Koch Prize (Germany), principal goal of the institute is The institution has recorded many Boehring Prize (Germany), Luigi to pursue academic research with scientific achievements over the past Musajo Award (Italy) and Bristol- internationally acclaimed quality 18 years. Best known example are Myers Squibb Award (USA). in the fields of bioscience and identification of the basic mechanisms medical science. of apoptosis by Dr. Shigekazu Nagata OBI Research OBI’s first director was Dr. Osamu and the control mechanism of sleep- Activities Hayaishi (1987-1998) who is cur- ing disclosed by Dr. Hayaishi. The OBI has four departments and two rently dean of OBI. He was succeeded quality of OBI research was exempli- laboratories with about thirty-five reg- by Dr. Hidesaburo Hanafusa (1998- fied by a 2002 report from ISI Thomp- ular faculty members and several 2005), and last year Dr. Shigetada son, which ranked OBI at the top active emeritus members. About 80 sci- Nakanishi was appointed as the third internationally in the impact factors entists are currently working in a vari- director. OBI’s policy, which is unique of molecular biology and genetics ety of mutually related fields of among Japanese research institutions, papers published during 1991-2001. bioscience and medical science. Most is to encourage the flow of research As a result, OBI has garnered an array of them are young researchers, both by setting time limits and maintain- of awards worldwide, including the from Japan and abroad, and include

8 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 Set in front of the OBI building and symbolizing the institute’s mission is “The Gate of Hope,” a sculpture by the famous Japanese artist Yasuo Mizui.

postdoctoral fellows, researchers from industry, and graduate students from affiliated universities. There is active collaboration domestically and internationally, and the exchange of scientific information is facilitated by frequent lectures and seminars presented by outstanding scientists, from both Japan and abroad. Dr. Nakanishi heads the Depart- ment of Systems Biology and is working on regulatory mechanisms of the neural network. His group previously elucidated the molecular nature of G protein-coupled metabotropic and NMDA glutamate receptors by developing a novel functional cloning that combined OBI has had a number of young scientists from abroad and promotes international and mingled atmosphere. From right to left, Dr. Sergei Dzyuba (USA), Mr. Jihwan Myung (graduate student) Xenopus oocyte expression systems (Korea); Dr. Maria Allhorn (Sweden); Dr. Mei-Hong Qiu (China). and electrophysiology. They disclosed many novel synaptic mecha- remarkable advances in molecular cell adhesion, migration and tumor nisms, not only by applying biology have shown that the transfor- invasion. This lab originally identified multidisciplinary approaches but mation of normal cells to cancer cells several ArfGAP molecules that are also by developing new techniques is mediated by two kinds of genes binding partners for paxillin, an inte- that allowed selective and condi- that play key roles in oncogenesis: grin signaling and scaffolding protein. tional ablation of specific neuronal oncogenes, which promote aggressive Extensive analysis on paxillin and its cell types in the neural network, and cell proliferation, and tumor suppres- related molecules led them to ask reversible blocking of synaptic trans- sor genes, which are associated with how actin-cytoskeletal remodeling is mission in the specified neural cir- inhibition of abnormal cell growth coordinated with the process of mem- cuit. The projects in this department and apoptosis. This laboratory has brane remodeling, and how cells per- are currently directed toward how continued to explore the basic mech- ceive their collision with target the functional cerebella network is anisms of cancer through research on substances in order to stop moving or established in an activity-dependent oncogenes. It is focusing on the key to change the direction of movement manner during development, how oncogenes encoding Crk adaptor pro- during the contact inhibition. the cerebella network controls motor tein and trying to elucidate how this Yoshihiro Urade heads the Depart- coordination and motor learning, oncogene product generates the sig- ment of Molecular Behavioral Biol- and how the basal ganglia network nals leading to oncogenic transforma- ogy and revealed that naturalistic concertedly controls motor tion. In addition, the lab is sleep is induced by the endogenous balance and induces addiction of extensively studying human cell prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), the princi- abusive drugs. transformation mediated by onco- pal prostaglandin produced in the Director Emeritus Hanafusa is the genes such as Ras and Src. central nervous system (CNS). The head of the Laboratory of Molecular Hisataka Sabe heads the Depart- lab’s aim is to continue to investigate Oncology and is working on the basic ment of Molecular Biology and is the function of this enzyme and the mechanism of cancer. In recent years, studying mechanistic principles of Continued on next page

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 9 cellular changes caused by PGD2 dur- ficient for the cell fate determination researchers and has a number of ing sleep. PGD2 is also known to be a of retinal photoreceptors. This young scientists from the USA, mediator of allergic response, but this department is currently studying the Europe, and Asia. PGD2 is synthesized by the action of mechanisms of cell proliferation of Dr. Sergei Dzyuba (JSPS fellow) who an enzyme different from the retinal progenitor cells and the mech- came from Columbia University in enzyme in the CNS. The lab suc- anisms of neuronal cell polarity for- New York says, “It has been a great ceeded in crystallizing both enzymes mation in the retina. experience being here at OBI. I was and analyzed their structures. These trained as a chemist, but here I have achievements are vital to designing The OBI Atmosphere learned a lot in bioscience and med- and assessing new anti-doze drugs OBI promotes an international ical science. I hope to continue a col- and anti-allergic drugs with low rates atmosphere, and the research staffs laborative research and come back to of adverse reactions. in OBI have had many foreign OBI in the future.” Toru Takumi heads the Laboratory researchers. For example, Dr. Freder- Another JSPS fellow, Dr. Maria All- of Neuroscience. Using cutting-edge ick Tsuji, currently a professor at the horn from Lund University, Sweden, ES technology, researchers are seeking University of California, was the says, “OBI gives a great opportunity to to make model mice with human bio- head of one of the departments, and reach a highly qualified scientific logical abnormalities, such as chromo- Dr. Kubata Bruno Kilunga, who was world under the most exciting and somal aberrations, based on clinical engaged in sleep-inducible sub- satisfactory conditions one can expe- results. The mice will be the founders stances in Trypanosome at OBI as a rience. Once you become a member for forward genetics and a target for research associate, has returned to of this Institute, you will feel that systems biological approaches. Africa and international work as there is no limit to expanding your Another approach is reverse genetics, a Network Director of Bioscience East- research area. There is a nice collabo- method that finds candidate genes ern and Central Africa based in ration with colleagues at OBI, daily using the transcriptome and pro- Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Zhi-Li Huang exchange of knowledge and interest- teome. This approach has led to the from China is presently the vice- ing discussions.” study of neuronal dendrites and den- head of the Department of Molecular Jihwan Myung from Korea (a visiting dritic spines. The output of the circa- Behavioral Biology. He says, “OBI is graduate student) says, “The Institute dian clock includes various creating an international atmosphere itself is a self-contained research pow- physiological phenomena such as a for the scientists coming from the erhouse. I was surprised to see a gradu- sleep-wake cycle, hormonal secretion, world. Education on scientific moti- ate student having easy access to and even mental states. Using the vation, competitive systems and nice state-of-the-art (and often very expen- established systems of the circadian experimental facilities let researchers sive) equipment. OBI is also often vis- rhythm consisting of the canonical grow to be good scientists.” ited by famous oversea investigators clock genes, this laboratory also The aim of OBI is to foster young who I am familiar with only through approaches mental states in light of researchers. All department and labo- papers. I have been able to be in touch biological clocks. ratory heads hold joint appointments with the world.” Head of the Department of Devel- in the graduate schools of Kyoto, Dr. Samuel Colman introduced OBI opmental Biology is Takahisa Osaka, or Osaka City Universities. OBI in his book, Japanese Science from Furukawa. One of the goals in this also accepts research fellows, includ- the Inside, (Routledge, London and department is to understand the mol- ing postdoctoral fellows selected New York, 1999). He stated that ecular mechanism of photoreceptor under either domestic or international “Japan needs far more OBI-like insti- cell development in mammals. The scholarships, and from industry. More tutions to promote career develop- lab demonstrated that Otx2 and Crx than 30 such fellows and graduate stu- ment.” In fact, many of the leading play critical roles in retinal photore- dents are currently working in OBI. universities in Japan are now adapting ceptor development. Moreover, they OBI seeks to promote international their programs along the lines of the showed that Otx2 is essential and suf- exchange through study with foreign OBI system.

10 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 JLR Looks at Systems Biology he September issue of the a system. A key concept in systems approaches can complement tradi- Journal of Lipid Research (JLR) biology is that of “emergent proper- tional approaches to the biology of T marked the beginning of a ties,” or important features of biologic lipids and diseases involving lipids,” new thematic review series for the systems that can best be identified by explains Lusis in his September editor- Journal. The series, coordinated by examining the system as a whole. In ial. “The most elegant systems biology Associate Editor Aldons J. Lusis, focuses these experiments, studies of the indi- studies to date have been in model on systems-level approaches to meta- vidual components of the system organisms, such as bacteria, yeast, bolic and cardiovascular disorders. would not provide mechanistic under- Caenorhabditis elegans, and flies. How- “Systems-level” refers to a kind of standing of the overall dynamics of ever, a number of studies involving biologic analysis that looks beyond the system. various global data sets for mammals individual genes, proteins, or lipids to “The goal of this series of reviews is have already contributed importantly the ensemble of multiple elements of to illustrate how systems-based to our understanding of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.” There will be a total of seven reviews in the series, with a new article appearing in the Journal each month. In the first review, Karen Reue and Laurent Vergnes discuss the inte- gration of genomic resources for the identification and functional analysis of genes involved in lipid metabolism. In the second article in the series, Andrew Watson will review “lipidomics,” a systems-based study of all lipids, the molecules with which they interact, and their functions. In the third review, Jim Weiss will look at studies of the dynamics of cardiac and smooth muscle metabolism. Next, Eric Schadt will discuss how systems-based approaches can be used to define targets for therapeutic inter- vention of the yeast genetic interaction network. In the fifth article, Peipei Ping and Thomas Drake will review the various levels of proteomic investigation as they apply to metabolic and vascular diseases. Then, Irwin Kurland will focus on metabolomics, the systematic profiling of metabolites using nuclear mag- netic resonance, tandem mass spectrometry, calorimetry, and stable isotopes. And in the final review, Johan Bjorkegren and Jesper Tegnér will look at multi-organ profiling in relation to coronary artery disease.

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 11 SAVE THE DATE April 28 - May 2, 2007 in Washington, DC Education and Professional uture issues of ASBMB Today workshops organized by the EPD com- Undergraduate will contain articles about mittee. One featuring outreach and Student and Faculty F Education and Professional service learning activities, was orga- Travel Awards Now Development (EPD) activities spon- nized by Neena Grover, Colorado Col- Administered through sored by the Society. This month we lege, and the other on the use of the UAN highlight the 2007 Meeting in molecular models in teaching, Tactile As always, ASBMB offers a number Washington, DC, and the activities Teaching: Exploring Protein Struc- of travel awards aimed at students of the Undergraduate Affiliates Net- ture/Function Using Physical Models and faculty from Primarily Under- work (UAN). will be run by Tim Herman. In addi- graduate Institutions (PUI). This year tion to Saturday’s Undergraduate these awards will be administered by The Education and Poster competition, the meeting will the Undergraduate Affiliates Network, Professional feature an NSF-sponsored session and details can be found on the UAN Development Theme where undergraduate faculty and stu- page of the ASBMB Education and Meeting in 2007 dents present their research. Several Professional Development website. The Education and Professional highly successful faculty, Lisa Gentile, While preference will be given to fac- Development theme at the 2007 University of Richmond; Teaster Baird, ulty and students affiliated with Annual Meeting will feature both SFSU; and Mark Wallert and Joe ASBMB through the UAN program, something old and something new. Provost from Minnesota State Univer- which has automatic student travel Continuing last year’s highly successful sity at Moorhead will present their awards for affiliated programs, all “Classroom of the Future” theme, the research. Undergraduate students undergraduate students and PUI fac- major symposium focusing on class- selected from submitted abstracts will ulty are encouraged to join the net- room teaching will highlight a number also be featured. work and apply. Affiliation with the of exciting initiatives in the field of life Transitions from Graduate Student network costs $200 per group, and science education. to Post Doc to Faculty Member will be each group (program, laboratory, etc. Cathy Drennan, MIT, will address highlighted and accompanied by a with five or more undergraduates) issues related to combining chemistry presentation from MCB Program Offi- qualifies for an automatic travel and biology education in introductory cer Parag Chitnis on NSF funding award of $400 and may submit an courses for science majors. Carla Mat- opportunities. The undergraduate application for a Faculty Travel tos, North Carolina State University, an community will have a designated Award. This year, as last, a number of NSF PECASE Award winner, will tell workshop on funding opportunities undergraduate travel awards are based how she involves undergraduates in specifically for undergraduate institu- upon presentations at Fall regional sophisticated structural biology tions, particular NIH area grants, and UAN meetings, where students pre- research, in both a formal class and the NSF RUI grants run by Jean Chin, NIH sent their research in a competitive lab, while Ellis Bell, University of Rich- (Area grants program) and Ellis Bell, setting with winners in four thematic mond, will discuss ways to engage Biomolecular Systems Cluster program categories being selected. At the freshman chemistry students in real officer at NSF. poster competition, thematic judging research activities that cross the disci- The final session , Preparing for a will focus on four broad areas of the plinary boundaries between chemistry, Successful Career in Industry, will high- molecular life sciences: Protein Struc- physics and biology. light preparation for careers in industry. ture and Function, Signal Transduc- On the meeting’s opening day last This session will be chaired by ASBMB tion, Gene Expression and year, over 150 undergraduates partici- Council Member Bob Copeland from Regulation, and a General Biosciences pated in a session featuring a wide GlaxoSmithKline, and will include talks category. Students will be able to indi- range of research activities, and this by Manuel Navia, Oxford Bioscience cate the category in which they wish year undergraduate research will again Partners, and EPD Committee member to be considered when they submit be highlighted. There will be two Gregory Bertenshaw. their abstracts.

12 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 ASBMB Annual Meeting April 28 - May 2, 2007 in Washington, DC Development This year there will be three Fall DC,” said Provost. One of last year’s as phospholipases and lipid metabo- regional meetings featuring undergrad- poster winners, Jennifer Taves, a three- lism, the regulation of gene expression uate presentations. These meetings year UAN member, who presented a by lipids and their metabolites, bone play a key role in the development of poster at the 2006 ASBMB meeting is and mineral metabolism, lipoprotein young scientists, offering a venue to currently preparing a manuscript on structure and function, and the bio- bring together summer research and her work with proteases. For travel chemical pathways elicited through “practice” in a formal presentation. award winner Eun Hyuk Chang, his interactions between bioactive lipids This can pay off: last year in San Fran- experience at the ASBMB meeting and neuronal cells. cisco, two of the winners received helped him obtain a summer intern- The event starts with a Keynote travel awards to attend the meeting as ship at Harvard. This meeting is a won- Address on Friday, October 20, by Dr. a result of their participation in derful opportunity for students to Jerome Strauss, Dean, VCU School of regional meetings. Two other partici- present their summer work and get Medicine, He will present a seminar pants in the San Francisco Meeting ready for the 2007 ASBMB meeting. about his exciting research into genetic went on to win awards at the Protein Details for the event can be found at: variations that predispose African- Society Meeting. www.mnstate.edu/provost/asbmb.html American mothers to premature delivery. Poster presentations will be Northwest Regional Virginia Saturday, October 21, from 10:00 a.m. UAN to Host Second Commonwealth to 2:00 p.m. Regional ASBMB University’s Details of the meeting can be found at: Meeting Biochemistry www.vcu.edu/biochem/department/ The northwest regional UAN MSU Department to Host news-sym06.shtml Moorhead chapter is gearing up for its Regional Meeting for second annual Regional ASBMB meet- Undergrads The Undergraduate ing. “We are very excited about this” On Friday, October 20, and Saturday, Affiliates Network said Joseph Provost, Co-Director of the October 21, VCU’s Department of Bio- The UAN continues to grow, with Northwest UAN. “Last year’s meeting chemistry will host its fourth annual over 40 chapters now established. was much bigger than we expected Undergraduate Research Symposium. Each chapter receives an automatic and the students were all fully This event is a forum for the presenta- travel award to help a student present involved.” This year’s meeting will tion of research projects performed by his or her research at the National continue the theme of serving indus- students enrolled in colleges and uni- Meeting. It is not too late to affiliate trial needs and research interests. Mark versities throughout the Southeast. Par- your program and receive a travel Wallert, Co-Director of the Northwest ticipants have the opportunity to award to the Washington, DC, meet- UAN said, “One of our key speakers present research posters to a diverse ing. Any School or program affiliated will be from Minnesota BioBusiness. audience of graduate students, postdoc- by the end of October will receive a This will provide an opportunity for toral researchers, and faculty from VCU travel award, provided that the stu- those attending to visit with a key and other participating universities. dent has submitted an abstract for leader in the biochemistry/biotechnol- Students will also have an opportu- the DC meeting. If you want your pro- ogy industry, and learn about will hear nity to view presentations in the Sig- gram affiliated with the network, about the skills needed and career pos- naling and Metabolism of Bioactive please visit the ASBMB website and sibilities in that industry.” The meeting Lipids (SMBL) Research Retreat. This navigate to the Education link, where will include both a poster session and event (held concurrently with the you can join the network or renew an oral presentation. “I expect a very Undergraduate Research Symposium) your program’s affiliation on line. difficult time judging the posters for features poster presentations by pre- Next month we will feature “Inside each of the four travel awards to the and post-doctoral scientists whose EPD” and focus on the faces and activi- 2007 ASBMB meeting in Washington, research interests focus on such areas ties of EPD members.

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 13 SAVE THE DATE April 28 - May 2, 2007 in Washington, DC

Judith Klinman to Receive ASBMB-Merck Award udith Klinman, Professor of result from properties of the surround- hydrogen tunneling is extensive, if not Chemistry and of Molecular ing protein environment. universal, in enzymatic hydrogen J and Cellular Biology at the Uni- Klinman proposed that the dynamic transfer (including hydride and proton versity of California/Berkeley, has been properties of the enzyme were impor- transfer). This work established the selected to receive the ASBMB-Merck tant for tunneling. This connection fundamental chemical basis for Award, in recognition of her outstanding between tunneling and the motional enzymes that catalyze or use hydrogen contributions to research in biochemistry properties of proteins then extended transfer in their reactions. and molecular biology . The Award con- the importance of tunneling as a means The studies Klinman and her cowork- sists of a plaque, and transportation and of obtaining insight into the fundamen- ers designed to explore tunneling behav- expenses of the recipient and spouse to tal dynamic properties of proteins. ior on enzymes revealed anomalous ASBMB’s 2007 There are now computational groups, behaviors. Most simply, dependences of Annual Meeting, at in addition to experimental enzymolo- tunneling (or isotope effects) on temper- which Dr. Klinman gists, basing their efforts to understand ature were explored with thermophilic will present a lec- the fundamental chemical property of enzymes. Behaviors different from those ture. Nominations tunneling and the fundamental physi- predicted in chemical theory led to the must be originated cal property of protein dynamics on suggestion that the reaction barrier was by Society members, data from the Klinman lab. not rigid, thereby introducing the impor- but the nominees Dr. Judith Klinman While the models and ideas have tance of dynamics in enzymatic tunnel- need not be ASBMB members. developed over the years, Klinman has ing. Subsequent experimental work from Dr. Klinman has made deep and been both icon and leader. And she Klinman, including differential tunnel- extensive contributions to under- has led most effectively, not trying to ing contributions caused by mutations standing the mechanism of enzyme control or garner credit, but instead in residues ‘behind’ the active site with action throughout her career and has fostering interactions, asking hard different steric effects, have provided been an exemplary scholar, teacher, questions of herself and others, and additional support for this view. Cur- and colleague. She fits well within the emphasizing what she doesn’t under- rently, several labs are exploring, both group of highly select and accom- stand, instead of seeking to impress computationally and experimentally, the plished recipients of the with the strength of her work. Her connection between tunneling and pro- ASBMB/Merck Award in stature and respect for, and fostering of, the ideas tein dynamics. In essence, hydrogen tun- accomplishments. Furthermore, she and contributions of others is to be neling, important and interesting in its will be the first woman scientist to greatly admired and represents a trait own right, has provided insight into, and receive this highly prestigious award. that is important to recognize and experimental guidance for, another,even She was the first to propose that reward in the scientific community. more pervasive problem in biology, that hydrogen tunneling plays a role in of protein dynamics. enzyme catalysis. Many were initially Hydrogen Tunneling skeptical of this proposal, but she per- Prior to Klinman’s work, it was well Enzyme Cofactors sisted, carrying out extensive experi- established that electron tunneling was Dr. Klinman’s work on hydrogen ments on multiple systems to show prevalent in enzymatic reactions, and abstraction mechanisms also led to the clearly and broadly that tunneling is that hydrogen tunneling could occur groundbreaking 1990 discovery of central to many biological processes. at very low temperatures. In 1989, novel cofactors that facilitate redox This seminal discovery led her to probe Klinman and coworkers provided reactions. By studying copper amine further into the behavior of enzymes strong experimental evidence for oxidases, her lab discovered the 2,4,5- that exhibit tunneling. She found hydrogen tunneling in an enzymatic trihydroxyphenylalanyl quinone quite complex behavior and, although reaction at room temperature. (TPQ) cofactor. Not only did Klinman it was not clear initially what the ori- Although this work was greeted with and coworkers establish the structure gin of this behavior was, she recog- skepticism, further work from Klinman of this new cofactor, they also showed nized that this complex behavior must and others have left no doubt that Continued on next page

14 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 ASBMB Annual Meeting April 28 - May 2, 2007 in Washington, DC

Scott Emr Selected for ASBMB-Avanti Award cott Emr, an HHMI Investiga- contributions to the lipid field by pur- target transport tor and Professor in the suing his interests in the regulation of vesicles from their C Department of Cellular and intracellular vesicle trafficking using source to their des- Molecular Biology, University of Cali- the power of yeast genetics and molec- tination. His work fornia, San Diego, School of Medicine ular biology. These accomplishments has had an enor- has been selected to receive the Avanti have played a major role in the recog- mous influence on Award in Lipids. The Award recognizes nition of lipids as important bioeffec- our understanding outstanding research contributions in tors and not merely structural of trafficking events Dr. Scott Emr the area of lipids, and consists of a molecules. This recognition has and placed phosphorylated lipids at the plaque, stipend, and transportation increased activity in the lipid field, center of the regulation of this process. and expenses to present a lecture at the which has in turn stimulated the dis- A key aspect of Emr’s approach has 2007 ASBMB Annual Meeting, April 28 covery of other important roles of been to begin with genetic manipula- –May 2 in Washington, DC. Past recipi- lipids in cell regulation and control. tion to gain clues as to which processes ents include Dennis Vance in 2006, Emr recognized over 10 years ago that should be characterized, and then to William Dowhan in 2005, William L. the VPS34 gene encoded a phos- characterize them biochemically. The Smith in 2004, Robert Bittman in 2003, phatidylinositol 3-kinase that is maximum benefit of each approach is and Christian R.H. Raetz in 2002. required for proper targeting of a subset usually derived when they are com- Dr. Emr is a highly accomplished of proteins to the vacuole. This unex- bined. Emr has done an excellent job in molecular biologist who has already pected finding, and the demonstration unravelling important lipid-dependent received extensive recognition for his of a lipid product as being central to a membrane facilitated processes that many contributions by election to the vesicle mediated targeting event, led to would not have been uncovered by American Academy of Arts and Sci- the studies by Emr and others character- other means. He has also made impor- ences, and the recent award of the izing the lipid-dependent coding of tant contributions to characterizing the Hansen Foundation Gold Medal for cargo vesicles. Emr and coworkers have endosomal sorting complex required elucidating the intracellular sorting played a central role in systematically for essential budding of vesicles into the and transport of proteins. Although uncoding the information residing in lumen of the endosome. Again, compo- not generally considered a lipid scien- the multiple phosphate derivatives of nents of this process involve phospho- tist, he has made many significant phosphatidylinositol that regulate and rylated phosphatidylinositols.

Continued from previous page Other investigators identified new structural properties for a series of oxygen that it is derived from an amino acid tures based on post-translational modi- binding proteins. This analysis and side chain of the folded protein. These fications of tryptophan. This work additional work allowed Klinman to discoveries overturned previous mod- opened up the new and currently active develop a powerful set of experimental els for metal catalyzed oxygen activa- field of protein-derived cofactors. probes for determining the mechanism tion in these and other enzymes, in of oxygen activation. These probes are which the copper center was assumed Molecular Oxygen in shedding light on how proteins can to be the redox catalyst. Enzymatic Reactions reductively activate molecular oxygen This discovery showed that complex Many of the redox enzymes that to free radical intermediates while derivatization of aromatic side chains have been pursued in the Klinman lab- avoiding oxidative damage. Under- can occur in natural proteins, generat- oratory use molecular oxygen as sub- standing reactions involving molecular ing new redox cofactors with unique strate. Klinman provided the oxygen has fundamental implications properties. Subsequent work from her experimental methods and back- for chemistry, for evolution during the group showed that the extracellular pro- ground for applying 18-0 isotope transition from an anaerobic to aerobic tein Iysyl oxidase, responsible for colla- effects to processes involving molecu- environment, and, ultimately, for gen and elastin cross-linking, contains a lar oxygen. This was accomplished by learning how these reactions can be lysine cross-linked variant of TPQ. comparing isotope effects and struc- manipulated and engineered.

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 15 SAVE THE DATE April 28 - May 2, 2007 in Washington, DC The Chromosome Cycle Organizer: Hongtao Yu he eukaryotic genomes are Molecular Pathol- regulatory mechanisms of sister chro- organized into chromosomes ogy); (3) Cen- matid cohesion in mammalian cells. Dr. T that consist of long strands of tromeres and Camilla Sjögren (Karolinska Institutet) DNA molecules wound around his- Kinetochores will discuss the functions of SMC protein tones and other chromosomal pro- (Chair: Don Cleve- complexes in mediating sister chromatid teins. The genetic stability of an land, UC San cohesion and DNA repair in the budding organism relies on the accurate dupli- Diego); and (4) yeast. Dr. Johannes Walter (Harvard cation of its chromosomes and the Chromosome Seg- Dr. Hongtao Yu Medical School) will present his work on subsequent equal partition of the regation and Aneuploidy (Chair: the mechanisms that restrict DNA repli- duplicated chromosomes during each Hongtao Yu, UT Southwestern). cation to once-and-only-once per cell cell division. Chromosomal DNA is The structure and remodeling of cycle in Xenopus egg extracts. replicated in a semi-conservative fash- chromatin impact all biological Centromeres and kinetochores not ion in S phase. The original and the processes that use chromatin as tem- only provide the landing pads for spin- replica copies of each chromosome are plate, including transcription, DNA dle microtubules to capture chromo- physically tethered together through replication, DNA repair, and sister chro- somes during mitosis, but also are the cohesion to form a pair of sister chromatid cohesion. Considering the tight originating sites of important check- matids. In mitosis, the centromeres of packaging of chromosomal DNA in point signals that ensure proper mitotic chromosomes nucleate the assembly nucleosomes and the further com- progression. The Centromeres and of large protein complexes to form paction of linear nucleosome arrays Kinetochores session will focus on the kinetochores that are captured by into chromatin, it is truly remarkable structure and function of centromeres microtubule fibers of the mitotic spin- that the large protein machineries and kinetochores. This session will be dle. After all pairs of sister chromatids involved in transcription or DNA repli- chaired by Prof. Don Cleveland (UC San achieve proper attachment to the cation can access chromosomal DNA in Diego). He will speak about the structure mitotic spindle, sister chromatid cohe- a regulated and timely manner. The of the mammalian centromeres and the sion is dissolved. The two sets of sepa- talks in the Chromatin Structure and functions of kinetochores in mitotic rated chromatids are pulled to the Remodeling session will provide spindle checkpoint signaling and the opposite poles of the dividing cell. insight into the fascinating process of maintenance of chromosomal stability. After the completion of cytokinesis, chromatin remodeling. This session will Prof. Gary Karpen (UC Berkeley) will each daughter cell inherits an identical be chaired by Dr. Geeta Narlikar (UC describe his recent studies on the set of chromosomes. In the past several San Francisco). She will discuss the sequence and epigenetic determinants years, intensive efforts from many lab- mechanisms of action for a class of ATP- of centromeres in Drosophila. He will oratories around the world have signif- dependent nucleosome remodeling also discuss the functions of centromeric icantly advanced our understanding of protein complexes. Dr. Song Tan (Penn- proteins in regulating mitotic events. Dr. molecular mechanisms that govern sylvania State University) will discuss Huntington Willard, Nanaline H. Duke the chromosome cycle and its coordi- how chromatin-modifying enzymes Professor and Director of Institute for nation with the cell division cycle. recognize their nucleosome substrates. Genome Sciences and Policy at Duke Recent discoveries in this exciting area Prof. Jeffery Hayes (University of University, will describe the recent find- will be highlighted in the Chromo- Rochester Medical Center) will present ings from his laboratory on the molecu- some Cycle theme at the 2007 ASBMB his recent findings on the roles of his- lar organization of the human meeting in Washington D.C. tone tail domains in the structure, fold- centromeric DNA and the assembly of The Chromosome Cycle theme con- ing, and dynamics of chromatin fibers. human artificial chromosomes. sists of the following four sessions: (1) The Chromosome Duplication and Chromosome segregation occurs in Chromatin Structure and Remodel- Cohesion session will focus on the regu- a highly synchronous fashion and is ing (Chair: Geeta Narlikar, UC San lation of DNA replication and sister chro- one of the most beautiful cell biologi- Francisco); (2) Chromosome Duplica- matid cohesion during the cell cycle. Dr. cal events. Errors in chromosome seg- tion and Cohesion (Chair: Jan- Jan-Michael Peters (RIMP) will chair this regation leads to aneuploidy, a Michael Peters, Research Institute of session. He will speak about the cell-cycle Continued on next page

16 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 ASBMB Annual Meeting April 28 - May 2, 2007 in Washington, DC Chemical Biology Theme Organizer: Jack Taunton, UCSF hemical approaches and con- ties in complex biological networks and structures, a major cepts permeate modern cell point the way toward innovative thera- challenge in drug C and molecular biology peutics. The ASBMB crew of Chemical discovery is to fig- research and thus will be on display Biologists will show how small mole- ure out which ones throughout ASBMB. The Chemical Biol- cules can do big things. to make for a given ogy theme puts the spotlight on small The Chemical Biology theme is orga- target or therapeutic molecules, including small molecules nized into four sessions: area. The three talks that were designed and synthesized by Chemical Biology of Cell Death in this session will Dr. Jack Taunton intelligent humans, as well as secondary (Chair: Paul Hergenrother, Univer- reveal divergent solutions to the problem metabolites that evolved by natural sity of Illinois) of identifying initial fragment hits that selection. The smallish molecules fea- Fragment-Based Drug Discovery form specific interactions with their tar- tured in the Chemical Biology theme (Chair: Dan Erlanson, Sunesis Phar- gets but necessarily bind with low-affin- range in size and complexity, from the maceuticals) ity. Harren Jhoti (Astex Pharmaceuticals) simple fragments that jumpstart drug Antibiotics for the 21st Century will discuss a high-throughput x-ray crys- discovery, to the structurally ornate nat- (Chair: Floyd Romesberg, Scripps tallography and chemoinformatics route ural products assembled by protein fac- Research Institute) to identifying fragment hits. Jon Ellman tories in bacteria, fungi, and plants. In Chemical and Cell Biology of Nat- (UC Berkeley) will present a novel all cases, they elicit profound changes ural Products (Chair: Jack Taunton, approach to fragment identification that in the behavior of proteins, cells, or UC San Francisco) exploits enzymatic catalysis to report a whole organisms. Small molecules can The Chemical Biology of Cell Death specific binding event. Session chair Dan thus reveal previously unknown mech- session will feature small molecules that Erlanson (Sunesis Pharmaceuticals) will anisms in cell biology and physiology, reveal the multitude of mechanisms by discuss a completely different approach, as well as new ways to modulate protein which cells die. Craig Crews (Yale Univer- in which small fragments are tethered to structure and function. Even if they sity) will present recent studies of a nat- specific cysteines on a protein target by never make it to the clinic, small mole- ural product from Chinese herbal reversible disulfide bonds; fragment hits cules often show us hidden vulnerabili- medicine that triggers a calcium-depen- are identified by high-throughput dent cell death pathway by an unprece- mass spectrometry. Continued from previous page dented mechanism. Junying Yuan Resistance of disease-causing hallmark of cancer cells. The molecu- (Harvard Medical School) will discuss her pathogens to 20th century antibiotics lar mechanism of chromosome segre- group’s discovery of small molecules that is spreading at a frightening pace, and gation will be the main topic of the modulate pro-apoptotic signals emanat- few novel antibiotics have entered the Chromosome Segregation and Ane- ing from the stressed endoplasmic reticu- clinic to meet this threat. The Antibi- uploidy session. Dr. Hongtao Yu (UT lum. Paul Hergenrother (University of otics for the 21st Century session will Southwestern) will chair this session Illinois) will describe novel small mole- present exciting recent studies in and will discuss the molecular basis of cule activators of caspase signaling. These which small molecules target previ- the mitotic spindle checkpoint, a cell- compounds are selectively cytotoxic to ously unexplored signaling pathways cycle surveillance system that ensures cancer cells with elevated caspase levels. in pathogenic microorganisms. Debo- the fidelity of chromosome segrega- The Fragment-Based Drug Discovery rah Hung (Broad Institute and Harvard tion. Dr. Jan van Deursen (Mayo session will feature cutting-edge talks on Medical School) will describe small Clinic) will present his novel findings how to make drug discovery more effi- molecules that target bacterial viru- on the role of nuclear transport factors cient (and exciting). Despite their small lence pathways that are essential for in chromosome segregation. Prof. size, drug-like molecules (with molecular growth in their mammalian hosts but Gary Gorbsky (OMRF) will discuss weights of ~500 Daltons) can derive which are not essential for growth in how the spindle checkpoint senses the from a nearly infinite number of discrete culture. Floyd Romesberg (Scripps lack of tension across sister kineto- structures. Because there aren’t enough Research Institute) will discuss a novel chores and how chromosome move- atoms (or medicinal chemists) in the signaling pathway that mediates resis- ment is regulated during mitosis. universe to synthesize all of the possible Continued on page 21

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 17 '%%, 6H7B7 April 28 – May 2, 2007 • Washington, Organized by: Benjamin F. Cravatt, The Scripps Research Institute, Michael K. Rosen, University 6WhigVXi HjWb^hh^dc 9ZV

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L^aa^Vb 8# GdhZ 6lVgY HeZX^Va :kZcih Susan S. Taylor • 11th Annual Undergraduate Student Poster Competition • Graduate and Postdoctoral Networking Reception HHMI/University of California, San Diego • ASBMB Business Meeting • Graduate and Postdoctoral Travel Award Symposium • ASBMB Social Event • How to Publish in the JBC Workshops lll#VhWbW# 6ccjVa BZZi^c\ DC • Held in conjunction with EB 2007 of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the 2007 ASBMB Program Planning Committee Ya^cZ/CdkZbWZg-!'%%+

**denotes thematic meeting chair / *denotes session chair 8ZaaHnhiZbh H^\cVa^c\ Metabolism Biochemistry and Signaling of Lipids Jared Rutter**, University of Utah School of Medicine Hugh Rosen**, The Scripps Research Institute Metabolic Sensing and Signaling Biogenesis, Transport and Compartmentalization of Lipids David Carling, Michael Hall, Jared Rutter* Christoph Benning, Joost C.M. Holthuis, Dennis R. Voelker* Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Metabolic Disease Chemical Probes of Lipid Systems Morris Birnbaum, Marc Montminy*, Craig B. Thompson Doreen Cantrell, Benjamin F. Cravatt, Hugh Rosen* Mitochondria in Health and Disease Lipids as Transcriptional Regulators E. Dale Abel*, Nika N. Danial, Antonio Vidal-Puig Joseph L. Goldstein, Steven Kliewer*, Peter Tontonoz Aging and Metabolism Speciﬁc Protein-Lipid Interactions Andrew Dillin, Stephen L. Helfand, Pere Puigserver*, Michael H. Gelb*, Tamir Gonen, Stephen White Richard Weindruch Signaling Pathways Controlling Cell Structure and Fate Organelle Dynamics Michael B. Yaffe**, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Matthew Shair**, Harvard University Cytokine and Growth Factor Signaling Golgi Structure and Biogenesis Carl-Henrik Heldin, Mark Lemmon, Joseph Schlessinger* Matthew Shair*, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, Graham Warren DNA Damage Signaling Membrane Biogenesis Wade Harper, Michele Pagano, Michael B. Yaffe* Daniel E. Kahne*, Natividad Ruiz, Hajime Tokuda Cell Cycle Mitochondrial Dynamic Susan Biggins, Rebecca Heald*, Tim Stearns David Chan, Jodi Nunnari*, Richard Youle Signaling to the Cytoskeleton Nuclear Dynamics Sandrine Etienne-Manneville, Dyche Mullins*, Michael K. Rosen Ueli Aebi, Katherine S. Ullman, Yixian Zheng*

Systems Biology Public Affairs Advisory Committee Sponsored Symposium Tobias Meyer**, Stanford University School of Medicine Sponsored by EB participating societies NIH at the Crossroads: How Diminished Funds Will Impact Modeling of Cell Systems Biomedical Research and what Scientists Can Do About it James Ferrell*, Rustem Ismagilov, Wendell Lim

Molecular Proﬁling of Cell Systems Education and Professional Development Committee Tobias Meyer*, Elizabeth Winzeler Sponsored Symposia Proteomics of Cell Systems J. Ellis Bell**, University of Richmond Reudi H. Aebersold*, Anne-Claude Gavin, Michael Snyder Classroom of the Future II Mathematical Biology J. Ellis Bell*, Catherine L. Drennan, Carla Mattos Mark Chaplain, Ravi Iyengar, Edwin Munro, Vito Quaranta* Science at Undergraduate Institutions Teaster Baird, Lisa Gentile, Joseph J. Provost*, Mark A. Wallert* Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Starting Faculty Transitions Minority Affairs Committee Sponsored Symposia Jessica Bell, Parag Chitnis*, Ann L. Miller George Hill**, Vanderbilt University Preparing for a Successful Career in Industry Best Practices in Program Assessment Gregory Bertenshaw*, Robert A. Copeland*, Manuek Navia Taketa Felder*, A. James Hicks, John Matsui, J. Lynn Zimmerman Infectious Diseases in Minority Populations – Hepatitis C Craig E. Cameron*, Antonio Estrada, Kouacou Donan, Gerond Lake-Bakaar IgVkZa6lVgYh Genetic Diseases in Minority Populations - Sickle Cell Anemia Application Deadline: November 30, 2006 Jane Hankins, Phillip A. Ortiz*, William P. Winter, Steven N. Wolff • Graduate Students / Postdoctoral Fellows Infectious Diseases in Minority Populations - Tuberculosis • Minority Graduate Students Bavesh Kana, Ujjini Manjunatha, Marcos Milla*, Harvey Rubin • Systems Biology Workshop Teams

• Minority Scientists’ Mixer • Women Scientists’ Networking Reception • Opening Reception • Meet the Speakers • Research Funding by the American Cancer Society • Thematic Receptions dg\$bZZi^c\h Remote Control for Human Growth Hormone Gene Expression esearchers at the University two non-coding regions on the activa- areas that appear to control expression of Pennsylvania School of tion of the hGH gene. They described of the hGH gene. R Medicine recently discov- their findings in the August issue of Previous work in the Cooke and Lieb- ered a novel mechanism that works Molecular Cell. haber laboratories found that the hGH over an extensive genomic distance Synthesized by the pituitary gland, gene is controlled by a non-coding and controls the expression of human growth hormone activates DNA region, or locus control region. human growth hormone (hGH) in growth and cell reproduction. In addi- Remarkably, this region is located more the pituitary gland. This mechanism tion to serving as a major contributor than 14,000 base pairs away from the involves a newly discovered set of to height increase during childhood, hGH gene. At the genomic level, a non-coding RNAs expressed in the hGH plays a role in strengthening 14,000 base-pair separation is equal to vicinity of the hGH gene. bones and increasing muscle mass the size of 10 growth hormone genes Using a genetically modified mouse throughout life. While mutations to lined end to end. “The effects of the model, Nancy E. Cooke, M.D., the hGH gene often lead to abnormal locus control region on human growth Stephen A. Liebhaber, M.D., Professors growth in children and adults, these hormone expression is as if you turn a of Genetics and Medicine, and col- mutations have provided researchers key in the lock of a house at one end of leagues demonstrated a critical role of with key clues regarding the genomic your street and find that this action

Nancy E. Cooke is a Professor of over 70 publica- eral Hospital and Medicine in the Division of tions. Research was a Resident at Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metab- in her laboratory the University of olism at the University of Pennsylva- focuses on mole- Colorado Med- nia. She received her B.S. in cular endocrinol- ical Center and Chemistry from Wellesley College ogy. Specifically, Barnes Hospital and Case Western Reserve Univer- her lab studies in St. Louis, Mis- sity, and her M.D. from Case West- the mechanisms Dr. Nancy Cooke Dr. Stephen Liebhaber souri. He also ern Reserve University School of involved in the regulation of growth held fellowships at Washington Uni- Medicine. Before coming to the Uni- hormone gene expression. versity in St. Louis, Missouri, and the versity of Pennsylvania in 1982 she Stephen A. Liebhaber is a Professor University of California, San Fran- was a resident in Medicine at Barnes of Genetics and Medicine at the Uni- cisco, where he eventually became Hospital, Washington University; a versity of Pennsylvania. He also an Assistant Professor. Clinical Fellow in Endocrinology serves as Chair of the Oversight Liebhaber has been active on and Metabolism at Washington Uni- Committee of the DNA Sequencing numerous academic committees at versity School of Medicine; a and Analysis Core and Co-director the University of Pennsylvania and Research Associate in the Howard (with Cooke) of the School of Medi- has held several editorial positions, Hughes Medical Institute, Depart- cine’s Transgenic and Chimeric including serving on the Editorial ment of Biochemistry, University of Mouse Facility. Liebhaber received Board of The Journal of Biological California San Francisco, and an his B.A. in Chemistry from Brandeis Chemistry. He is currently studying Assistant Professor in the Depart- University in 1968 and his M.D. the roles of chromatin structure and ment of Medicine, University of Cal- from Yale University in 1972. Prior to epigenetic controls in eukaryotic ifornia San Francisco. joining the faculty of the University gene activation, and the roles of In addition to numerous textbook of Pennsylvania in 1982, Liebhaber mRNA-protein interactions in con- contributions and lecture invitations, did an internship in Internal Medi- trolling eukaryotic mRNA stability Cooke has authored or co-authored cine at Cleveland Metropolitan Gen- and expression.

20 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 Chemical continued Continued from page 17 opens the lock and door of a house a served a function, the researchers tance to several classes of antibiotics. block away,” notes Liebhaber. inserted a segment of human DNA Heike Brötz-Oesterhelt (AiCuris Phar- By carefully analyzing the 14,000 that included hGH, the hGH locus maceuticals) will describe a natural base pairs separating the hGH gene control region, and CD79b into a product that kills bacteria by allosteric and its locus control region, co-authors group of mice. As a result, the trans- hyperactivation of a bacterial protea- Yugong Ho, Ph.D., an Instructor of genic mice expressed high levels of some-like machine, an unprecedented Genetics at Penn and a Cooke/Lieb- human growth hormone in the pitu- mechanism for an antibiotic. haber lab member, and Felice Elefant, itary, as well as, mouse growth hor- Natural products, the structurally Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Drexel mone. To test whether the complex secondary metabolites found University and former member of the transcription of the locus control throughout phylogeny, have long Cooke/Liebhaber lab, found that the region and CD79b played a signifi- been exploited as drugs and as tools for locus control region was copied into cant role in hGH expression in trans- cell biologists. What is the extent of RNA, and discovered a gene called genic mice, they then inserted a “protein target space” accessible to CD79b within this region. Remarkably piece of DNA into the locus control small molecule natural products, given this CD79b gene was also copied into region. This DNA insertion specifi- the constraints of evolution by natural RNA in the pituitary. While the CD79b cally blocked the copying of the selection? Several talks throughout the gene normally codes for a protein in CD79b gene into RNA in the pitu- Chemical Biology theme, including blood lymphocytes, researchers discov- itary. This blockade led to the five- two in the Chemical and Cell Biology ered that CD79b appears to play a very fold repression of hGH gene of Natural Products session, expand different role in the pituitary gland. expression. These findings confirm the known protein target space of nat- Here, CD79b was actively transcribed that the CD79b non-coding DNA ural products in exciting ways. Jun Liu into mRNA, but this mRNA failed to actively contributes to hGH expres- (Johns Hopkins Medical School) will translate into a functional protein. sion. The relationship between discuss a natural product that blocks Instead, the non-coding RNA was sus- CD79b, the hGH locus control translation not by targeting the ribo- pected to play a role in hGH region, and the hGH gene may aid some, but by allosterically modulating gene regulation. researchers in the development of an initiation factor, which leads to the In order to determine whether the treatments for patients suffering assembly of stalled initiation com- CD79b RNA in the pituitary gland from hGH deficiency. plexes. Jack Taunton (UC San Fran- cisco) will describe a cyclic peptide that blocks secretion of a small subset of Renew Your Membership Online human proteins. It does so by prevent- ing certain secretory proteins from ASBMB 2007 dues renewal notices have been opening the translocation channel in mailed to all members. You can now make the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, payment online at the ASBMB website: an unprecedented mode of protein www.asbmb.org, by clicking on “member- regulation. Finally, Christopher Walsh ship” and then “renew your dues now.” (Harvard Medical School) will describe Your membership includes a free subscription to our monthly how natural products, in all their magazine, ASBMB Today, plus free subscriptions to JBC Online and ornate glory, are biosynthesized. His MCP Online. You also receive special member rates for The Journal of talk will illuminate not only the major Lipid Research and Trends in Biochemical Sciences, as well as the print assembly steps, but also the key tailor- versions of JBC and MCP. ing chemistries that are essential for ASBMB members may also register for the Annual Meeting at biological activity. Knowledge of this discounted rates. In addition, you can order your 2007 edition of chemistry will enable the rational pro- the Annual Review of Biochemistry through ASBMB. gramming of “unnatural” natural If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. products with superior pharmacological properties.

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 21 CAREER INSIGHTS

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? “What do you want to be cular clinical practice were required to not include the word “cutting-edge.” I “ when you grow up?” is a do a rotation in this lab. Therefore, it envisioned this particular industrial sec- W question that is common allowed me to experience a transla- tor as more like working for an airline and, depending on the stage of one’s tional environment – new drugs that or for the Army; in other words, I wor- academic development, often fre- demonstrated positive results in the lab ried about being pigeonholed into one quent. As a young child, my response could be transferred to the clinic. This aspect of the drug discovery process was always, “A doctor.” My mother was my first encounter with the drug and not being exposed to the entire says that when I was about 4 years old, discovery process. This was a few steps process. For me, this was not a viable I was at the hospital with my brother beyond mapping a gene to a particular option. I needed to be in an environ- and a boy, probably 12 years old, with disease locus; it was closer to the clinic. ment that was fast paced, and I needed a prosthetic leg, was pushed past me in Now it was becoming clear to me to work on something that could trans- a wheel chair. I stared at the boy, then that medical school was not my only late into the clinic. turned to my mother and said, Now the $64,000 question: Was I “When I grow up I will find a way able to find a job that satisfied my to fix that boy.” Clearly, from an criteria? Surprisingly enough, I did! early age I had an interest in med- I now work at a small biotech com- icine and a desire to help people. pany, PTC Therapeutics, discover- By high school, after an excep- ing new drugs that will someday be tional elementary and middle used to treat people with a number school curriculum filled with of different genetic disorders. It’s physiology and small animal dis- cutting-edge and small enough to sections, “A cardiac surgeon” allow a scientist like myself to be became my new answer to the involved throughout the entire familiar question. I was lucky drug discovery and development enough to have a close family process. I reflect back on the friend and physician, Dennis Dev- Dr. Ellen Welch choices that got me to where I am ereaux, take me under his wing. He option and that a Ph.D. was a viable now, and I realize that what ultimately brought me to see a number of differ- alternative. A major deterrent to going influenced me the most was just decid- ent surgeries in order to assess my to medical school was the cost. The ing to do what interests me. interest. I remember these times well, prospect of paying off student loans standing for over 8 hours in the surgi- years after I finished school was not Ellen Welch, Ph.D. is a Group Leader in cal theater of the Brigham and appealing to me. I was even more con- the Biology Department at PTC Therapeu- Women’s Hospital in Boston, watching vinced that a Ph.D. was the way to go tics, Inc. in South Plainfield, New Jersey, a mitral valve replacement procedure. when I learned that I would be paid to where she identifies new drugs for the It was captivating. I remember think- go to graduate school. But I still had treatment of genetic disorders caused by ing, “This is the job for me!” the desire to do something related to nonsense mutations. In addition, Dr. But I was young, and when I got to medicine, something translational. I Welch’s group is identifying new drugs for college things changed. I took a genet- decided to do my Ph.D. at The Univer- the treatment of Duchenne muscular dys- ics class that would alter my “age-old” sity of Massachusetts Medical School. trophy and spinal muscular atrophy. Dr. view that physiology was the key to Enter my mentor, Allan Jacobson. Allan Welch earned a B.S. in Biology at North- helping people and make me realize has a unique style. He’s not pushy, but eastern University in Boston and a Ph.D. that one could identify the underlying he’s certainly interested. “What do you in Molecular Biology at the University of causes of diseases – mutations in our want to be when you grow up?” he Massachusetts Medical School in Worces- genome. I immediately went out and would ask me. I knew I wanted to pur- ter, MA in Dr. Allan Jacobson’s laboratory. got a part-time job as a technician in a sue a career in industry, as opposed to She was a postdoctoral researcher in the lab involved in cardiovascular research. the University Professor basic science laboratory of Dr. Stuart Peltz before join- The unique aspect of this lab was that career path and, at this point in my ing PTC. She can be contacted at the M.D.s associated with a cardiovas- career, my image of “Big Pharma” did [email protected].

22 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 Scientists Reverse Evolution niversity of Utah scientists occurred many times in evolution, but have shown how evolution no one has put it back together again,” U works by reversing the Tvrdik says. “We are first to reconstruct process, reconstructing a 530-million- an ancient gene…We have proven that, year-old gene by combining key por- from two specialized modern genes, we tions of two modern mouse genes that can reconstruct the ancient gene they descended from the archaic gene. split off from. It illuminates the mecha- “It provides further evidence at the nisms and processes that evolution uses, molecular level of how evolution has and tells us more about how Mother occurred and is occurring, and thus Nature engineers life.” makes the process less mysterious,” The study involved Hox genes, says Mario Capecchi, Distinguished which function in patterning the body Professor and Co-Chairman of Human axis during development. Until some- ASBMB member Mario R. Capec- Genetics at the University of Utah time between 530 million and 480 mil- chi is Professor of Biology at the School of Medicine and an investigator lion years ago, early animals had 13 University of Utah and Professor of with the Howard Hughes Medical Hox genes. Then, in jawed fish – the Human Genetics, Adjunct Professor Institute.“ We’ve shown some of the last common ancestors of modern ver- of Oncological Sciences, and Co- elements involved in the process of tebrate animals – each Hox gene split chairman of the Department of evolution by reversing this process and into four, so 13 became 52. Later, Human Genetics at the University reconstructing a gene that later duplicate Hox genes either mutated in of Utah School of Medicine. He is became two genes,” he adds. a way that proved useful, or vanished also an investigator at the Howard The study by Capecchi and postdoc- because they were redundant, so today Hughes Medical Institute. He toral fellow Petr Tvrdik was published in humans and other mammals there earned his B.S. from Antioch Col- in the August issue of the journal are 39 instead of 52 Hox genes. lege in 1961 and his Ph.D. from Developmental Cell. Capecchi’s study focused on two Harvard University in 1967. After a The process of one gene splitting into modern Hox genes, the Hoxa1 gene, fellowship at Harvard University, he multiple genes, which then mutate, “has Continued on page 25 joined the Harvard staff as Assistant Professor in 1969. In 1971 he became Associate Professor. A member of numerous societies and editorial boards, including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Microbiol- ogy, Capecchi has authored or co- authored over 141 publications. He is especially known for developing technology of gene targeting in mouse embryo-derived stem (ES) cells, allowing scientists to manipu- late the DNA sequences in the genome of living mice. Capecchi has received many honors and awards for his work. These include the 1998 Baxter Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences, the 2001 National Medal of Science, Mice in which the Hoxb1 gene has been disabled are unable to blink their eyes when air is blown and the 2005 March of Dimes Prize into their faces (top). This effect is reversed by inserting a key piece of the Hoxb1 gene into the in Developmental Biology. Hoxa1 gene (bottom). Photo Credit: Petr Tvrdik

ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 23 Mitochondrial Protein Has cientists at the University of putative membrane anchor loop. dance of biology and inactivated California, Los Angeles have Introduction of the mutations into tafazzin’s function.” S discovered that the putative Taz1p altered its association with the Three years ago, when Claypool acyl transferase, tafazzin, is lodged in membrane. “Three of the mutations joined Koehler’s laboratory after earn- both the inner and outer mitochondr- were mislocalized to the mitochondrial ing his Ph.D. in immunology from ial membranes without poking fully matrix; the fourth mutation we char- Harvard, almost nothing was known through either one. They also found acterized localized normally but was about the tafazzin protein. that point mutations that cause mislo- assembled inappropriately,” Claypool Koehler and Claypool believe the calization of the protein within mito- said. “The mislocalization or misas- tafazzin protein may be associated chondria or alter its macromolecular sembly of these mutants disturbed the with cardiolipin, the signature lipid of interactions cause Barth syndrome, a rare condition that damages the heart, Carla M. Koehler is an Associate Pro- ences and workshops. Her research immune system and mitochondria of fessor in the Department of Chemistry focuses on protein import into mito- young boys. and Biochemistry at the University of chondria, as well as the role of mito- Carla Koehler, a UCLA associate pro- California, Los Angeles and member chondrial biogenesis in cellular fessor of chemistry and biochemistry, of the Molecular Biology Institute, the functions and disease. and Steven Claypool, a UCLA postdoc- Brain Research Institute, and the Jons- Steven Michael Claypool is a post- toral scholar in chemistry and bio- son Comprehensive Cancer Center. doctoral fellow in the Department of chemistry, report their findings in a She received her B.S. in Biochemistry, Chemistry and Biochemistry at the paper published in the July 31 issue of M.S. in Bio- University of the Journal of Cell Biology. chemistry and California, Los Koehler and Claypool are the first to Molecular Biol- Angeles. He elucidate the location of tafazzin in ogy, and Ph.D. received his B.A. normal cells and in cells from patients in Biochemistry in Biological Sci- with Barth syndrome. Using the yeast and Molecular ences and M.A. tafazzin protein (Taz1p), the authors Biology from in Molecular, found that normally, Taz1p localizes to Iowa State Uni- Cellular, and the inner and outer membranes of the versity in 1986, Developmental mitochondria, but only to the leaflets 1989, and 1995, Dr. Carla Koehler and Dr. Steven Claypool Biology from the that face the intermembrane space. A respectively. After a four-year post-doc- University of California, Santa Barbara central loop in the Taz1p protein toral fellowship in Switzerland, she in 1995 and 1996, respectively. In 2003 inserts into the membranes but does joined the faculty of UCLA as Assis- Claypool earned his Ph.D. in not extend all of the way through the tant Professor. immunology from Harvard University membrane. The bulk of Taz1p pro- Koehler has authored or co- and started work at UCLA. A member trudes into the intermembrane space. authored over 43 publications and is of several societies, Claypool is an avid “We have shown that tafazzin nor- a member of several professional soci- lecturer and is a recipient of the West- mally associates with both the outer eties. She is also the recipient of ern States Affiliate Research Committee membrane and the inner membrane, many fellowships and awards, of the American Heart Association always facing the intermembrane space,” including a Burroughs Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship award. His Claypool said. “Tafazzin protrudes into Fund Young Investigator Award in research focuses on the mitochondrial the intermembrane space from both the Toxicological Sciences and a Scholar components of lipid metabolism, and outer and inner membranes.” Award from the Damon Runyon seeks an understanding of lipid bio- The authors also looked at the effects Cancer Research Fund, and has par- genesis and the transport that occurs of four of the disease-causing point ticipated in various scientific confer- in the mitochondria. mutations in tafazzin that lay in the

24 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 Important Deadlines Unusual Location for the Upcoming ASBMB Annual Meeting

❖Abstract Submission: November 8, 2006

❖Early Registration: March 2, 2007

❖Housing: March 23, 2007

April 28 - May 2, 2007 Washington D.C., Convention Center

For more information An electron micrograph with Taz1 labeled by immunogold. Figure credit: J. Michael McCaffery. please visit mitochondria, which has been impli- this process; if it becomes damaged, www.asbmb.org cated in other diseases, including those the mitochondria become leaky and of the heart. do not function as well. Tafazzin may “In cardiac disease, mitochondria be important in repairing lipids, often malfunction,” Koehler said. including cardiolipin, but we have not “Cardiolipin is an important lipid in shown that yet.” Scientists Reverse Evolution continued… Continued from page 23 regions. Each gene then produced the discovered that the new gene performed which helps control how an embryo’s other gene’s protein. Mice born with the jobs of both genes. Mice born with brain stem develops and is compart- the switched genes were essentially the combined gene still were able to mentalized into seven sections called normal, showing that the coding breathe and survive thanks to the Hoxa1 rhombomeres, and the Hoxb1 gene, regions were interchangeable, and that gene, and they could move their facial which orders the formation of particu- evolution changed each gene’s regula- muscles, thanks to the small bit of the lar nerve cells in rhombomere 4— tory sequence. Hoxb1’s regulatory sequence. nerves that ultimately control facial Next, Tvrdik and Capecchi took a Capecchi says that by combining expressions in animals. small portion of the regulatory sequence parts of both Hoxa1 and Hoxb1, he A key question was whether the from the Hoxb1 gene (which controls and Tvrdik reversed evolution. “What Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 genes are different facial expressions) and put it into Hoxa1, we have done is essentially go back in because their protein-coding regions (which allows mice to breathe and sur- time to when Hox1 did what Hoxa1 have changed or their regulatory vive after birth). They then inserted this and Hoxb1 do today,” he says. “It gives sequences have changed. So the scien- gene into mice whose Hoxb1 had been a real example of how evolution works tists switched the two genes’ coding disabled. To their surprise, the researches because we can reverse it.”

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 25 SPOTLIGHT ON ASBMB MEMBERS

Australian Society for Dr. Brinkley, a member of the Board of Directors of Research!America and Medical Science Honors Chairman of ASBMB’s Public Affairs Advisory Committee, was honored for Bill Brinkley his tireless efforts as an advocate and The Australian Society for Medical spokesman for the promotion of bio- Research (ASMR) selected Dr. William R. medical research funding in America. Brinkley, Senior VP and Dean of the He was selected for his leadership in Graduate School of Biomedical Sci- the advocacy for legislation in the U.S. ences, Baylor College of Medicine, as its Congress supporting a 5-year cam- 2006 Medalist. Each year, in celebration paign to double the research budget for Dr. Brinkley addressing Australian National the National Institutes of Health (NIH), of Medical Research Week, the ASMR Press Club in Canberra. recognizes one individual, worldwide, which was completed in 2003. In who has contributed significantly to the members of the government and lead- recognition of Australia’s successful promotion of health and medical ers of the medical research community campaign to double its own Health research. Brinkley, a member of ASBMB, throughout Australia, and was televised and Medical Research funding this received the medal and presented a nationwide. During the visit, he lec- year, Brinkley’s lecture was entitled nationally televised lecture at the Aus- tured in Australia’s major cities includ- “Celebrating Health and Medical tralian National Press Club in Canberra ing Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Research in Australia: A Renaissance for on June 8. The lecture was attended by Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Discovery and Opportunity.”

Jack Dixon to Join HHMI “I have done dis- UCSD, where he is also Professor of covery research for Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular The Trustees of the Howard Hughes better than 30 Medicine, Chemistry, and Biochemistry. Medical Institute have elected Jack E. years,” said Dixon. “I think you can be a better scientific Dixon as Vice President and Chief Sci- “The opportunity leader if your feet are on the ground entific Officer. His appointment is to work for an and you are dealing with the same effective February 1, 2007. organization that things as the investigators,” he said. Dixon, currently a member of the can affect science Dr. Jack Dixon Throughout his career, Dixon has Institute’s Medical Advisory Board, will and science education around the been actively involved in the American play major roles both in HHMI’s flag- world is really appealing.” Society for Biochemistry and Molecular ship investigator program and in identi- Dixon is currently Dean of Scientific Biology. In 1996 he served as President fying new opportunities that capitalize Affairs at the University of California, of the Society and in 2005 he received on the Institute’s expertise in biomed- San Diego, School of Medicine. He will the American Society for Biochemistry ical research and science education. continue to maintain a laboratory at and Molecular Biology-Merck award. E. Richard Stanley In conjunction with receiving the naling molecules honor, Stanley will present the E. Don- that act down- Receives 2006 E. nall Thomas Lecture at the Society’s stream of the CSF-1 annual meeting in December in receptor. He and Donnall Thomas Prize Orlando, Florida. his colleagues E. Richard Stanley, Professor and Chair For more than a quarter-century, Dr. established several of Developmental and Molecular Biol- Stanley has pioneered studies of the mouse models to ogy at Albert Einstein College of Medi- biology and action of the growth fac- investigate the Dr. E. Richard Stanley cine of Yeshiva University, has been tor called Colony Stimulating Factor-1 roles of CSF-1 and the CSF-1 receptor selected to receive the 2006 E. Donnall (CSF-1). He isolated and identified in development and in diseases that Thomas Prize, presented annually by the CSF-1 as the primary regulator of tissue include leukemia, solid tumors, osteo- American Society of Hematology. macrophage and osteoclast produc- porosis, nephritis and atherosclerosis. The Prize, which was established in tion. He defined its receptor, physiol- His studies also have furthered general 1992, recognizes a researcher whose ogy and roles in development and understanding of the role of growth ground-breaking work has contributed cancer. He identified and elucidated factors in regulation of cell prolifera- significantly to the field of hematology. the function of several intracellular sig- tion, differentiation and function.

26 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 SPOTLIGHT ON ASBMB MEMBERS

Harel Weinstein to Chairman of the Theoretical Physical Chemistry at the Department of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Become President of Physiology and The Biophysical Society, founded in Biophysics, and 1956, is a professional, scientific soci- Biophysical Society Director of the ety established to encourage develop- Harel Weinstein has been elected Institute for Com- ment and dissemination of knowledge President-elect of the Biophysical Soci- putational Biomed- in biophysics. The Society promotes ety. He will assume the office of presi- icine at Weill Dr.Harel Weinstein growth in this expanding field dent-elect at the Society’s 2007 Medical College of through its annual meeting, monthly Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Mary- Cornell University. He is also a Tri-Insti- journal, and committee and outreach land, and begin his term as President tutional Professor at Rockefeller Univer- activities. Its members are located during the 2008 Annual Meeting in sity, Sloan-Kettering Institute and throughout the world, where they Long Beach, California. Cornell University. Weinstein received teach and conduct research in colleges, Weinstein is the Maxwell Upson Pro- his B.Sc. in Chemistry, his M.Sc. in universities, laboratories, government fessor of Physiology and Biophysics, Quantum Chemistry, and his D.Sc. in agencies, and industry. Robert K. Yu Selected lular Neurobiology, will assume the Georgia’s Commis- presidency of the 2,800-member orga- sion for Newborn President-Elect of nization in January 2008. Umbilical Cord Yu is founding president of the Soci- Blood Research and Bioscientists Society ety for Chinese Neuroscientists in Treatment. Robert K. Yu, director of the Institute America and former president of the Yu has been of Molecular Medicine and Genetics American Society for Neurochemistry. actively involved and the Institute of Neuroscience at the He is a lifelong academician of Acade- in ASBMB affairs. Dr. Robert K. Yu Medical College of Georgia, has been mia Sinica, the Republic of China’s pre- He is an Associate elected president-elect of the Society of mier academic institution, and a Editor and a member of the Editorial Chinese Bioscientists in America. Yu, member of the advisory board of the Board of the Journal of Lipid Research who is the Georgia Research Alliance Academy’s Institute of Biological Chem- and a member of the Editorial Board of Eminent Scholar in Molecular and Cel- istry. He was recently appointed to the Journal of Biological Chemistry. ASBMB Welcomes Department Heads Take Note: New Ph.D.s ASBMB Offers Free ASBMB extends its congratula- tions to these individuals who Membership to New Ph.D.s recently received their Ph.D. degrees. In recognition of their ASBMB is now offering a free one-year Associate membership to all students who have, within the achievement, ASBMB is presenting past year, earned a Ph.D. degree in the molecular them with a free one-year mem- life sciences or related areas. bership in the Society. The new Ph.D.s are listed below with the Membership in ASBMB brings with it a free institution from which they subscription to the online versions of the Journal of Biological Chemistry and received their degree. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, and ASBMB Today. In addition, we are asking department chairs to provide ASBMB with the Rhonda Clark, Oklahoma Univer- names and addresses of each new Ph.D. recipient from their institutions, sity Health Sciences Center so that we can congratulate them on their accomplishment and offer them the free one-year membership in ASBMB. Udayan Dutta, University of Massachusetts Medical School Please email to: [email protected] or visit www.asbmb.org for more information.

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 27 Science from ASBMB Journals By Nicole Kresge, Science Editor ASBMB Bio Bits Comprehensive and Quantitative Mapping of Energy Landscapes for Protein-Protein Interactions by Rapid Combinatorial Scanning Gábor Pál, Jean-Louis K. Kouadio, Dean R. Artis, Anthony A. Kossiakoff, and Sachdev S. Sidhu J. Biol. Chem. 2006 281: 22378-22385. Protein-protein interactions are often characterized by a striking structural plasticity that allows contact points to adapt to conformational changes and multiple amino acid substitutions. As a result, the biophysics governing protein-protein interactions is extremely complex, and an area of extensive investigation is concerned with establishing a detailed knowledge base that will enhance our understanding of protein-protein associations and enable the development of predictive criteria for engineering novel protein functions. To aid this effort, the authors of this paper have developed a novel combinatorial quantitative saturation scanning strategy that enables rapid assessment of the structural and functional effects of all possible mutations across a large protein-protein interface. The researchers applied their scan to the interaction between human growth hormone and its receptor. They found that the human growth hormone binding interface is highly adaptable to mutations, but that the nature of the tolerated mutations challenges generally accepted views about the evolutionary and biophysical pressures governing protein-protein interactions. Quantitative saturation scan library design.

Using Model Proteins to Quantify the Effects of Pathogenic Mutations in Ig-like Proteins Lucy G. Randles, Ilkka Lappalainen, Susan B. Fowler, Benjamin Moore, Stefan J. Hamill, and Jane Clarke J. Biol. Chem. 2006 281: 24216-24226.

Is it possible to predict how changes in sequence will affect the biophysical properties of a protein? In this study, the authors attempt to answer this question by using stable, well characterized model proteins to predict the properties of disease-associated proteins in the same structural family. Using related model proteins in which identical or equivalent mutations had been introduced, Randles et al. analyzed 37 different disease-causing mutations located in the L1 and IL2Rγ proteins. Their results show an extremely strong correlation between protein instability and disease. However, there are a few exceptions, which clearly indi- cate the limitations of the approach. The correlation is obtained by relating the sequence variability to the energies of interaction rather than to sequence entropy. This establishes the importance of protein energetics and strikes down the sequence entropy as a measure of stability. The paper leads to the conclusion that sequence entropy as a measure of sequence variability is not useful for relating to protein structure. Structures of model Ig and fnIII proteins.

28 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 Science from ASBMB Journals

Absence of VLDL secretion does not affect α-tocopherol content in peripheral tissues Kaori Minehira-Castelli, Scott W. Leonard, Quinn M. Walker, Maret G. Traber, and Stephen G. Young J. Lipid Res. 2006 47: 1733-1738.

Vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that helps to prevent oxidative damage to cellular lipids. α−Tocopherol is absorbed by the intestine and is taken up and retained by the liver. It is widely believed that α−tocopherol is then packaged in newly assembled Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and secreted in this form, whereupon it is delivered to peripheral tissues. To determine whether VLDL secretion is truly important for the delivery of α−tocopherol to peripheral tissues, the authors examined α−tocopherol metabolism in mice that cannot secrete VLDL. They found that α−tocopherol levels in the plasma were lower in the mutant mice than in controls, whereas hepatic α−tocopherol stores were higher. However, α−tocopherol levels in the peripheral tissues of the genetically altered mice were nearly identical to those of control mice, suggesting that VLDL secretion is not critical for the delivery of α−tocopherol to peripheral tissues. Thus the authors conclude that the absence of VLDL secretion has lit- tle effect on the stores of α−tocopherol in peripheral tissues, at least in the mouse. Increased numbers of lipid droplets (red) in hepatocytes of mice unable to secrete VLDL.

Proteomics-based Validation of Genomic Data: Applications in Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis Juan Madoz-Gúrpide, Paula López-Serra, Jorge Luis Martínez-Torrecuadrada, Lydia Sánchez, Luis Lombardía, and J. Ignacio Casal Mol. Cell. Proteomics 2006 5: 1471-1483. Traditional methods of identifying novel targets involved in cancer progression have been based on studies of individual genes. Now, the use of DNA microarrays permits the analysis of the expression of tens of thousands of genes simultaneously and rapidly. In this article, the authors investigated the feasibility of expressing soluble proteins corresponding to up-regulated genes in cancer patients with surgically resected colon polyps and tumors. They used cDNA microarrays to identify differentially expressed genes in malignant versus normal samples isolated from individual patients with colorectal cancer. They then investigated different sources of cDNA clones for protein expression, as well as the influence of the protein size and the different tags with respect to protein expression levels and solubility in E. coli. From 29 selected genes, 21 distinct proteins were finally expressed as soluble proteins. In addition, seven of these potential markers were tested for antibody production and/or validation. Six of the seven proteins were confirmed to be overexpressed in colorectal tumoral tissues.

Tissue microarray analysis of selected targets in colorectal cancer.

OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 29 BIOTECH BUSINESS NEWS

by John D. Thompson, Editor

Redesigning Crops to Harvest Fuel and Get More Miles to the Bushel That is the new mission of crop sci- California, is working to turn switch ethanol production, it would replace entists, according to an article by Brian grass, a Prairie States native, into an only about 15% of petroleum Ray in the September 8, New York energy crop. use, according to an Energy Depart- Times. In an era of $3-a-gallon gasoline Developing energy crops could mean ment report. and growing concern about global new applications of genetic engineer- Not all of the work will involve warming from fossil fuels, seed and ing, which poses a concern to some genetic engineering. Monsanto’s bio- biotechnology companies see a environmentalists who worry that fuel development will focus on con- promising opportunity in developing altered plants will cross-pollinate in the ventional breeding, which it says is corn and other crops tailored for use in wild, resulting in forests that practically quicker. The company has tested its ethanol and other biofuels. droop for want of lignin. However, pro- existing corn varieties to determine Syngenta, for instance, hopes in ponents of designer fuel crops argue which ones are better for ethanol pro- 2008 to begin selling a genetically that the risks are small compared with duction. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, engineered corn designed to help con- those of dependence on foreign oil. the DuPont subsidiary that is Mon- vert itself into ethanol. Each kernel of So far, much of the attention on santo’s rival in the corn-seed business, this self-processing corn contains an bioenergy has focused on improving is doing the same. enzyme that must otherwise be added the chemical processes for turning Regardless of what is done to corn, separately at the ethanol factory. And crops into ethanol. But experts say some experts say that starch alone just last month, DuPont and Bunge that, if biofuels are to make a signifi- will not provide enough ethanol. The announced that their joint venture to cant dent in the nation’s petroleum new frontier is to produce ethanol improve soybeans for food would also consumption, the crops themselves from cellulose, the fibrous material in start designing beans for biodiesel fuel must be improved to provide more all plants. and other industrial uses. Meanwhile energy per acre. Even if the nation’s While some of the cellulose for bio- Ceres, a plant genetics company in entire corn crop were diverted to fuels could come from agricultural residue like corn stalks, there will probably be a need for other crops grown specifically for energy production — in PhRMA Reportedly Funded Ads Touting particular, perennial plants like grasses that require far less energy-consuming Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit irrigation and fertilization than crops “Political officials” allege that the the ads and other elements of an like corn that have to be replanted Pharmaceutical Research and Manu- election-year voter mobilization each year. facturers of America (PhRMA) gave effort or merely a portion.” As of Ceres, based in Thousand Oaks, Cali- money to the U.S. Chamber of late August, the campaign ads were fornia, is collaborating with the Commerce to support an advertising airing in 10 states or congressional Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in campaign that praised senators and districts and had been removed in Ardmore, Okla., a leading research House members who voted for the other areas because of errors. An ad institute on forage grasses. The part- 2003 Medicare law, according to the supporting Rep. Steve Chabot (R- ners are testing conventionally bred AP/San Jose Mercury News reports. Ohio) was removed because he switch grass varieties that yield eight to The $10 million campaign voted against the 2003 Medicare nine tons of biomass an acre, com- launched in July and includes radio law, and ads supporting Reps. pared with about five tons for typical and television ads. According to the Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Mike switch grass. AP/Mercury News, “officials who Sodrel (R-Ind.) and Dave Reichert Another cellulose candidate is described PhRMA’s involvement (R-Wash.) were removed after poplar, which recently became the said they did not know whether the Democrats noted that the lawmak- first tree to have its entire genome industry had given the Chamber ers were not in Congress when the sequenced, an effort led by the money to cover the entire cost of law passed. Energy Department.

30 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 BIOTECH BUSINESS NEWS

Senators Critical of Firm’s Stem Cell Research Claim A company that claimed it devel- Specter, Chair of the Senate Subcom- pany had acted more responsibly. oped a way to harvest stem cells from mittee on Labor, Health, and Human “This again points out why, if we don’t days-old human embryos without Services, told officials of the company do this, you’re going to have . . . indi- harming the embryos was accused last that it had not accomplished “what vidual companies out there trying to month at a Senate hearing of misrepre- you told the world … We have repre- hype things up,” he said. senting its work. Advanced Cell Tech- sentation which created a lot of hopes Robert Lanza, the company’s vice nology Inc. of Alameda, California, … and now they appear to be dashed.” president for research, defended how it drew fire from Senators Arlen Specter, Harkin, the top Democrat on the announced the development, saying, R-Pa., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa., subcommittee, said the confusion “We have developed a technique and authors of a bill vetoed by President could have been avoided if the com- we have indeed shown it does work.” Bush that would have expanded embryonic stem cell research through government funding. China Seeking to Increase Support Supporters of such research say it could lead to treatments and cures for for Drug Research, Production a wide variety of ailments, including The Chinese government will The guidelines require at least 5% of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease increase investment in the develop- income from pharmaceutical sales to and spinal cord injuries. Bush and ment of new drugs and encourage be reinvested in research and develop- abortion foes, however, have opposed innovation in domestic pharmaceu- ment of medical equipment and embryonic stem cell research because tical companies, according to Zhang major companies, and 3% to be spent the embryos die in the process of har- Guobao, Deputy Director of the State on general products. The key areas for vesting the stem cells from them. Development and Reform Commis- developing new drugs will be cancers, Advanced Cell Technology said last sion. He said that insufficient fund- cardiovascular and cerebrovascular month it had developed a technique for ing for research and development systems, viral infections, nervous and removing from an embryo a single stem and a lack of innovation has ham- psychological systems, blood sugar cell that can be developed into a stem pered development of China's phar- reduction, and senile illnesses. cell line without destroying the embryo. maceutical industry, and announced In addition, the government will The company’s claim was echoed in an that the commission, which set goals establish five large pharmaceutical initial e-mail to reporters from Nature for the nation’s 2006-2010 five-year groups with sales of at least five billion magazine. Later, however, it was dis- plan, has issued guidelines for the yuan ($625 million U.S.) each and 10 closed that the company had removed development of the medical and others with sales of three billion yuan more than one stem cell from the pharmaceutical industries ($375 million U.S.) each by 2010. embryos it used, killing the embryos. University of Utah Sees Research Funding Fall by $18 million The University of Utah’s research decreases in research awards,” the becoming a general problem across funds have decreased by more than paper noted. campus.” To compete more effec- $18 million this year, according to the Raymond Gesteland, the univer- tively for research funds, the univer- school’s paper The Daily Utah Chronicle. sity’s Vice President for Research, sity is emphasizing interdisciplinary In particular, the university’s College of told the Chronicle that research dol- research and developing ‘pump Medicine research income is down by lars have been harder to come by for priming’ programs. “We are creating more than $11 million and its College several years, but the situation has new programs, including one in the of Engineering experienced a $7 mil- been worse this year. “Money for health sciences and the other cam- lion drop. “The humanities, education, research has been decreasing for a pus-wide, to help attract more business and social and behavioral sci- few years now,” he said. “However, research dollars from outside organi- ence colleges also have had sharp this year is a dip for sure and is zations,” Gesteland said.

ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 31 October MCP: a Special Issue on Clinical Proteomics he October 2006 issue of Mol- ecular and Cellular Proteomics T (MCP) will focus specifically on biomarker discovery and clinical proteomics. This is the fourth special clinical issue produced by the Journal, and it is available FREE to ASBMB members on the MCP website (www.mcponline.org). The issue, which was compiled by guest editors Steven A. Carr and Julio E. Celis, contains many invited contributions, derived in part from presentations at the 2005 Asilomar Conference on “Biomarker Discovery and Validation: from Bench to Bedside” organized by Steve Carr and Leigh Anderson. Four research reports selected from direct submissions to the Journal are also included. The issue is divided into three major sections: Biomarkers of Disease and Conditions; Proteomic Data Analysis; Resources; and Methodologies. The papers address a broad sweep of advances in technologies, sample preparation methods, data analysis approaches, and applications for disease detection and prognosis. Also included is a meeting report on the National Cancer Institute’s attempt to stimulate a community effort around production, characterization, and cata- loging of antibody reagents useful for early detection, treatment and moni- toring of cancer. Some of the titles that appear in the ease biomarkers complemented by an The two guest editors believe that special issue include: Guilt By Associa- improved understanding of the patho- mass spectrometry and array-based pro- tion: The Nuclear Envelope Proteome physiology of disease, has the potential tein and antibody approaches are at the and Disease; Novel Differential Neuro- to significantly aid the development of core of a rapidly expanding worldwide proteomics Analysis of Traumatic Brain new strategies for the diagnosis and effort to find clinically useful protein Injury in Rats; Proteomics in Clinical treatment of human disease. Ulti- biomarkers in human tissues and body Trials and Practice: Present Uses and mately, this new discipline is expected fluids. However, this effort will involve Future Promise; and A Platform For to lead to a predictive, individualized many challenges that will have to be Experimental Pattern Recognition. approach to patient care, and to facili- met by research scientists, clinicians, “Proteomics in its clinical embodi- tate the selection of treatment modali- statisticians, and developers of new ment is poised to become an impor- ties that are most likely to benefit the technologies. Carr and Celis compiled tant medical discipline in the near individual patient,” explain Carr and the October issue of MCP in the hope future, as identification of novel dis- Celis in their editorial. of stimulating this process.

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OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 33 Career Opportunities

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF Immunology, MEDICINE Chair, Department of Biochemistry Tenure-track Assistant Professor and Molecular Genetics Search in Molecular Biology Chair, Department of Biochemistry Committee The Brandeis Biology Department is and Molecular Genetics University of Colorado School of seeking to fill a tenure-track position in The University of Colorado School of Medicine and National Jewish Medical the broad area of eukaryotic gene Medicine seeks applicants for Chair of and Research Center, Room K803 expression, beginning fall 2007. We are the Department of Biochemistry and 1400 Jackson Street, Denver CO 80206 particularly interested in candidates Molecular Genetics. The Department FAX: [303] 270-2325 who study mechanistic aspects of tran- consists of 17 primary faculty as well as Email: [email protected] scriptional regulation, with a focus on more than 20 secondary faculty mem- nucleic acids or chromatin. We are look- bers. The Department currently occupies The University of Colorado is committed to ing to complement existing strengths at over 35,000 square feet of state-of-the- diversity and equality in education and Brandeis in post-transcriptional gene art research and office space, primarily employment. regulation, development and function on the 9th and 10th floors of the newly of the nervous system, chromosome occupied Research Complex at the new structure and function, biophysics and UCHSC Fitzsimons campus. Details are THE RADCLIFFE INSTITUTE FOR structural biology. We expect that the available at the departmental web site: ADVANCED STUDY AT HARVARD appointment will be made at the www.uchsc.edu/sm/bbgn/ UNIVERSITY Assistant Professor level, although a Research programs include chromatin more advanced appointment for candi- structure, gene transcription and transla- Fellowships The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced dates with exceptional qualifications tion, RNA structure and enzymatic activi- Study at Harvard University awards fully may be considered. Candidates should ty, protein structure, protein degradation, funded fellowships each year. Radcliffe have a Ph.D., M.D. or both, as well as signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, Institute fellowships are designed to postdoctoral experience. First considera- bioinformatics and cell fate determina- support scientists of exceptional promise tion will be given to applications tion. Department faculty, currently with and demonstrated accomplishment. received by 10/15/06. Candidates can over eight million dollars in federal fund- Scientists, in any field, with a doctorate submit initial information online at: ing, houses both the Molecular Biology in the area of the proposed project by http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/facultySear and the Biochemistry graduate programs. December 2005 are eligible to apply. ch/appFormMB.php. In addition, department faculty draw Only scientists who have at least one Applicants should submit a CV, graduate students from several other pro- published article or monograph are eli- research plan and arrange for three let- grams including: MSTP, Computational gible to apply. ters of recommendation to be submitted Biosciences, Biomolecular Structure and The stipend amount of $60,000 is preferably by email to Biomedical Sciences. meant to compliment sabbatical leave [email protected] or in The Chair of the Department of salaries of faculty members. Fellows hard copy to: Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics receive office space, computers and high Molecular Biology Search Committee reports to the Dean of the School of speed links, and access to libraries and Department of Biology, MS 008 Medicine and participates with his staff other resources of Harvard University dur- Brandeis University and other departmental chairs in pro- ing the fellowship year, which extends 415 South Street gram development, administration, and from early September 2007 through June Waltham, MA 02454-9110 budgetary planning and implementation. 30, 2008. Residence in the Boston area is The position requires excellence in teach- required as is participation in the Institute Brandeis University is an equal opportunity ing, demonstrated administrative leader- community. Fellows are expected to pre- employer, committed to building a cultural- ship and ability, and, in particular, lead- sent their work-in-progress and to attend ly diverse intellectual community and ership in research and scholarly activity. other fellows’ events. strongly encourages applications from The University of Colorado is commit- For more information, including lists women and minorities. ted to the recruitment and employment of present and past fellows, visit our of a diverse faculty. We encourage appli- Web site at www.radcliffe.edu. cations from women and minorities. Applications are due by December 4th, Review of applications will continue 2006. Apply on-line or write, call, or e- until the position is filled. Applicants mail for an application: should respond by sending a letter of Radcliffe Application Office interest and curriculum vitae to: 34 Concord Avenue, John C. Cambier, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA 02138 Ida and Cecil Green Professor and 617-496-3048 - [email protected] - Chairman of the Department of www.radcliffe.edu

34 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday Career Opportunities

Fox Chase Center arrange for three letters of recommenda- considered. Excellent interpersonal skills, tion from individuals familiar with their leadership and commitment to mentor- Scientific Technician II. Desgn & per- teaching and research potential. Please ing junior faculty and trainees are essen- form molecular & biological experi- send these to: tial. Credentials appropriate for the rank mental protocols in genetics & protein Dr. Maria C. Linder of tenured Professor are required. expression. Req. M.S. in Biochem or rel Chair, Department of Chemistry and Current research focus in the depart- + 2yrs exp. Must have knowl of protein Biochemistry ment includes molecular and cellular sig- expression & purification techniques & California State University, Fullerton naling; more information is available at: glycosilation & DNA polymerase activi- P.O. Box 6866 http://southmed.usouthal.edu/com/ ty determination techniques. Send CV Fullerton, CA 92834-6866 biochem/. Opportunities for collabora- to Holly Molle, Fox Chase Cancer Ctr, Phone: 714-278-3621 tion and program development exist 333 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA FAX: 714-278-5316 within the institution, including the 19111. EOE Email: [email protected] Center for Lung Biology, the Mitchell Cancer Institute and other departments Review of applications will begin on in the College of Medicine. The depart- DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND October 1, 2006 and continue until the ment contributes to medical education BIOCHEMISTRY, CALIFORNIA STATE positions are filled. and to the training of graduate students UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON Cal State Fullerton is an Affirmative through the interdisciplinary Ph.D. pro- Action/Equal Opportunity/Title IX/ADA gram in Basic Medical Sciences. The Tenure-track Positions in Employer University is located in Mobile on Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry Alabama’s Gulf Coast. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY Interested applicants should submit a FULLERTON, DEPARTMENT OF CHEM- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA curriculum vitae, names and contact ISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY seeks COLLEGE OF MEDICINE information for at least three references, applicants for tenure track faculty posi- a statement of research interests and tions in biochemistry and in analytical Chair, Department of Biochemistry academic vision, and a summary of chemistry, preferably at the Assistant and Molecular Biology administrative experience either elec- tronically ([email protected]) or Professor level, to begin August, 2007. The University of South Alabama by mail: Dr. Mary Townsley, Chair, Post-doctoral or equivalent research College of Medicine is seeking a Chair Biochemistry Chair Search Committee, experience is preferred; women and for the Department of Biochemistry and Dean’s office, CSAB 170, University of under-represented minority applicants Molecular Biology. The successful candi- South Alabama, College of Medicine, are particularly welcome. A willingness date will be an outstanding, nationally- Mobile, Alabama 36688. Review of to engage in collaborative research in recognized scientist and academician applications will begin October 16, 2006 related fields is desirable. who will recruit new faculty and set the and continue until the position is filled. Successful applicants must have a future direction for the department’s The University of South Alabama is an PhD in biochemistry or chemistry and research and educational missions. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity have the potential to develop vigorous Candidates with a strong record of Employer. research programs involving undergrad- research in any area related to biochem- uate and graduate (MS) students that istry and/or molecular biology will be attract external funding and lead to ref- ereed publications. Successful candidates must be committed to excellence in teaching a diverse population of stu- ASBMB Centennial Store Now Online! dents. Primary teaching responsibilities will be in the core lecture and laborato- The new ASBMB company store is filled with must have items like: ry courses of the discipline at the *one-of-a-kind t-shirts * baseball caps * undergraduate level, and in graduate courses. * women’s and men’s polos * Information about the university and and beautiful note cards designed by Dr. Richard Hanson, department, as well as full information on the advertised positions is available Associate Editor for The Journal of Biological Chemistry. online at http://chemsrvr2.fullerton.edu/. Applicants should send a detailed curriculum vitae (including names of Visit www.asbmb.org and click on references), a summary of proposed Now Open! ASBMB Centennial Store research, and a summary of teaching philosophy and preferences, and under our What’s New section.

ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 OCTOBER 2006 ASBMBToday 35 Calendar of Scientific Meetings

OCTOBER 2006 43rd Japanese Peptide Symposium/4th Peptide Engineering Meeting 4th Euro Fed Lipid Congress November 5–8 • Yokohama, Japan October 1–4 • Madrid, Spain www.peptide-soc.jp/43JPS4PEM.html www.eurofedlipid.org/meetings/madrid/index.htm E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Fall Workshop: The Present and Future of Quadrupole International Conference of Immunogenomics and Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Immunomics November 9-10 • Catamaran Resort, San Diego October 8–12 • Budapest, Hungary Program Chairs: Victor Ryzhov and Richard Vachet A joint meeting of 2nd Basic and Clinical Immunogenomics For information contact: ASMS and 3rd Immunoinformatics (Immunomics) Conferences 505-989-4517; [email protected]; www.asms.org Email: [email protected]; www.bcii2006.org NIH 4th Symposium — Functional Genomics of Critical 3rd Annual Scientific Forum of the Midwest Lipid Illness and Injury Association Surviving Stress: Organ Systems to Molecules October 20–22 • Kansas City, MO www.lipid.org/chapters/mwla; Email: [email protected] November 13-14 • Bethesda, Maryland, Preliminary agenda and detailed guidelines for abstracts are Asilomar Conference on Mass Spectrometry available at: www.strategicresults.com/fg4 Register online through Thursday, October 19. There will be October 20-24 • Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA no on-site registration. Fundamentals of Gas Phase Ion Chemistry: Experiment and Theory Deadline for abstract submission is September 8. Program Chairs: Frantisek Turecek and Thomas Morton For information contact: ASMS Annual meeting of the Society for Glycobiology Ph: 505-989-4517; Email: [email protected]; www.asms.org November 15-18 • Los Angeles FEBS Special Meeting: European Lipidomics Initiative Contacts: Linda Baum, President; [email protected] Kelley Moremen, Secretary; [email protected] October 21–25 • Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands Website: www.glycobiology.org www.febslipid2006.chem.uu.nl/ The 19th Annual Tandem Mass Spectrometry Workshop 4th International Conference on Structural Genomics November 29–December 2 • Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada October 22–26 • Beijing, China www.csms.inter.ab.ca/louise.htm Website: www.sino-meetings.com/icsg2006/ E-mail: [email protected]; Ph: 403-335-3707

NHUPO 5th Annual World Congress DECEMBER 2006 October 28–November 1 • Long Beach, CA www.hupo2006.com; E-mail: [email protected] Second ISN Special Neurochemistry Conference: Neural Ph: 514-398-5063 Glycoproteins and Glycolipids The Liver Meeting 2006— 57th Annual Meeting of the December 1-5 • Antigua, West Indies For information contact:www.isnantigua2006.org/ American Association for the Study of Liver Disease October 27–31 • Boston, MA 19th World Diabetes Congress www.aasld.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=2006_ December 3–7 • Cape Town, South Africa AnnualMeeting www.idf2006.org/

NOVEMBER 2006 American Society for Cell Biology 46th Annual Meeting Transcriptional Regulation by Chromatin and RNA December 9-13 • San Diego Ph: 301-347-9300; Email: [email protected] Polymerase I I Website: www.ascb.org November 2–6 • Kiawah Island, South Carolina Organizer: Ali Shilatifard, Saint Louis, University School of Medicine, Email: [email protected]

36 ASBMBToday OCTOBER 2006 JANUARY 2007 MAY 2007 Sanibel Conference 7th International Symposium of the Protein Society January 19-22 • Sundial Beach Resort, Sanibel Island, Florida May 12–16, 2007 • Stockholm-Uppsala, CA Sweden Imaging Mass Spectrometry www.proteinsociety.org/pages/page02b.htm Program Chairs: Richard Caprioli, Ron Heeren, and Markus E-mail: [email protected] Stoeckli, For information contact: ASMS Tel.: 301-634-7277 505-989-4517; [email protected]; www.asms.org JUNE 2007 MARCH 2007 55th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry U.S. HUPO 2007 June 3-7 •Indianapolis March 4-8 •Seattle For information contact: ASMS, 505-989-4517 For information contact:www.ushupo.org [email protected]; www.asms.org Email: [email protected]; Ph: 505-9899-4876 76th Annual EAS Congress Association for Biomolecular Resource Facilities European Atherosclerosis Society Mar 31-April 3 •Tampa Convention Center, Florida June 10-13 • Helsinki, Finland For information contact:www.faseb.org/meetings/default.htm The Congress aims to create a stimulating atmosphere for Email: [email protected]; Ph: 301-634-7010 exchange of the latest scientific and clinical knowledge in the field of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Deadline for submission of abstracts: November 30, 2006 APRIL 2007 For more information contact:Kenes International, EAS 2007 Second Workshop on Biophysics of Membrane-active 17, rue du Cendrier; P.O. Box 1726 Peptides CH-1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland Ph: +41 22 908 0488; Fax: +41 22 732 2850 April 1–4 • Lisbon Science Museum, Portugal Email: [email protected] The Lisbon Science Museum includes a 19th century lab and lec- Website: www.kenes.com/eas2007 ture room. Conference call for papers: special theme issue of J Pep Sci. Symposia: Membrane-translocating peptides / Cell penetrat- Mitosis Spindle Assembly and Function ing peptides, Membrane-permeabilizing peptides / Antimicrobial peptides, Fusogenic peptides, and Structure and Dynamics in pep- A FASEB Summer Research Conference tide-membrane interaction, Plenary lectures: Jöel Schneide: Bio- in Honor of Dr. B. R. Brinkley active properties of peptide surfaces. Robert Hancock: June 9 -14 •Hyatt Grand Champions Resort and Spa, Indian Antimicrobial peptides. Stuart McLaughlin: Electrostatic interac- Wells, California tion of basic peptides with acidic lipids in membranes. Applications from students and post-docs are especially wel- Abstract submission, January 15, 2007, Early registration, come! For additional information contact the organizers: January 15, 2007, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Dr. Conly L. Rieder, [email protected] or Miguel Castanho, Ph.D. Dr. Robert E. Palazzo, [email protected]. www.biophysicsmap.com; E-mail: [email protected]

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular JULY 2007 Biology Annual Meeting in Conjunction with EB2007 XXIst Congress of the International Society on April 28–May 2 • Washington, DC Thrombosis and Haemostasis Contact: ASBMB 2007, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD July 6–12, 2007 • Geneva, Switzerland 20814-3008 www.isth2007.com Ph: 301-634-7145 Email: [email protected] Website: www.asbmb.org/meetings SEPTEMBER 2007

2nd International Congress on Prediabetes and the 48th International Conference on the Bioscience of Metabolic Syndrome Lipids April 25–28, 2007 • Barcelona, Spain September 4–8, 2007 • Turku, Finland www.kenes.com/prediabetes2007; www.icbl2007.abo.fi Email: [email protected] Molecular & Cellular Proteomics (MCP) is pleased to announce the 4th special issue dedicated to Biomarker Discovery and Clinical Proteomics Guest editors: Steven A. Carr and Julio E. Celis Issue Proteomics is a powerful, cutting-edge discipline several invited contributions, as well Date: that has enormous potential for diagnosis and as four research reports selected from October treatment of human diseases. direct submissions to the journal. The 2006 This special issue will include articles from issue is organized in three sections presentations at the 2005 Asilomar Conference covering the following topics: 1) biomarkers on “Biomarker Discovery and Clinical Proteomics” of disease and conditions, 2) proteomic data organized by Steven Carr and Leigh Anderson, analysis, and 3) methodologies. www.mcponline.org

• Challenges in biomarker discovery. • Protein biomarkers in a mouse model of extremes in trait anxiety. • Novel differential neuropro- teomics analysis of traumatic brain injury in rats. • Proteomics in clinical trials and practice: present uses and future promise. • Proteomics of breast cancer: principles and potential clinical applications. • Proteomic based development of biomarkers in cardiovascular If you are in the ﬁeld of disease: Mechanistic, clinical and Proteomics or a Clinician therapeutic insights. interested in biomarkers • A platform for experimental

napshot of accepted papers you cannot afford to pattern recognition. s miss this issue! pecialclinical issue s