Vol. 14 / No. 3 / March 2015
THE MEMBER MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
CONTENTS
NEWS FEATURES PERSPECTIVES
2 14 50 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE GIVING PARASITES THEIR DUE COORDINATES Conscience of commitment Chasing the North American Dream 20 4 STEAM 52 NEWS FROM THE HILL When our DNA is fair game CAREER INSIGHTS Gene-editing summit A Q&A with Clemencia Rojas 22 5 ANNUAL MEETING POINTERS 14 MEMBER UPDATE 32 8 ANNUAL AWARDS RETROSPECTIVE Marion Sewer (1972 – 2016) 22 10 JOURNAL NEWS 10 Turning on the thyroid 20 11 Using microRNAs to target cancer cells 12 A mouse model for Hajdu–Cheney syndrome 13 One gene, two proteins, one complex
8
32 50 2016 10 Annual Aards
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
THE MEMBER MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Conscience
OFFICERS COUNCIL MEMBERS
Steven McKnight Squire J. Booker of commitment President Karen G. Fleming Gregory Gatto Jr. Natalie Ahn Rachel Green By Steven McKnight President-Elect Susan Marqusee Karen Allen Jared Rutter Secretary Brenda Schulman Michael Summers very four years, my institution work with the American Society for Toni Antalis Treasurer requires that I take a course Biochemistry and Molecular Biol- ASBMB TODAY EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD E and exam regarding con icts ogy, I can help organize and attend EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Charles Brenner of interest. Past courses have focused meetings, I can give lectures at other Squire Booker Chair primarily on nancial con icts of institutions, I can help found biotech- Wei Yang Michael Bradley Co-chairs, 2016 Annual Floyd “Ski” Chilton interest, but the course and test I took nology companies, and on and on — Meeting Program Cristy Gelling this past month had a new category so long as the activities have legitimate Committee Peter J. Kennelly on con icts of commitment. e gist relationships to my job as a scientist. Peter J. Kennelly Rajini Rao of things was simple and reasonable: On the home front, my job respon- Chair, Education and Yolanda Sanchez Professional Development Shiladitya Sengupta If I agree to spend a percentage of my sibilities as an employee of UTSWMC Committee Carol Shoulders time on any endeavor or project, it is are varied. For the past two decades, I Daniel Raben imperative that I do so. have been chairman of our biochem- Chair, Meetings Committee ASBMB TODAY My school, the University of Texas istry department, which takes 20 to Angela Hopp Takita Felder Sumter Executive Editor, Southwestern Medical Center at Dal- 30 percent of my time. I also need Chair, Minority A airs [email protected] Committee las, allows me to spend 20 percent of to perform as a teacher and mentor Lauren Dockett my time on outside activities. Using to my trainees and the young faculty omas Baldwin Managing Editor, Chair, Outreach Committee [email protected] this time, I can engage in any of a members within our department. Wes Sundquist Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay number of activities relating to my Finally, I need to write grant applica- Chair, Public A airs Chief Science Correspondent, role as a scientist. I can go to speak tions to secure external funding for Advisory Committee [email protected] at high school science fairs, I can my research and manuscripts account- Blake Hill Valery Masterson Chair, Publications Designer, Committee [email protected] Ciarán Finn Correction F. Peter Guengerich Web Editor, Interim editor-in-chief, JBC c [email protected] In a feature story on the Human Placenta Project in ASBMB Today’s Herbert Tabor Allison Frick February issue, a researcher photographed working with a placenta was Co-editor, JBC Media Specialist, [email protected] incorrectly identi ed as David Weinberg. A. L. Burlingame Editor, MCP Barbara Gordon Executive Director, Edward A. Dennis [email protected] William L. Smith Co-editors, JLR Upcoming ASBMB events and deadlines
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2 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 ing for the science that we perform in I strongly doubt that I could function United States, starting around 50 years my lab. as an e ective mentor if my time with ago? Back then we were di erent from Among these varied activities, I trainees were cut so drastically. the then-dominant scienti c structures am able to spend about half of my What amount of time do I owe to of other countries. Instead of having time directly running my laboratory. my trainees? Does this weigh on my large, hierarchical laboratories directed If I count a 40-hour work week and conscience? Does anyone even look at by distinguished professors, the devote eight hours (20 percent) to this? I can assure you that this issue is United States sprinkled grant funding outside activities, this leaves me 16 not addressed in the classes on con ict liberally to much younger scientists hours to run my lab. It is these 16 of interest that I am periodically asked running small laboratories. Our style hours where the rubber meets the to take at my home institution. When let young people drive the car from road with respect to my duties as a I apply for a National Institutes of the very get-go of their independent mentor to the postdoctoral fellows and Health grant, does anyone care how careers. Young scientists did not have graduate students working under my much time I spend mentoring my to pay decades of dues to run their direction. trainees? ese are complicated and own science, waiting as lieutenants On average, over the past two thorny questions. I have thought until they might assume the top role decades, I’ve directed a lab composed about them a lot but never in the of professor. of around ve or six trainees. e context of a con ict-of-interest per- ough I have no data to bolster formula I’ve run with equates to being spective. this thesis, I think funding a diverse able to devote around two to three As pointed out above, there is no distribution of young, independent hours per week per trainee. Many question that di erent scientists are scientists was incredibly healthy — people run successful laboratories with more or less ecient with respect to and a big reason why American sci- upwards of double or even quadruple managerial talent. Large laboratories ence has been so successful. I likewise this number of trainees. I’ve found my can operate e ectively via a lieuten- do not know how things have evolved. sweet spot; others can function e ec- ant system, wherein trainees are not I o er the caution, however, that — as tively with larger laboratory groups. directly mentored by the principal we have enjoyed our own dominance If my three hours a week per investigator of the lab but instead of late — we may have reverted to the trainee were cut to an hour, owing to by intermediaries. Likewise, ine ec- hierarchal, professorial system that a larger lab group, I believe I could tive mentors may fail even if a orded we displaced decades ago. Might it be handle this — but not optimally, at unlimited time for trainee interac- proper to begin to pay some level of least for me. Other scientists are more tions. It is clear that strict formulas attention to this question of con- skilled and ecient managers, so I can for mentor-to-trainee balance would science of commitment? understand lab groups consisting of be a terrible idea. On the other hand, even 15 to 20 trainees. What would is it proper that little or no attention Steven McKnight (steven. [email protected]) happen, however, were I to have 50 is paid to the obligation of a scientist is president of the American trainees instead of ve? Instead of to spend an adequate amount of time Society for Biochemistry and getting three hours of mentoring per mentoring his or her trainees? Molecular Biology and chairman week, each trainee would be getting To what can we attribute the suc- of the biochemistry department at the University only 20 minutes per week on average. cess of the biomedical enterprise in the of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 3 NEWS FROM THE HILL
Gene-editing summit By Sarah K. Martin
ene-editing technology vaulted the three-day summit, the event’s about the appropriateness of the into the public consciousness organizers addressed human gene proposed application.” e commit- G with Science magazine naming editing in three separate categories: tee stopped short of issuing a ban on the CRISPR–Cas gene-editing tool its basic research, somatic clinical use and germline gene editing but reiterated 2015 Breakthrough of the Year. germline clinical use. that human gene-edited cells should CRISPR–Cas is a programmable ey called for exhaustive basic not be used to establish a pregnancy nuclease-enzyme system that allows research on gene editing in human until extensive basic research is done. scientists to edit speci c sequences cells to determine potential bene ts e committee also called for an of DNA, potentially resulting in and risks of clinical use. ey said ongoing discussion of human gene profound changes to an organism. that such research will enhance our editing so that more nations and Importantly, the CRISPR–Cas tech- fundamental scienti c understanding diverse stakeholders can participate in nology is speci c, accurate and easily of the biology of human embryos and the conversation. incorporated into laboratory methods. germline cells. e NAS has undertaken a But the potential uses of gene- Since somatic cell gene editing comprehensive study of human gene editing technologies — from xing a ects only the cells of the body and editing led by R. Alta Charo of the genetic abnormalities to genetic not reproductive germ cells, this University of Wisconsin–Madison customization of o spring — have type of gene editing could be used in and Richard Hynes of the Massachu- raised scienti c, ethical and societal patients without the risk of transmit- setts Institute of Technology. e nal questions. Now that we can edit the ting genetic modi cations to future report, due later this year, will cover human genome, should we? generations. e summit organizers the science behind gene-editing tech- is question and others arose said that somatic cell gene editing nology; potential biomedical uses in during the International Summit on has the potential to be used safely research and medicine; and associated Human Gene Editing in December and e ectively in clinical applications ethical, legal and social considerations. in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the when carefully governed by existing e American Society for Bio- U.S. National Academy of Sci- regulatory frameworks. chemistry and Molecular Biology sup- ences to discuss the current state of With regard to germ cell gene edit- ports the summit organizers’ call for gene-editing science and to consider ing, the organizers called for caution, exhaustive basic research on the e ects scienti c and ethical implications writing, “It would be irresponsible to of gene-editing human cells to guide associated with human gene editing, proceed with any clinical use of germ- how this technique should be used for the summit attracted, among others, line editing unless and until (i) the clinical applications. scientists from the Chinese Academy relevant safety and ecacy issues have of Sciences, the United Kingdom’s been resolved, based on appropriate Sarah K. Martin (smartin@ asbmb.org) is the science policy Royal Society and the U.S. National understanding and balancing of risks, fellow at the ASBMB. Academy of Medicine. potential bene ts and alternatives and In a public statement released after (ii) there is broad societal consensus
Interested in science policy? Follow our blog for news, analysis and commentary on policy issues a ecting scientists, research funding and society. Visit policy.asbmb.org.
4 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 MEMBER UPDATE
Charpentier’s CRISPR work lands her the Leibniz Prize
Emmanuelle Charpentier is one of 10 recipients of this year’s Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, a prestigious honor established in 1985 by the German Research Foundation. Charpentier was among the rst to recognize the bacterial defense system CRISPR’s potential for genome editing. Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley, shared the 2015 Breakthrough Prize for their work on CRISPR. Charpentier serves as the director for the Max Planck Institute for Infec- tion Biology in Berlin and as a visiting professor at Umeå University in Sweden. She is a co-founder of CRISPR erapeutics, a biopharmaceutical startup that plans to harness CRISPR–CAS9 technology for translational applications. CRISPR erapeutics recently formed a joint venture with Bayer to research and develop treatments for various diseases. CHARPENTIER e 2016 Leibniz Prizes awards ceremony took place March 1 in Berlin. Written by Alexandra Taylor
NAS chemical sciences Leahy leaves Hopkins to Pederson gets prize goes to Bertozzi lead UT–Austin department distinguished service Carolyn Dan award from ASCB Bertozzi Leahy, e of the formerly of American Howard the Johns Society Hughes Hopkins for Cell Medical University Biology Insti- School of recognized BERTOZZI tute and LEAHY Medicine, oru Stanford took the Pederson University won the 2016 National helm of the department of molecular PEDERSON of the Academy of Sciences Award in biosciences at the University of Texas University Chemical Sciences. Founded in 1978, at Austin in January. Leahy is a struc- of Massachusetts Medical School with the award is bestowed annually for tural biologist whose research interests the society’s Award for Distinguished pioneering research in the chemical include the molecular mechanisms Service. Pederson has been a mem- sciences and carries a $15,000 cash of cell signaling and members of ber of the ASCB for 50 years. Since prize. In a statement, the NAS said the epidermal growth factor recep- joining in 1966, Pederson has held numerous positions for the society, Bertozzi won “for her invention of a tor families. In a statement, Dean serving as program chair for the new class of chemical reactions, called Appling, UT’s associate dean for 1982 annual meeting, treasurer from bio-orthogonal chemistry, that lets research and facilities, said: “Bringing 2008 to 2014, and today as chair for scientists label biomolecules within a rst-rate researcher of this caliber to the search committee for the next living cells without disrupting any our college is an accomplishment and ASCB executive director. During the of the biochemical reactions that are further enhances UT Austin’s pro le ceremony, ASCB President Shirley naturally occurring there.” Bertozzi’s in the growing eld of structural biol- Tilghman revealed that Pederson is lab focuses on establishing novel ogy.” UT established the department “Labby,” the pseudonymous author of technologies to aid in investigations at in 2013 during a reorganization, and a popular career advice column, “Dear the interface of chemistry and biology. it is today home to 64 faculty mem- Labby,” published in the ASCB News- She rst used bio-orthogonal chem- bers with a broad spectrum of research letter. Pederson runs a lab that focuses istry to study glycans. Since then, expertise. Leahy replaces Jon Huibreg- on the functional signi cance of researchers have used it in a variety of tse, also an ASBMB member, who had protein–RNA interactions in eukary- ways. served as interim chair. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 5 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 man. e Environmental Health Sciences.) In otic gene expression. He previously younger 1981, Gilman became chairman of served as president of the Worcester Gilman the pharmacology department at the Foundation for Biomedical Research, received his University of Texas Southwestern and he was appointed editor-in-chief bachelor’s Medical School and later held posi- of the Federation of American Societ- degree tions as dean, provost and executive ies for Experimental Biology journal from Yale vice president for academic a airs. He in January. Univer- won election to the National Academy Written by Erik Chaulk GILMAN sity and of Sciences in 1985 and received the a medical Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research degree and doctorate of pharmacology Award in 1989. In 2009, Gilman IN MEMORIAM: from Case Western Reserve University. joined the Cancer Prevention and Alfred G. Gilman, He completed postdoctoral train- Research Institute of Texas as its chief ing at the Laboratory of Biochemical scienti c ocer but later resigned over (1941 – 2015) Genetics at the National Institutes of what he perceived to be a focus on Alfred G. Gilman, who shared the Health before joining the faculty at commercially marketable research over 1994 Nobel Prize in physiology or the University of Virginia. It was there sound science. Gilman’s colleagues medicine for the discovery of that in 1977 Gilman discovered remember him for his integrity and G proteins, passed away in December G proteins, intermediaries that help his dedication to scrupulous science. at the age of 74. Gilman was born in relay messages from outside a cell’s Gilman had been battling pancreatic New Haven, Conn., on July 1, 1941. walls to actors within. (Gilman cancer before his death. He is survived His father was pharmacologist and won the Nobel along with Martin by his wife and three children. chemotherapy pioneer Alfred Z. Gil- Rodbell at the National Institute of Written by Alexandra Taylor
6 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 7 RETROSPECTIVE Marion Sewer (1972 – 2016) By Squire J. Booker
oung, gifted and enzymes as well as on the black. In 1969, Nina biosynthesis of steroid Y Simone emphasized hormones and their e ects those three powerful on various biological words when penning a pathways. In a career that song in memory of her spanned 22 years from dear friend, the great matriculation into gradu- American playwright and ate school in 1993 to her writer Lorraine Hansberry. untimely death in 2016, ey are also among the she published more than rst few adjectives that 44 scienti c papers and come to mind when reviews in the top journals re ecting on the life and in her eld and almost achievements of Marion 30 as an independent B. Sewer. However, many investigator. She always more words are necessary maintained a well-funded to try to capture the true research program, securing essence of Sewer’s spirit. multiple R01 and other She was also funny, caring, research grants from the giving, loving, passion- National Institute of Gen- ate, energetic, ecient, eral Medical Sciences and analytical and prepared. the National Institutes of She was a daughter, sister, Diabetes and Digestive aunt, colleague, teacher, and Kidney Diseases, and mentor, leader and friend. earned research awards She was special. She was Marion B. Sewer from the National Science a mover and a shaker and Research Careers program, she earned Foundation. She also a champion of those young scientists a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Emory served as principal investigator on who are in desperate need of role University as a Howard Hughes several grants devoted to increasing models to arm that their dreams and Medical Institute predoctoral fellow. participation among underrepresented aspirations are indeed achievable. She She then moved to pursue postdoc- minorities and furthering student was a hero. It is therefore with a heavy toral studies at Vanderbilt University training. Moreover, she served on heart that we remember our friend School of Medicine where she received the editorial boards of the journals and colleague, who contributed so a prestigious United Negro College Molecular Endocrinology and Steroids deeply and unsel shly to the American Fund/Merck Postdoctoral Fellowship. and was a standing member of several Society for Biochemistry and Molecu- She initiated her independent career National Institutes of Health and lar Biology and particularly to its in the biology department at Georgia NSF grant review panels. Her record Minority A airs Committee as well as Tech in 2002 and received tenure in of service to her home institution and to the entire scienti c community. She 2008. She then moved in 2009 to the scienti c community as a whole was inspirational. She was a star. the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and is long and distinguished. Despite all Marion B. Sewer’s scienti c Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Uni- of her scienti c achievements, Sewer achievements were exceptional. After versity of California, San Diego, where confessed to su ering from impostor a successful undergraduate career at she was promoted to the rank of full syndrome from time to time, a com- Spelman College in Atlanta, where she professor in 2015. During her career, mon condition among high achievers, participated in undergraduate research she became an international authority and particularly underrepresented through the Minority Access to on the regulation of cytochrome P450 minorities, who often feel unworthy
8 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 of their status or the praise that they of the workshop for each of its three sight. So where do we go from here receive. She wrote very eloquently on years in existence. She spearheaded the amid this tragic and potentially de at- the subject in the Dec. 2015 issue of writing of a funded proposal to the ing loss? Just before her death, Sewer ASBMB Today, explaining how to NSF to broaden the workshop into a laid out a roadmap for diversity in her identify it, cope with it and nally comprehensive mentoring program for nal article in the February 2016 issue overcome it (1). early-career scientists and postdoctoral of ASBMB Today, entitled “Where do Despite her impressive scienti c fellows called IMAGE, for Interactive we go from here?” (2) She would, of achievements, Marion B. Sewer will Mentoring Activities for Grantsman- course, be devastated if the MAC did be remembered mostly by members ship Enhancement. Among other not capitalize on the momentum that of the MAC for her warm smile and initiatives, mentees at the workshop she created and further her work in hearty laugh and her unwavering com- are paired with paid mentors who increasing access to scienti c careers. mitment to helping others identify help them to craft and submit their e MAC held its annual retreat and navigate the barriers that fre- rst federal grant. Deeply devoted to just outside of Charleston, S.C., in quently impede them from achieving this endeavor, she embraced its chal- October amid tremendous rainstorms their goals. She reached out to young lenges with passion and optimism and that resulted in catastrophic ood- scientists, making herself readily acces- beamed like a proud parent when any ing around the state. While the skies sible and available, and was among IMAGE participant received news of rained tears upon us throughout the the rst scientists featured on the day and the night, none of us foresaw an award. ASBMB MAC’s Research Spotlight that that meeting would be our last In recognition of Sewer’s indefati- collection. She joined the ASBMB chance to celebrate the successes gable commitment to underserved MAC in 2010 and quickly became a of the MAC with Marion. Had we populations within the scienti c learder, rising to deputy chair of the known, we would have laughed a lot community, the ASBMB has launched committee in 2013. She was active louder, smiled a lot wider, high- ved the Marion B. Sewer Scholarship for in a number of the MAC’s endeavors a lot higher, hugged a lot tighter and Distinguished Undergraduates. is but took an active leadership role in toasted a lot longer. We would have addressing the issue of disparity in scholarship will be awarded to under- given her a proper goodbye. securing federal research grants that graduate students who excel academi- To share your own memories of plagues minority and early-career cally in elds related to biochemistry Marion B. Sewer, please email us at scientists. She played a major role in and molecular biology and who show [email protected]. developing the original platform for a commitment to diversity in science. the annual ASBMB Grant Writing Marion B. Sewer was on a steep Squire J. Booker is professor of Workshop and was a co-organizer upward trajectory with no limit in chemistry, professor of biochem- istry and molecular biology, and a REFERENCES Howard Hughes Medical Institute 1. asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/201512/MinorityA airs/ investigator at the Pennsylvania State University. 2. asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/20162/Diversity/Sewer/
The Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates
Benefits: $2,000 toward one academic year’s tuition. Scholarship recipients eligible to apply for an additional scholarship in subsequent years. Requirements: Must be a U.S. national or permanent resident and a full-time student at an accredited two- or four-year institution located in the U.S. or U.S. territories. Must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours or equivalent, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have faced significant educational, social, cultural or economic barriers in pursuit of education. Must also be committed to diversity on campus and in the scientific community as a whole, and be an ASBMB member (membership can be processed at time of application). Applications open: Spring 2016 Application deadline: May 16, 2016 Learn more at www.asbmb.org/MinorityAffairs/UndergraduateScholarship/
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 9 JOURNAL NEWS
Turning on the thyroid Researchers determine mechanism that triggers normal and abnormal hormone production By Angela Hopp
hyroid disease a ects activator of the receptor upon about 12 percent of the binding of the hormone or T U.S. population. While autoantibodies.” many people with thyroid In other words, the recep- disease don’t even know they tor itself ips the switch — have it, an overactive or under- when it should and when it active thyroid can cause a slew shouldn’t. of problems, including weight “In most other hormone- gain or loss, mood changes receptor systems, the hormone and infertility. In children, an directly activates the receptor underactive thyroid can be protein,” says Antje Brüser, rst fatal, which is why they are author of the study and junior tested for a de ciency at birth. scientist of the group, o ering Despite the prevalence of the example of how adrenalin thyroid disease and its occa- activates the beta-adrenergic sional serious e ects, research- receptor. “In the case of glyco- ers have struggled to answer protein hormone receptors, the a pretty basic question about family of proteins that includes the hormone-producing gland: the thyroid receptor, upon What turns it on? A study binding of the extracellular published in the Journal of hormone, the intramolecular Biological Chemistry provides activator (p10) induces struc- an answer, and that answer was Model of a thyroid receptor (white backbone ribbon) with bound hormone tural changes of the receptor and the activating antibody visualizes a potential found within the gland itself. arrangement and the principal mechanism of glycoprotein hormone protein, triggering activation What’s more, the research- receptor activation. of the intracellular signaling ers who made the discovery cascade.” say their nding will aid in sometimes the receptor itself has an Now that researchers know the design of therapies for thyroid inherited or acquired mutation that from their cell studies that this family problems, such as Graves’ disease, and triggers production of too many or of receptors essentially can ip its own problems with other glands that oper- too few hormones. switch, they can use that information ate in a similar fashion. Torsten Schöneberg of the Univer- to design drugs to prevent that from e thyroid is a hormone factory. sity of Leipzig in Germany, who led happening when it shouldn’t. “For Under normal conditions, the factory the study reported in the JBC, says it example, in Graves’ disease, autoan- foreman — the molecule calling the was curious that the legitimate activa- tibodies directed against the TSH shots — is the aptly named thyroid- tor hormone, autoantibodies and receptor stimulate the thyroid in an stimulating hormone. Called TSH mutations all were able to provoke uncontrolled fashion, causing hyper- for short, this hormone attaches to a thyroid hormone production. So his thyroidism,” Schöneberg says. “Our receptor on the thyroid cell surface, team set out to identify a common ndings will promote the develop- triggering a series of signals that pro- thread among them. ment of speci c small-molecule drugs voke the gland to pump out thyroid Turns out the answer lay in the useful to treat Graves’ disease and hormones. receptor itself. other dysfunctions of GPHRs.” However, sometimes autoantibod- “We discovered a small amino acid ies, essentially posing as TSH, attach sequence — we call it p10 because it Angela Hopp ([email protected]) is 10 amino acids long — within the is communications director for to the receptor and trick the thyroid the ASBMB and executive editor of into ooding the body with more hor- TSH receptor protein,” Schöneberg ASBMB Today. mones than are needed. In addition, explains. is sequence “functions as
10 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 JOURNAL NEWS Using microRNAs to target cancer cells By Dawn Hayward
ipids form membranes L of our cells and serve as rainy day fuel. However, cancer cells have a habit of dysregulating every possible pathway they can, including lipid metabo- lism, generating an overabun- dance of lipids. Fortunately, the body already produces mol- ecules that have the potential to stop this dys- regulation in its tracks: microRNAs. In a recent Summary of the metabolic pathways altered in cancer that are described in this review review in the cuss several lipid-metabolism enzymes choice and activate their function. Journal of Lipid Research, Marta that cancer cells rely on whose target- ese methods have been used as Gómez de Cedrón and Ana Ramírez ing could prevent the synthesis and cancer therapy in clinical trials. de Molina of the Madrid Institute of dissemination of lipids altogether. For MicroRNAs stand out from Advanced Studies delve into exactly conventional gene-therapy-based which microRNAs can be used to example, an enzyme called fatty acid approaches and have a niche in lipid target cancer cells. synthase, which is involved in the metabolism. ey can be designed Lipids, molecules known for their making of lipids, is upregulated and speci cally to target a gene and insolubility in water, are synthesized overused in cancer cells. Activation of serve as modulators rather than on/ to provide membrane integrity and are a microRNA targeting this gene may o switches. Increased lipid forma- signaling molecules used by down- shut down production of this enzyme tion and breakdown in cancer cells stream e ectors in the cell. As an and turn o this essential pathway. creates vulnerability that might be energy source, lipids are broken down Mono-acyl glycerol lipase, which is taken advantage of by microRNAs. In via beta-oxidation, and the intermedi- involved in storing these lipids, may addition, cancer as a whole involves ates can be used in other metabolic also be targeted. a combination of many factors, and pathways. Why is all of this important? If microRNAs could lead the attack as MicroRNAs, meanwhile, are small researchers can use normal cells’ professional pathway regulators to single-stranded RNA molecules that machinery to target cancer cells reset the normal metabolic landscape. can stop the synthesis of proteins. speci cally, the cancer may be slowed ey bind to mRNA transcripts in or completely halted. In fact, scien- tists have used antisense oligonucle- Dawn Hayward (dhaywar5@jhmi. the cell and cause their degradation, edu) is a graduate student in the preventing production of proteins that otides that bind to microRNAs and Johns Hopkins University School cancer cells so desperately need. repress their action as well as primary of Medicine’s pharmacology and e authors of the JLR review dis- microRNAs, which mimic RNA of molecular sciences department.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 11 JOURNAL NEWS A mouse model for Hajdu–Cheney syndrome By Kim Krieger
ragile bones are usu- to replace it. is leads to ally an old person’s mice with fragile bones, very F aiction, but some- similar to people with the times children are born disease. with them. Now, a team of ere are a few symptoms researchers led by University of the disease in humans — of Connecticut professor such as shortened ngers and Ernesto Canalis has shown in oddly shaped skull bones — mice that a speci c mutation that the mice don’t display. can cause the disease called But overall, the mouse model Hajdu–Cheney syndrome. is a very good model of the Overabundant bone-absorb- human disease, Canalis says. ing cells may be causing the Knowing how the disease disorder’s characteristic bone works also suggests how it loss, and the researchers hope must be treated. If people to nd a potential treatment. with Hajdu–Cheney have too People born with many bone-resorbing cells, Hajdu–Cheney syndrome then it may help to suppress develop misshapen skeletons the formation or activity of and bones that quickly those cells. And Canalis says start to soften and fracture. scientists know how to do Researchers knew Hajdu– that. His group currently is Cheney was an inherited working on treatments in disease, but they weren’t mice. sure which genetic mutation Hajdu–Cheney is an caused it. ey suspected incredibly rare disease, with it was in a gene called fewer than 100 cases ever NOTCH2, which has a spe- described. But there are good ci c mutation that appears scienti c reasons to study it. in people with the syndrome. It can illuminate the work- But Hajdu–Cheney is very ings of bone formation and rare, and it might just have destruction and give insight In A, representative microcomputed tomography images of proximal been a coincidence that fami- trabecular bone and midshaft of femurs, showing cancellous bone osteopenia into a gene important to lies with Hajdu–Cheney also and decreased trabecular number and thinner and porous cortical bone in both the skeleton and the happen to carry an unusual male Notch2Q2319X mutant mice. In B, representative static cancellous bone immune system. It also pos- variant of NOTCH2. histological sections stained with toluidine blue showing decreased number of sibly could tell us about Ala- Q2319X To gure out whether the trabeculae in Hajdu-Cheney Notch2 mice and calcein and demeclocycline gille syndrome, a much more labels showing no differences in mineral apposition rate between control and NOTCH2 variant really was Notch2Q2319X mice. In C, cross-sectional cortical bone stained with hematoxy- common genetic disease asso- responsible, Canalis and his lin and eosin. Arrows point to osteoclasts on the endocortical surface. All ciated with NOTCH2. But colleagues replicated it in representative images are from femurs from 1-month-old male Hajdu–Cheney for Canalis, even if Hajdu– Q2319X mice. e result, which was Notch2 mutant and littermate wild-type controls. Cheney only a ects a few published in a recent issue of gery at UConn Health. His mice seem people from a few families, the Journal of Biological Chemistry, to provide the answers. ey generate what causes such su ering and how to was essentially a mouse version of a larger pool of cells that break down abate it is worth searching for. Hajdu–Cheney syndrome. and resorb old bone. ese cells also “Until now, nobody understood mature faster than they do in normal Kim Krieger (kim.krieger@uconn. why people aicted with the disease mice. So the bodies of Hajdu–Cheney edu) writes about research for the University of Connecticut. Follow had osteoporosis and fractures,” says mice resorb far too much bone, and her on Twitter @Epitopic. Canalis, a professor of orthopedic sur- new bone doesn’t grow fast enough
12 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 JOURNAL NEWS One gene, two proteins, one complex By Rosemary Wilson
o see two proteins produced enzymes work. “At a xed time point Removing the second start codon “ from the same gene that after infection, when all resources in from the gene, the group shows, T then bind together to form a the bacteria cell have been exhausted greatly reduces the activity of the complex — that is truly unique!” says and the viral progeny are ready to be endolysin. Too much CBD, however, European Molecular Biology Labo- released, the endolysins start to break and activity is also slowed. ese ratory Hamburg group leader Rob open the cell wall.” But just what trig- ndings build on earlier work: “We Meijers excitedly. gers the endolysin to start its work is originally thought that it was the In a study recently published in not yet understood. endolysin complex that initiated and the Journal of Biological Chemis- With their precise choice of target, activated the bacteria cell wall break- try, Meijers and collaborators from bacteriophages have long been consid- up,” Meijers adds. “But actually it the Institute of Food Research in ered potential allies in the ght against seems the activation of the endolysin Norwich, U.K., show that the genes persistent bacterial infections. “In an begins in the gene itself.” of viral enzymes that degrade the cell era when many bacteria have evolved walls of Clostridia bacteria produce mechanisms to make them resistant The long and short of it to treatments such as antibiotics, we not the usual one but two proteins. After inserting the endolysin gene urgently need alternative ways of com- e results give insights into how into milk bacteria used in cheese batting bacterial infections,” explains these enzymes degrade the bacterial making, the researchers could show Meijers. “Since they naturally destroy cell wall and could be used to combat that the new host produced both the speci c bacteria, bacteriophages, and a range of Clostridium infections. full endolysin enzyme and the smaller particularly their cell-wall degrading Dotted along the seemingly in nite CBD. “We tricked the milk bacteria enzymes, are very interesting research string of A, T, G and C that make up into producing the endolysin and objects. How do they do it, and what an organism’s DNA, speci c triplets the CBD for us, but these proteins of these letters — known as codons can we learn from them?” remain trapped inside the bacterial — indicate where the cell’s machin- cell,” explains Meijers. “We have made ery should start and stop when it A cheesy problem the full-length endolysin pass across translates the language of genes into Of the about 100 species of Clos- the cell wall, but so far not the shorter proteins. Some genes have not one tridium, a handful play a disruptive CBD — without both parts, no com- but several start codons, resulting in role in human society. Meijers and plex forms, and activity is reduced.” proteins of di erent lengths being collaborators focused on C. tyrobu- is highlights again how impor- produced from one gene. “ is study tyricum, the byproducts of which in tant both parts are and presents a shows how two such proteins from raw milk can lead to cheese defects potential path for future molecule the same gene form a complex and that represent a signi cant economic design for treating Clostridia infec- how the shorter protein regulates the drain for the cheese-making industry. tions. full-length protein,” says Meijers. “To is study presents the 3-D atomic Meijers concludes: “Cheese mak- our knowledge, that has never been structure of the complete C. tyro- ers currently add large amounts of seen before.” butyricum endolysin bound to a enzymes to the cheese to combat the smaller protein called cell-wall bound e ects of the Clostridia — maybe in Coming of phage domain, or CBD — the structure future we can just use small amounts of which was solved by the group of modi ed milk bacteria that will e double-packed gene studied by in 2014. “ ese two proteins are e ectively destroy any Clostridia pres- Meijers belongs to a virus that preys both coded for by the same gene,” ent.” on species of Clostridia bacteria. After says Meijers. Reading and translat- infecting their target, these viruses ing the full-length gene produces the — or bacteriophages — break open endolysin; reading from the second Rosemary Wilson (r.wilson@ embl-hamburg.de) is the the bacterial cell wall using enzymes start codon produces the small CBD known as endolysins, thereby destroy- training and outreach officer at molecule. the European Molecular Biology ing the bacterial cells. “It’s a perfectly “It seems the bacteriophage uses Laboratory in Hamburg. This timed process,” says Meijers, who is both proteins to regulate the activ- article previously appeared on the EMBL news interested in understanding how these ity of the endolysin,” says Meijers. website news.embl.de.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 13 FEATURE
Giving parasites their due How C.C. Wang’s biochemical methods modernized the eld of parasitology By Alexandra Taylor
14 ASBMB TODAY IMAGE COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONSMARCH USER JMGARDNER 2016 C. Wang might be in his 70s, Dallas. She says that Wang always on me,” he recalls. “ at was then but he still recalls the fever believed that working on parasites followed by extremely high fever. C.dream that plagued him dur- gave scientists important insights into My legs would twitch, and I would ing childhood illnesses. “I always had biology and that his lab was always at fall into hallucinations followed by the same nightmare,” he says. “I was the forefront of bringing molecular nightmares.” watching people slaughtering a hog biology and biochemistry to parasitol- Quinine, the preferred antimalarial and was badly shaken by its ear-pierc- ogy. treatment of the time, was dicult to ing shrieking. e hog, covered with In 2012, Wang and his wife, Alice, obtain, and Wang was treated with blood, suddenly struggled free and established an award for recognizing the drug quinacrine, which turned his started to chase after me.” scientists in the eld of molecular eyes yellow and partially deprived him Wang, an emeritus professor at parasitology that they hope will give of his hearing. After two years, the the University of California, San research in parasitology wider expo- malaria disappeared on its own. Wang Francisco, says his childhood bouts of sure among biochemists and molecu- also su ered from typhoid, dysentery, malaria, typhoid and other infectious lar biologists. e Alice and C. C. pneumonia and various skin infections diseases shaped his future. “I was Wang Award is given out every year by during this period. lucky to have survived them all,” he the American Society for Biochemistry In 1949, his family settled in says. “ e memories of these su er- and Molecular Biology. Taiwan, where his father taught ings drove me into parasite research.” Chinese linguistics. Wang eventu- ese days, Wang is most recog- Wanting to help ally completed his bachelor’s degree nized for applying biochemical analy- in chemistry at National Taiwan Wang, who was born in Beijing, ses to parasitology. His approaches not University. Biochemistry had caught was a year old when the Japanese only advanced our understanding of his attention after he attended a invaded China in 1937. Wang and biology but helped bring about anti- course on the subject taught by a parasitic drugs, including ivermectin, his family escaped the invasion by visiting Chinese-American lecturer, a treatment for river blindness and roaming the countryside of southern and, in 1960, Wang was inspired to elephantitis that was noted in the China for nearly a decade. During this move to the U.S., to earn his Ph.D. in the subject from the University of 2015 Nobel Prize for medicine. time, he contracted several infectious California, Berkeley. It was during this Margaret Phillips was a doctoral diseases, including malaria, which time at Berkeley that he met his wife, student in Wang’s lab at UCSF, and brought him to the brink of death. Alice, who was a graduate student in now runs a parasitology research “I would suddenly develop a chill, molecular biology. e two were mar- laboratory at the University of Texas which could not be relieved no mat- Southwestern Medical Center at ter how many blankets were placed CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF C.C. WANG ALL PHOTOS COURTESY
C.C. Wang as a toddler with his mother. At about age 3, Wang lived in a village in southern China.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 15 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Wang searched for a job in the obediently work on animal parasites,” ried in 1963. American pharmaceutical industry he says. After completing postdoctoral fel- that would allow him to focus on Wang was a biochemist at a time lowships at Columbia University and human parasitic diseases. Hired by the when most parasitologists still prac- Princeton University, Wang attempted pharmaceutical company Merck to ticed 19th-century science. Research to move back to China to study use biochemical techniques to develop at the time was mostly descriptive and parasitology. He knew very little about new antiparasitic drugs, Wang was in focused on where the parasites were parasitic infections but was aware of for a newcomer’s shock. found and in what quantity. their immense human toll, especially “After a few days, I realized that “He was a tireless and creative in impoverished and rural areas. Merck was not interested in human researcher who introduced me to “(Parasitic diseases) are neglected parasitic diseases at all,” he recalls. the world of modern biochemistry to this day. e reason is quite simple: “What they were interested in were and molecular biology,” remembers Poor people get them, not wealthy animal parasites — domestic animals, Ronald Stotish, who was Wang’s people,” he says. is disparity has such as cattle, sheep, dogs — because technician at Merck for many years. been a source of motivation through- that’s where the money is. Treating Stotish is now president and CEO of out his career. poor people, you don’t get money.” AquaBounty. “He kept the academic But Wang wasn’t able to return Wang began to organize seminars perspective of the value of basic home. “My quali cations weren’t and conferences about the ways in research, even though he was in the that great, and the councilor at the which Merck could contribute more employ of a major drug company at embassy said, ‘We advise you to stay to human health, especially parasitic that time.” in the United States, to learn more infection. e events were successful, Wang eventually was involved in science and technology from the and eventually Wang was called to a working on nematode infections in American imperialist. en maybe meeting with the president of Merck, cattle and sheep. He was part of an you can consider coming back.’” Lewis Saret. Saret told him that the e ort to identify natural compounds Wang says, “In 1969, it was the height company developing a cure that could produced by soil bacteria that worked of the Cultural Revolution. If I had bene t people around the world as antiparasitic therapies. But the gone back then, I don’t think I would might be a good thing but Merck had method was crude. have survived.” an obligation to its stockholders and Merck had set up an animal model Wang had to remember that they were assay in which microbiologists cul- not in the business of losing money. tured bacteria from soil samples. ey Working on animal “After this conversation with the infected rats with parasitic worms and parasites president, I started to quiet down and fed the bacterial cultures to the rats.
Wang, at approximately age 4, with his parents and Wang first arrived in the U.S. as a graduate student at the University of younger brother near the Yangzi River in southern China. California, Berkeley. Alcatraz island is in the background. Wang contracted malaria soon after the photo was taken.
16 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 ey then killed and examined the highly toxic. Just when we were about were no longer able to move. rats to determine whether the parasites to abandon this thing, somebody After con rming the mechanism had been a ected by the bacterial cul- said, ‘Well, maybe we should give it of action and other ndings, Merck tures. If the bacteria produced a com- another try.’ We tried it a third time, began to sell ivermectin in the U.S. pound that was toxic to animals, the and it turned out to be active,” says as a veterinary antiparasitic drug. It rat died. If the rat appeared unscathed Wang. “Overnight, there were 50 quickly became a market leader, gen- but the parasites died, the compounds chemists assigned to this project.” erating more than $1 billion per year might have potential as antiparasitics. At that time, Merck had a new in sales. Ivermectin is probably most “It was a pretty stupid assay,” says president, P. Roy Vagelos. Vagelos recognizable in the U.S. as the active Wang, adding that Merck used it for a wanted to understand ivermectin’s ingredient in the heartworm treatment decade. “We went through something mechanism of action, hoping the Heartgard. like 150,000 soil samples. Everybody details of the biochemistry and But it turned out ivermectin wasn’t got very frustrated.” molecular biology of the molecule just good for animals; it could do at all changed with the discovery might assist future drug develop- something extraordinary for people. of ivermectin. ment e orts. He assigned the task of William Campbell, now at Drew unraveling ivermectin’s mechanism of University, proposed to Merck that Ivermectin action to Wang, who described it as “a ivermectin be tested against river total nightmare.” He couldn’t derive a blindness in humans. River blindness In 1974, Merck received a ship- single clue about how it worked from is a debilitating condition caused by ment of 50 soil samples from the lab the molecular structure. microscopic worms that a ects hun- of Satoshi Ōmura at the Kitasato Wang tested the compound on bac- dreds of millions of people in some Institute in Japan. Bacteria cultured teria and worms for several years to no of the world’s poorest areas. In 1981, from one of these samples contained avail. Eventually he noticed that the clinical trials began in Senegal. e tri- a substance called avermectin, which middle portions of worms taken from als were a success, and in 1987 Vagelos in its modi ed state is known as the intestines of pigs seemed to wiggle announced that his company would ivermectin. e drug would come to less after being exposed to ivermectin. give the drug away for free for as long be known as one of the most potent He eventually determined that the as it took to eradicate river blindness. antiparasitic treatments ever. drug inhibits signal transmission at the “After a couple of decades now, I e Merck scientists screened it neuromuscular junction in insects and think the disease is basically under in the usual way by feeding it to rats. at the junction between the interneu- control in West Africa,” says Wang. “In the rst round of testing, we ron and motor neuron in nematodes. “ ere has never been a case where a found activity. e second round was e parasites became paralyzed and CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Wang with fiancee Alice at UCB. Wang working on the mechanism of action of ivermectin at Merck.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 17 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 parasitologists from New York Uni- that to discover a fantastic drug pharmaceutical company has donated versity and e Rockefeller University, like ivermectin, you really have to a drug to cure a disease where the end two schools that were close to Merck’s be extremely lucky. In an academic result is so wonderful.” New Jersey site. e seminars were setting, it would be quite dicult, In 2015, Ōmura and Campbell followed by cocktails. In the spring of because the mundane screening e ort shared half of the Nobel Prize in 1981, at a party that Wang described — to go through 150,000 soil samples physiology or medicine for their work as “wild,” he was approached by two in 10 years — you would never train discovering and developing ivermec- professors from UCSF. ey asked any good students doing that, and the tin. Ōmura was recognized for his if he was interested in joining the National Institutes of Health would discovery of the avermectin-con- university. At that time, it was uncom- never fund you,” he says. taining soil sample, while Campbell mon for a person to transition from Wang focused on basic parasite was instrumental in demonstrating industry to academia. research, namely regarding giardia avermectin’s potential against parasitic “I thought they were kidding, so and African trypanosomes. Giardia worms. Wang says he would have half-drunkenly, I said, ‘Of course, if causes a diarrheal condition known as liked to have seen Vagelos recognized you give me a full professorship and giardiasis, while African trypanosomes as well for his decision to make the beat my salary at Merck!’” are responsible for a potentially fatal drug available free of charge. But the conversation was no joke. condition known as sleeping sickness. “ e world is still a very sad place,” A couple of months later, he received a Wang conducted research alongside says Wang. “But I am very happy the phone call from the head of pharma- his wife, Alice, who became a senior Nobel Prize recognized the problem ceutical chemistry at UCSF. member of his laboratory at UCSF. and gave out the prize to ivermectin Wang transferred from Merck to Alice Wang discovered a double- and artemisinin. At least people are the university, where he conducted stranded RNA virus speci c to starting to realize the importance of research on parasites for more than giardia, one of the rst viruses ever these diseases.” 30 years. He describes this as the hap- discovered in a parasitic protozoan. piest time in his life because he had Working together over a couple of Freedom to pursue complete freedom to choose his own decades, the Wangs demonstrated how projects. the microRNA machinery operates any project But the experience of working in in giardia. ese molecules may be In the late 1970s, Wang organized a industry gave him some perspective. primarily responsible for the expres- monthly seminar program with other “After I moved to UCSF, I realized sion of variant surface proteins, which
Wang in the research lab at the Institute of Molecular Biology, Wang working as the director of the Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Academia Sinica, Taiwan.
18 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 could allow the parasite to elude its the Tiananmen Square massacre on says he feels lucky to have been host’s immune response by altering its June 4, 1989, I cut o all my interac- involved in the discovery of ivermec- antigen pro le. tions with China,” he says. “(On) tin, which he emphasizes was the Wang’s group examined the cell subsequent visits to China, (I) wore result of extensive group e ort. e cycle of the African trypanosome to the hat of a tourist only.” fervor of his youth has been rewarded: nd that cell division operates dif- Wang still feels a connection to “I was very idealistic — very foolishly ferently depending on whether the Taiwan, to which he has returned idealistic — when I was young, think- parasite is found in the human blood- many times. “Taiwan is a more ing that I alone could do something to stream or within its y host. ey democratic country, so I feel a little bit save a lot of people,” he says. “I went discovered new proteins involved in more comfortable about going back through tremendous frustration, but the metaphase-to-anaphase transition there,” he says. In 1988, he established somehow, through a collaboration during cell division, which could have a molecular parasitology research with hundreds of people, I was able implications for novel antitrypanoso- program at the Institute of Biomedi- to contribute to the treatment of river miasis treatments. Additionally, Wang cal Sciences, Academia Sinica, and blindness.” expects these ndings to contribute worked there for a year. In 1991, he Wang is measured in describing his to understanding the evolution of traveled to the island with colleagues contributions, but his in uence on the eukaryotic cell division, because these to establish the Institute of Molecular eld of parasitology has been indis- Biology at the National Academy of pensable. “He’s an intellectual force,” protozoans represent an early branch Science. He stayed for three years, says Phillips, his former doctoral of the eukaryotic tree of life. eventually returning to UCSF. student. “He’s always the one at the Although he retired in 2011 and meeting to ask the good questions, to Expanding the field is now a professor emeritus at UCSF, push everybody to think about the big Wang never lost his connections to Wang remains invested in his eld. picture and be rigorous scientists. He’s Asia. As a representative for Merck, in Wang says he feels that molecular had a huge impact on the eld.” 1979, Wang visited mainland China, parasitology has been rejected by where he learned about the Chinese mainstream science despite advances government’s research on artemis- in techniques and research in the eld. Alexandra Taylor ([email protected]) is inin. He later returned several times, is concern motivated him and his a master’s candidate in science teaching at universities and visiting wife to establish the award through and medical writing at Johns Hopkins University. with researchers for several months at the ASBMB. a time until the late 1980s. But “after Looking back at his career, Wang
Alice Wang working in the lab at C.C. and Alice Wang with the 2012 winner of their molecular parasitology award, the the University of California, San late Elisabetta Ullu, along with former ASBMB presidents Jeremy Berg and Suzanne Francisco. Pfeffer.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 19 STEAM STEM + ART
When our DNA is fair game By Nicole C. Woitowich
he average person sheds 50 to with physical traits such as gender, 100 strands of hair every day. ancestry, eye color, hair color, freckles T Some hair gets stuck on our or predisposition to obesity. When clothes or remains in our brushes or determining which SNPs to analyze, combs, but a good number of strands Dewey–Hagborg did her research. She can be lost during our daily travels says, “I tried to gather as much infor- and end up attaching to subway seats, mation as I could on anything that drifting onto elevator oors, or set- could be extrapolated to be related tling on tables at our local cafés. How to appearance.” She says SNPedia — many of us ever pause to consider an online database that summarizes the genetic information that we are peer-reviewed data related to medical, scattering with every left-behind hair? phenotypic or genealogical SNPs — e 33-year-old, Chicago-based art- was a valuable resource for the project. ist Heather Dewey–Hagborg thinks She also used 23andMe, the personal about it a lot, and after viewing her genetic pro ling service. “For a SNP ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF HEATHER DEWEY-HAGBORG work, she hopes you might too. of interest, they link to the papers Dewey–Hagbourg’s work is concerned with privacy, In 2012, Dewey–Hagborg created that the trait is based on, and you can genetics and the future of biotechnology. the piece “Stranger Visions,” which make up your own mind if it’s accu- displays 3-D portraits of individuals rate or relevant.” that are generated through DNA- After DNA sequencing, Dewey– phenotyping of items she came across Hagborg analyzed her results and in her daily life, such as hair, chewing determined which phenotypic alleles gum and cigarette butts. were present for the sample. She then For “Stranger Visions,” Dewey– compiled the results of the physical Hagborg ampli ed regions of DNA traits into custom software that she that contained single nucleotide developed to generate a 3-D model of polymorphisms, or SNPs, associated what the individual’s face might look like. e key word being “might.” “Exact reconstruction of a face from DNA alone is still the stu of science ction. It represents a general likeness of the person at best,” Dewey– Hagborg says. A description of the SNPs analyzed and a detailed materi- als and methods section can be found on Dewey-Hagborg’s blog (deweyhag- borg.wordpress.com). Prior to creating “Stranger Visions,” Dewey–Hagborg had no formal train- ing in molecular biology. She took an introductory biotechnology course at the community laboratory Genspace Products created by Dewey–Hagbourg to protect our DNA identities in public spaces. in Brooklyn, N.Y. ere she learned
20 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 the basics of DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction. Dewey–Hagborg did have a back- ground in computer programming and electronics but found molecular biology techniques challenging. With the guidance of scientists at Gens- pace and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., where the artist is a Ph.D. candidate in electronic arts, Dewey–Hagborg soon began pipet- ting like a professional. “It was a really steep learning curve,” she says. Before her work on “Stranger Visions” even was nished, the press took notice. Major media outlets, from Science to CNN, came call- ing. “It took on a life of its own,” says Dewey–Hagborg. e publicity Dewey–Hagbourg’s 3-D portraits are generated through DNA phenotyping of discarded items such as hair, for “Stranger Visions” fueled strong chewing gum and cigarette butts. reactions, and the artist says she received some hate mail. “People were sold at the New Museum of Con- upset that I was violating individuals’ temporary Art in New York City and privacy, and of course they were right! meant to be both a real product and at was the point of the work — to thought-provoking art. make you think about privacy, genet- “It is again something that is meant ics and the future of biotechnology. ” to bring public attention to these Dewey–Hagborg had been thinking issues around hackability and privacy a lot about privacy and surveillance and to question the authority of tools such as facial recognition, speech DNA as a gold standard in a forensic – recognition and wiretapping before context,” Dewey Hagborg says. e creating “Stranger Visions.” “It struck instructions to make your own Invisible kit are available online me that we pay attention to speci c (biononymous.me/diy-guides). forms of surveillance but ignore an Currently, Dewey–Hagborg is an incredibly personal form that could be assistant professor at the School of taking place without our knowledge. the Art Institute of Chicago, where at realization was something I felt she teaches a class in bioart and has I needed to follow up on and make developed a lab to facilitate this type public and visible,” she says. of artistic work. She plans on continu- is led Dewey–Hagborg to create ing to exhibit “Stranger Visions” by her follow-up to “Stranger Visions,” incorporating new research that has called “Invisible.” “Invisible” consists become available since its 2012 debut of two products that protect our DNA as well as designing other pieces that identities in public spaces by provid- focus on privacy and surveillance. “I ing a “forensic cover-up.” e rst have a feeling they will stir up some component is a spray called Erase that more controversy!” she quips. is composed of a bleach mixture that can remove nearly all traces of DNA left on a surface. e second solution, Nicole C. Woitowich (nicole. [email protected]) is a Replace, is a mixture of arbitrary, member of the public outreach synthesized DNA from more than 50 committee and a Ph.D. candidate Dewey–Hagbourg analyzes phenotypic alleles before people that is used to cover up any at Rosalind Franklin University of using custom software to generate what she calls a of our remaining DNA. “Invisible” is Medicine and Science. “general likeness” of a stranger.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 21 MEETING
22 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 Calendar of special events
Saturday, April 2 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Building your outreach program from A to Z San Diego Marriott Marquis, San Diego Ballroom C (see page 29) 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. ASBMB annual meeting orientation for undergraduate students San Diego Convention Center, Rooms 6B, C and F (see page 25) 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Undergraduate research poster competition San Diego Convention Center, Rooms 6B, C and F (see page 25) 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. Communication Workshop: Make your elevator pitch San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, San Diego Ballroom C (see page 29) 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Career-development sessions San Diego Convention Center, Rooms 1A, 1B and 6D (see page 24) 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Exploring careers speed-networking event San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A (see page 25) 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Opening reception and science outreach poster session San Diego Convention Center, Sails Pavilion (see page 29)
Sunday, April 3 9:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. Advancing teaching and learning in the biochemistry/molecular biology classroom San Diego Convention Center, Room 14A 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Grad student and postdoc career hour at the ASBMB booth San Diego Convention Center Exhibit Floor, Booth #516 (see page 24) 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Incentivizing great research San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A (see page 30) 4 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Integrating complementary skills into graduate and postdoc training San Diego Convention Center, Room 14A (see page 28) 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. CRISPR: Power and Challenges San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. ASBMB Minority Affairs Committee-sponsored welcome and networking reception San Diego Marriott Marquis, Marina Ballroom D (see page 28)
Monday, April 4 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Communication workshop: Tell your science as a story San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A (see page 29) 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. Organizing a successful ASBMB student chapter San Diego Convention Center, Room 14A (see pages 25 and 28) 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Wikipedia edit-a-thon San Diego Convention Center, Room 14B (see pages 28 and 29) 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. ASBMB grad student and postdoc game night San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A (see page 24) 9 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Y.E.S. mixer (Young Experimental Scientists) San Diego Marriott Marquis, Marina Ballroom G
Tuesday, April 5 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. The do’s and dont’s of data analysis and reporting San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Women scientists networking event San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A (see page 28) 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Straight from the Bench: graduate student and postdoc event San Diego Marriott Marquis, San Diego Ballrooms A and C 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Meet the BioArtists Karl Strauss Brewing Company in downtown San Diego (see page 29)
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 23 Grad student and postdoc guide to the annual meeting By Erica Siebrasse rad students and postdocs, Know whom to meet Make sure you dress and act appro- how are you preparing for the priately. Do not wear anything that G exciting science and excellent Identify people you want to meet is too worn out, too casual, too tight, professional-development opportuni- and determine how to make a meeting too short or too low cut. is goes for ties at the 2016 American Society for happen. Are they giving talks or pre- men and women alike. ink about Biochemistry and Molecular Biology senting posters? Do you expect to see it this way: Will you be comfortable annual meeting? Do you know which them at particular sessions? Can you with how you are dressed if you unex- events you will be attending? How reach out to them before the meeting pectedly meet someone for whom you will you make the most of the meet- and schedule sit-downs? would like to work? ing while still remaining energetic Check the ASBMB meeting site enough to forge lasting connections Make a plan in mid-March for video tutorials on and get home in one piece? Create a written, day-by-day plan appropriate meeting attire. Here are some pointers that could before the meeting and keep it orga- help. nized and easily accessible so you stick Gather info to it. Build in rest, co ee and meal While you are at the meeting, take Choose your events early breaks. good notes. is goes for scienti c ses- e ASBMB has numerous career- sions, career-development events and development events planned for grad Brush up on your one-on-one discussions. If you meet students and postdocs. is year, we networking skills someone new, ask for a business card. made it easy by listing them in one Jot a note on the back about what you Bring business cards. If you cannot discussed. You will be exhausted by place (asbmb.org/AM2016/gradpost- order them through your institution, docschedule). Here are a few new the end of the meeting, so do not rely cards are available online at Vistaprint on your memory. events to consider: (www.vistaprint.com) for around $10. Career-development sessions. e Prepare a 15- to 30-second elevator Saturday afternoon career develop- pitch. Do you want people to come Follow up ment sessions take place from 2:30 to by your poster? Are you looking for a If you said you would reach out 4:30 p.m. and are free. Choose from job? Practice your pitch with a friend to someone after the meeting, do so. three discussion sections: “Imple- or colleague until it is comfortable to is is critical and will set you apart menting your individual development say. You also can join our outreach as someone who is organized and plan,” “Pathway(s) to your own lab” team and perfect your pitch at their responsible. and “Taking the industrial route.” Saturday communication workshop. ASBMB game night. Join us Mon- Pitches also are great ways to intro- Finally, come see me! day night for fun games (including duce yourself to new people. Make time to stop by the ASBMB science-themed trivia), prizes, snacks, Pre-write several questions for each booth, learn how to make the most drinks and antics in a photo booth. person you would like to meet. Keep of your membership and hear about Open only to grad students and post- these handy so you can speak up when several new professional-development docs, this will be a great opportunity the time is right. bene ts we will have for grad students to connect with your peers. If you are on the job market, bring and postdocs in 2016. Career hour at the ASBMB copies of your résumé on good quality booth. Drop by booth #516 during paper. If you are presenting a poster, Erica Siebrasse (esiebrasse@ the lunch break on Sunday to talk consider printing a simpli ed version asbmb.org) is the education of it on letter-size paper. and professional development with scientists who have taken a vari- manager for the ASBMB. Follow ety of career paths. Visit the website her on Twitter at twitter.com schedule above to see who is coming. Look professional ericasieb.
24 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 Annual meeting events and advice for undergraduates By Andrea Anastasio
he 2016 American Society have too much information or for Biochemistry and look cluttered. If you are ner- T Molecular Biology annual vous about elding questions, meeting is held in conjunction try to remember that questions with Experimental Biology, a are a positive — they indicate conference of six societies that curiosity from your listeners. will feature more than 500 ses- sions and 6,000 posters. More Networking than 10,000 scientists from all Come to the meeting over the world will be coming prepared to make contacts. to San Diego to share their Arrive with business cards and research and to network. It can have a short spiel worked out be an overwhelming event, and Undergraduate Poster Competition winners in 2015. for anyone who asks about taking time to prepare before your scienti c interests and you arrive is essential to getting of students and faculty mambers, career plans. If you present a poster at the most out of the meeting. who together make up more than 100 undergraduate chapters across the meeting, keep paper copies of the the country. e Student Chapters poster on you at all times in case you Undergraduate events will host an “Organizing a successful speak to someone who wants to know Undergraduates can start with the ASBMB Student Chapter” session at more about your research. ASBMB annual meeting orientation 6:15 p.m. Monday, April 4, in Room Some of the events we’ve men- at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 2, in 14A, and then a reception from 7 tioned are excellent networking Rooms 6B, C and F at the San Diego p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 3, in the opportunities for undergraduates. Convention Center. A great way to Marina Kitchen at the Mariott Marina Chat with your neighbors at the meet other undergraduate students Marquee for all faculty advisers. Any annual meeting orientation, and show from across the country, the orienta- faculty members interested in starting up to the “Organizing a successful tion provides tips on how to navigate chapters should attend the reception. chapter” meeting to speak with faculty the meeting and plan out a schedule. and student members from across the e ASBMB also hosts the 20th Budget your time country. annual Undergraduate Poster Com- petition on Saturday. More than 200 Browse the preliminary online Have a good time undergraduates will present their program and start planning before Really enjoy the meeting. It is a research, and those with the best the meeting. If a speaker or topic is busy event, but it doesn’t have to be posters in each category will receive of particular interest, pencil it into stressful. Carve out time to slow down recognition and cash awards. Poster your calendar and brainstorm some and take in all that is happening. Have presentations are held from 1 p.m. questions to ask on site. Be sure also fun at the receptions. ey are an until 4:30 p.m. Graduate school to visit the exhibit hall to meet with excellent chance to mingle and have a exhibitors will be set up nearby to graduate school exhibitors and indus- laugh even as you meet new contacts speak with interested undergraduates. try representatives. and learn what others are doing. By e Exploring Careers speed- the time you leave San Diego, you networking session takes place on Sat- Presenting a poster should feel rejuvenated and inspired urday from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in If you are presenting a poster to take on whatever your next steps Room 6A. e session brings a variety for the rst time, be sure to know may be. of science professionals together to sit your material and practice. Try your down with undergraduates and discuss presentation out on friends or family. their career paths. And make sure you practice in front Andrea Anastasio (aanastasio@ e ASBMB Student Chapters asbmb.org) is the Student of both scientists and nonscientists. Chapters program coordinator program has several sessions at the It’s important that your material and at the American Society for meeting. e meeting is an excellent explanations be understandable to Biochemistry and Molecular place to connect with this network everyone. Your poster also should not Biology.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 25 26 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 27 Paying it forward Discover new ways to contribute to the BMB community at the meeting By Andrew Macintyre
ow do I thank Mr. Jonas, he and faculty members that provide the ASBMB Minority A airs Com- wondered, for what he’s done? … on- and o -campus networking and mittee-sponsored Welcome and Net- H Pass it on somehow, he thought, career-development opportunities, working Reception (7:30 – 9:30 p.m. pass it on to someone else. Keep the chain along with grants and awards to sup- Sunday, April 3, Marina Ballroom D) moving. Look around, nd someone, port research and outreach. Why not and the Women Scientists Networking and pass it on. at was the only way. grow the BMB community by starting Event (6:30 – 8 p.m.Tuesday, April 5, – Ray Bradbury, “Dandelion Wine” a Student Chapter on your campus? Room 6A) provide informal oppor- Interested faculty members and stu- tunities to connect with students, With the wealth of science on o er dents can visit the ASBMB booth or postdocs, faculty members and others at the 2016 American Society for attend the session “Organizing a Suc- looking for career advice. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology cessful ASBMB Chapter” at 6:15 p.m. If you are looking for other oppor- annual meeting, it is easy to overlook Monday, April 4, in Room 14A. tunities to become a mentor, consider one of the most valuable and inspiring signing up for the National Institutes aspects of the event: the opportunity Postdocs and grad of Health’s National Research Mentor- to contribute to the biochemistry and ing Network (nrmnet.net), which molecular biology community. Many students: share your o ers four-month online mentor- of you joining us in San Diego have experience ship experiences with regular guided bene ted from the support and guid- If you’ve bene ted from one of interactions. ance of other scientists. Here is a selec- these workshops, why not pay it for- tion of ways to pay those kindnesses ward by attending the undergraduate Faculty: become a more forward while you are at the meeting. poster competition and talking to the effective mentor presenters? e presenters will bene t Everyone: support new from your knowledge of science and It can be a challenge to provide graduate school, and you will get to guidance to those interested in BMB sessions practice quizzing others about their career paths other than your own. is year’s meeting includes two projects. Posters will be on display Why not attend the session on “Inte- new scienti c sessions organized from 12 – 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2, in grating Complementary Skills into by graduate student and postdoc Rooms 6B, C and F. Graduate and Postdoctoral Training” members of the society. e Straight (4 – 6:15 p.m Sunday, April 3, Room from the Bench sessions focus on 14A) or the panel discussion on “Max- Everyone: improve Wikipedia two exciting areas of research: recent imizing Graduate and Postdoctoral advances in protein engineering and In conjunction with the Wiki Edu- Training for Non-Research STEM post-translational modi cations and cation Foundation’s Year of Science, Careers” (1 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, the microorganism response. Each the ASBMB Public Outreach Com- Room 6A)? Both are focused on help- session includes presentations from mittee is hosting an edit-a-thon to ing your mentees succeed, whatever keynote speakers and up-and-coming improve biochemistry and molecular career they decide to pursue. trainees and will take place 6:30 – biology content on Wikipedia. Share 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, in Marina your expertise with millions of Wiki- Looking for more ideas? Ballrooms A and C . pedia users and learn Wiki editing at the same time. Takes place 6:30 – 9 Stop by the ASBMB booth to learn p.m. Monday, April 4, in Room 14B. about even more opportunities to give Undergraduate students back to the BMB community. and faculty: start an Faculty and equivalent: Andrew Macintyre (amacintyre@ ASBMB Student Chapter become a mentor asbmb.org) is an education e ASBMB Student Chapters are and professional development Mentorship doesn’t have to be manager at the ASBMB. a national network of undergraduates restricted to your own campus. Both
28 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 Outreach fun at the meeting By Geo rey Hunt
very year at the American to create your own science story using most visited websites. Unfortunately, Society for Biochemistry and tips and feedback from our experts. At the quality and accuracy of Wikipedia E Molecular Biology meeting, the the end of the workshop, brave souls articles are highly variable, especially ASBMB Public Outreach Committee will present their stories to the whole when it comes to science. To help sponsors a bevy of exciting, interactive group. improve the scienti c content on events that go beyond typical confer- Wikipedia, we will host a biochem- ence sessions. is year is no di erent. Outreach sessions istry and molecular biology-themed Here is our lineup for 2016. edit-a-thon at 6:30 p.m. Monday, e rst of this year’s outreach April 4, as part of ASBMB Game Science communication o erings will happen the morning Night. Sponsored by the Simons of Saturday, April 2. “Building Your Foundation, the edit-a-thon requires workshops Outreach Program from A to Z” is no previous experience — our Over the past few years, the Public an interactive networking session seasoned moderators will guide you Outreach Committee has developed with presentations from program through the process. Just join us, pick “ e Art of Science Communication,” organizers and participants about your favorite scienti c subject, and get an online course that provides funda- unique outreach e orts aimed at the to work adding your own knowledge mental training in presenting science general public. We’ll also have a panel and expertise. to a nonexpert audience. e course discussion about the National Sci- next will be o ered in the summer of ence Foundation’s “broader impacts” Meet the BioArtists 2016, but you can get a sneak preview requirement, which mandates that all One of the overarching goals of of what to expect at two on-site sci- grant applicants speci cally delineate outreach is to bring science to new ence communication workshops that how their projects will bene t society. audiences by taking it out of its will feature exercises taken straight ere will be insights from former normal, staid settings and bringing from the course. NSF program ocers on how to it to di erent outlets and interesting A half-day workshop that provides navigate the preparation, writing and cultural venues. On the evening of hands-on communication training is reviewing of your grant and plenty of Tuesday, April 5, we will do just that slated for Saturday, April 2. Focused time for informal networking. with “Meet the BioArtists,” a science- on how to give an elevator talk about Later that evening, our annual themed art gallery event to be held your research and led by members of outreach poster session will showcase at the Karl Strauss Brewery. Winners the committee, this workshop will activities and programs from ASBMB from the Federation of American help you come up with a pithy, engag- members and local organizers that Societies for Experimental Biology’s ing pitch to use in conversation with bring science to the general public. BioArt contest will be on hand to colleagues at the conference. Several Held during the ASBMB opening present their works and talk about the graduates of the “Art of Science Com- reception directly after the Herbert blending of their scienti c research munication” course will be on hand to Tabor Research Award lecture by and artistic ambitions. Come see share their experiences and help walk Robert G. Roeder of e Rockefeller outreach in action! you through the exercises. University, this informal gathering is e Cellular Culture blog will roll A second workshop on the craft of a great chance to learn what outreach out in-depth descriptions of these storytelling happens Monday, April 4. is all about! sessions throughout March. Visit: Our speakers for “Tell Your Science cellularculture.asbmb.org. as a Story” include ASBMB Chief Wikipedia edit-a-thon Science Correspondent Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay, who will walk you Raise your hand if you have used Geoffrey Hunt (ghunt@asbmb. Wikipedia for researching a scienti c org) is the ASBMB’s outreach through the importance of telling manager. Follow him on Twitter at a story when communicating your topic. You aren’t alone: e crowd- twitter.com/thegeoffhunt. science to others. You’ll get a chance sourced encyclopedia is one of the
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 29 Incentivizing great research By Benjamin Corb
he American scienti c enterprise Committee symposium at the 2016 right level of regulation is renowned for the quality of American Society for Biochemistry As of now, speakers for this ses- T research it produces. However, and Molecular Biology annual meet- sion include Randy Schekman, 2013 pressures on individual scientists ing will focus on analyzing counter- Nobel laureate, publisher of eLife, and to publish in high-impact journals, productive pressures on scientists and professor of cell and developmental secure grants and comply with regula- discuss how they can be managed to biology at the University of Califor- tions may be weakening the quality preserve and incentivize outstanding nia, Berkeley; Jon Lorsch, director of American science by providing research. e panel discussion, to be of the National Institute for General incentives that can interfere with the held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April Medical Sciences; and Vivian Lee, pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries. 3, in Room 6A of the San Diego dean of the University of Utah School Such perverse incentives may be con- Convention Center, will cover: of Medicine. After the presentations, tributing to the rise in irreproducible • pressure to publish — evaluating there will be an opportunity for the research, the disproportionate time research quality, reproducibility and audience members to join in the dis- spent on writing grants and papers, importance cussion and share their views on how and the reduction in time devoted • pressure to obtain grants — bal- best to eliminate perverse incentives to experiments and training. Most ancing translational vs. basic science, in research. importantly, these incentives may be safe vs. daring science, etc. getting in the way of scientists’ regular • pressure to achieve tenure — Benjamin Corb (bcorb@asbmb. bene cial interactions with colleagues balancing collaborative and individual org) is director of public affairs and the larger scienti c community. contributions at ASBMB. e Public A airs Advisory • pressure to comply — nding the
Stop by booth #516 • Free professional headshots • Career advice sessions • Chat with the editors: Journal of Biological Chemistry Journal of Lipid Research Molecular & Cellular Proteomics • Ethics of publishing workshop • Complimentary ASBMB publications • T-shirts and souvenirs
www.asbmb.org/join
30 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 Make connections at the 2016 ASBMB Annual Meeting April 2 – 6 in San Diego
The ASBMB Minority Affairs Committee will sponsor special events and scientific sessions, including:
• Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award lecture: “Chemical genetic
analysis of mast cell activation” by Avery August of Cornell University
• Welcome and networking reception
• Beyond the Bench: Maximizing Graduate/Postdoctoral Training
for NonResearch STEM Careers
• Symposium on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Join the ASBMB Partnership for Diversity
This network promotes diversity and inclusion within both the society and the scientific community at large.
Visit www.asbmb.org/minorityaffairs for information about how to join the partnership or visit ASBMB booth #516 at the annual meeting.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 31 ANNUAL AWARDS 2016 Annual Aards
33 Alice and C.C. Wang Award: Michael A.J. Ferguson
34 Earl and Thressa Stadtman Scholar Award: Georgios Skiniotis
35 Earl and Thressa Stadtman Scholar Award: Luciano Marraffini
36 Howard K. Schachman Public Service Award: U.S. Reps. Fred Upton and Diana DeGette
37 Avanti Award in Lipids: Robert V. Farese Jr.
38 Mildred Cohn Award: Eva Nogales
39 ASBMB Young Investigator Award: Cole Haynes
40 Walter A. Shaw Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research: Christer Ejsing
41 DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences: Todd O. Yeates
42 Bert and Natalie Vallee Award: Aziz Sancar
43 ASBMB–Merck Award: Ronald R. Breaker
44 Herbert Tabor Research Award: Robert G. Roeder
45 Herbert A. Sober Lectureship: Stephen G. Sligar
46 Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award: Avery August
47 William C. Rose Award: Susan J. Baserga
48 ASBMB Award for Exemplary Contributions to Education: Charles Brenner
32 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 ALICE AND C.C. WANG AWARD IN MOLECULAR PARASITOLOGY Ferguson’s ‘achievements place him in this top-most rank of scientists’ By Caitlin Hanlon
Michael A. J. Ferguson, associ- Gull at Oxford University in his letter ate dean for research strategy for the of support for Ferguson’s nomination School of Life Sciences at the Uni- for the award. By developing drugs versity of Dundee in Scotland, is the that inhibit the enzymatic pathways 2016 awardee of the American Society that create these unique lipid anchors, for Biochemistry and Molecular Biol- Ferguson and his laboratory are able ogy’s Alice and C.C. Wang Award in speci cally to target the parasites that Molecular Parasitology. Ferguson’s cause devastating illnesses such as discovery of glycosyl-phosphatidyl malaria and trypanosomiasis. inositol, or GPI, anchors revolution- To further his translational research, ized the membrane protein eld and Ferguson and his colleagues, with sup- biochemistry itself. Ferguson then port from the Wellcome Trust, estab- transitioned his expertise in GPI lished the Drug Discovery Unit at the biosynthesis to the parasitology eld University of Dundee. He also has led is prize is of particular signi cance and the development of therapeutics two major expansions of the Dundee to me. Alice and C.C. Wang are targeting the parasitic GPI pathway. College of Life Sciences, which is one outstanding pioneers of molecular e Wang Award recognizes parasitology. It is a terri c honour to of the top three biological research scientists who make signi cant be selected by a distinguished panel of schools in the U.K. contributions to the eld of molecu- peers for an award bearing the names Awarded the Royal Medal by the lar parasitology. “Michael Ferguson’s of, and endowed by, Alice and C.C. Royal Society of Edinburgh, Ferguson achievements place him in this top- Wang. I am also extremely grateful to is a fellow of the Royal Society. He is most rank of scientists,” wrote George my co-workers, past and present, for also a Regius professor of life sciences, Cross of e Rockefeller University making this possible. an honor bestowed by the monarch in his letter of support for Ferguson’s – MICHAEL A. J. FERGUSON just twice in the past century, and was nomination. “He is the world leader in appointed recently to the governing a eld that has signi cance throughout body of the Wellcome Trust. the entire domain of eukaryotic mem- translational modi cation catalyzed Ferguson earned his bachelor’s brane biology … and will continue to the eld, and soon many other labs degree from the University of Man- make unique contributions to under- were building on his nding. Ferguson chester and a Ph.D. in biochemistry standing pathogenic mechanisms in went on to deduce the structure of an at the University of London. After his parasitic protozoa.” entire GPI anchor. As Cross wrote, postdoctoral studies at e Rockefeller Ferguson’s rst major contribu- this work was seminal: “Descriptions University, he continued his work at tion to the eld was identifying how of GPI anchors are now a standard the University of Oxford before start- a surface protein without any discern- component of most biochemistry, cell ing his own lab at the University of ible transmembrane domains remains biology and immunology textbooks.” Dundee. attached to the outside of a cell. e ese ndings laid the groundwork Ferguson’s award lecture, “Translat- agents of human African trypano- for the establishment of Ferguson’s ing the trypanosome surface,” takes somiasis use their variant surface own laboratory, which went on to place at 9:45 a.m. Monday, April 4, in glycoproteins, or VSGs, to evade a determine the structure of many com- Room 1A of the San Diego Conven- host’s immune system. As a postdoc in plex glycoconjugates and the pathways tion Center. Cross’ lab at e Rockefeller Univer- that produce them. sity, Ferguson identi ed the fatty acid Many parasites have very unusual components that anchor the trypano- glyoconjugates. Ferguson recognized Caitlin Hanlon (chanlon3@jhmi. that this unique feature could be edu) earned a B.S. from Ursinus some’s VSG to the plasma membrane. College and a Ph.D. in the Now known as GPI anchors, Fergu- “an Achilles’ heel for antimicrobial department of cell biology at the son’s discovery of this glycolipid post- chemotherapy,” wrote Professor Keith Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 33 EARL AND THRESSA STADTMAN SCHOLAR AWARD Skiniotis has ‘outstanding talent,’ ‘technical prowess’ By Ulli Hain
Georgios Skiniotis, associate pro- antifungal or immunosuppressant fessor of biological chemistry at the activity, and nearly a third of phar- University of Michigan Life Sciences maceuticals are based on or inspired Institute and the University of Michi- by polyketides. By understanding the gan Medical School, is the co-winner mechanism behind these polyketide of the 2016 American Society for factories, it may be possible to bioen- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology gineer PKSs to create novel antibiot- Earl and ressa Stadtman Scholar ics. Award for his innovative use of Skiniotis recently published a electron microscopy. e award, given stunning series of structures of a PKS every other year, honors outstanding module in the journal Nature. In his researchers with fewer than 10 years of letter supporting Skiniotis’ nomina- post-postdoctoral experience. tion, Stephen Harrison at Harvard To initiate intracellular signal- Medical School, who interacted ing, G-protein–coupled receptors, or It’s an honor for our lab to receive an with Skiniotis when the latter was GPCRs, on the surface of our cells award named after such pioneers a postdoctoral fellow at the school, as Earl and ressa Stadtman. transmit diverse information, such described the series as “triumphs of Cryo-EM is a fast evolving as hormones, neurotransmitters and structural biology.” e structures not technology poised to shed light on light from our environment. Skiniotis only represent the complete enzymatic the mechanisms underlying complex pioneered the use of single-particle cycle of a full PKS module for the rst cellular processes; in its application electron microscopy, or EM, to study time but also detail an unexpected we strive to embody and transmit GPCRs in complex with their cognate architecture. Unlike the related mam- the tradition of excellent basic science G proteins. ese structures were malian fatty acid synthase, the bacte- and passion for discovery that is the groundbreaking in terms of both the rial PKS module forms an arch-shaped Stadtmans’ legacy. small size of the analyzed proteins and dimer that creates a single chamber the surprising amount of movement – GEORGIOS SKINIOTIS for the acyl carrier protein to deliver within the receptor-bound G protein. its substrate to the di erent active sites In her letter nominating Skinoitis the development of novel therapies within the module. for the award, colleague Janet L. that target these receptors. Skiniotis adds the Earl and ressa Smith at the University of Michigan During his dissertation work at Stadtman Scholar Award to an already said Skiniotis’ “rare combination of the European Molecular Biology impressive résumé. He was named a outstanding talent in biochemistry Laboratory, Skiniotis developed a Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences and technical prowess with electron novel technique for labeling proteins in 2011 and received the Presidential microscopy has allowed him to push for cryo-EM analysis. He used this Early Career Award for Scientists and the boundaries of EM analysis and technique to study the movement and Engineers in 2012. He will deliver an obtain structural information from processivity of the motor protein kine- award lecture, “Molecular choreogra- molecules and assemblies formerly sin. He demonstrated that tubulin is phy of an antibiotic assembly line,” at considered too small for single particle not just a track for kinesin but rather 2:50 p.m. Monday, April 4, in Room reconstruction.” She added that he actively modulates kinesin movement. 6B of the San Diego Convention has also “fearlessly tackled problems of Most recently, Skiniotis applied Center. great biological and chemical impor- his EM expertise to better understand tance.” polyketide synthesis by the multido- Ulli Hain ([email protected]) is Skiniotis’ work has important main polyketide synthases, or PKSs. a Ph.D. graduate in biochemistry implications for human disease, Polyketides are naturally produced from Johns Hopkins School of because understanding the structural and structurally complex compounds. Public Health and a science writer at Palladian Partners, Inc. mechanism behind GPCRs allows for Many polyketides have antimicrobial,
34 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 EARL AND THRESSA STADTMAN SCHOLAR AWARD Marraffini exhibits ‘uncanny research instincts’ By Ulli Hain
Luciano Marrani, assistant pro- systems prevent the transfer of genetic fessor and head of the Laboratory of material between bacterial pathogens, Bacteriology at e Rockefeller Uni- the biogenesis of small crRNA guides, versity, is the co-winner of the Ameri- and the mechanism and consequences can Society for Biochemistry and of CRISPR immunity against plasmid Molecular Biology’s Earl and ressa elements of bacteria.” Stadtman Scholar Award for his work As an independent investigator, on CRISPR-Cas immunity. e award Marrani has published 20 highly honors outstanding contributions of cited papers in his short ve years at early-career researchers who have had Rockefeller. Collaborating with Feng 10 or fewer years of post-postdoctoral Zhang at the Massachusetts Institute experience. of Technology, Marrani described Marrani rst sought to under- the use of the CRISPR–Cas9 system stand the mechanisms of CRISPR– to modify genomes of bacterial and Cas immunity during postdoctoral I am honored to receive the Stadtman mammalian cells. is tool has proved studies at Northwestern University, Scholar Award and to share it with extremely useful for scientists in the when much was still unknown about Georgios Skiniotis. is is also a laboratory and holds great promise to the system. recognition to all the members of treat and cure human disease in the As part of his letter in support of my lab that have worked so hard future. Marrani’s nomination, Marrani’s during these rst ve years and an Marrani continues to study the postdoc adviser Erik J. Sontheimer incentive to continue unraveling the mechanism of CRISPR–Cas immu- at the University of Massachusetts mechanisms of CRISPR immunity. nity, including investigating the role of Medical School said, “In proposing –LUCIANO MARRAFFINI 45 mostly uncharacterized Cas genes. to study the roles and mechanisms “In this rapidly moving eld, Mar- of CRISPR interference, (Marrani) accurately to edit the genome of any rani, with his comparatively small demonstrated the ability to recognize organism. group, is steadily producing very high- a fabulous scienti c opportunity that During his postdoc, Marrani quality, very original contributions,” bears directly on fundamental biology used an elegant experiment to dem- said Darnell. Marrani adds this as well as biotechnology and infec- onstrate that antisense CRISPR RNA award to a growing list of accolades tious disease … Given the way that molecules, or crRNAs, recognize viral that include the National Institutes the CRISPR eld has exploded since DNA rather than RNA as previously of Health Director’s New Innova- then, it is easy to forget that those tor Award, a Sinsheimer Foundation predicted. Sontheimer points out that were very, very early days in CRISPR Award and the Hans Sigrist Prize from this discovery “set the stage for the biology, and his independent decision the University of Bern. recent revolution in genome editing to go down that path exempli es his Marrani will present an award that uses engineered versions of the uncanny research instincts as well as lecture titled “CRISPR–CAS, the CRISPR machinery in the cells of his intellectual courage.” prokaryotic adaptive immune system,” Bacteria acquire immunity against humans and other eukaryotes.” at at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, April 3, in viruses using the CRISPR–Cas system, Rockefeller University colleague Room 6B of the San Diego Conven- which captures small pieces of viral James E. Darnell Jr., who nominated tion Center. DNA that are used to recognize future Marrani for the award, said, “Dr. Marrani greatly contributed to our invaders and subsequently degrade Ulli Hain ([email protected]) is the foreign DNA. In recent years, the current general understanding of a Ph.D. graduate in biochemistry CRISPR–Cas system has generated CRISPR immunity, elucidating how from Johns Hopkins School of widespread excitement among scien- these systems discriminate between Public Health and a science writer at Palladian Partners, Inc. tists and the public alike for its ability self and nonself sequence, how these
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 35 HOWARD K. SCHACHMAN PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD U.S. Reps. Upton and DeGette recognized for supporting science in bipartisan fashion By Sarah K. Martin
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., have won the Howard K. Schachman Pub- lic Service Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecu- lar Biology for their championing of biomedical research and tireless e orts drafting and ensuring passage of the 21st Century Cures Act. Howard K. Schachman served as chair of the ASBMB Public A airs Advisory Committee for more than 10 years. To honor his legacy, the PAAC instituted the Schachman Award, I’m honored to receive this By investing in new biomedical which recognizes those dedicated to prestigious award and to join such a research, removing barriers to public service in support of biomedi- distinguished group of past winners. research collaboration, incorporating cal science. Improving biomedical research and the patient, and modernizing clinical Chairman of the U.S. House providing proper resources for our best trials, the 21st Century Cures Act has Energy and Commerce committee, and brightest is a top priority for us the ability to bring hope to millions Upton partnered with DeGette to nd here in the House of Representatives. of patients in need. I am proud of a way to speed the discovery, develop- While we have much left to do as the work Chairman Upton and ment and delivery of therapies for we work toward better biomedical I did to bring leading researchers, diseases. roughout most of 2014, research, I want to thank the industry experts, and patient Upton and DeGette were engaged in American Society for Biochemistry advocates together in order to craft shepherding the 21st Century Cures and Molecular Biology for their this bipartisan bill. With your help, initiative through that committee. partnership and ongoing support of we can nish that work and get 21st ey held numerous round tables and our bipartisan e orts to deliver cures Century Cures through the Senate hearings on biomedical research and now. Working together, we’ll get the and on to President Obama’s desk. then drafted a bill that would increase job done. – U.S. REP. DIANA DEGETTE, D-COLO. funding for the National Institutes of – U.S. REP. FRED UPTON, R-MICH. Health and streamline the path for new drugs to reach patients. passing the 21st Century Cures Act. and intramural research. And we appreciate the bipartisan sup- e 21st Century Cures Act would port from the House of Representa- establish an innovation fund to Upton and DeGette crossed the tives for biomedical research broadly provide an additional $1.75 billion country and the aisle to meet with — and the NIH speci cally.” to the NIH budget each year for ve representatives and gain support for Both Upton and DeGette have years. e Accelerating Advancement their bill. e 21st Century Cures Act been invited to give remarks and Program, a grant-matching program was passed on the oor of the House receive their awards at a reception to accelerate promising biomedical in July by a resounding vote of 344 after the ASBMB spring Hill Day. research projects, would receive to 77. $500 million from the innovation Benjamin Corb, public a airs fund. e rest of the innovation fund director of the ASBMB, said, “ e Sarah K. Martin (smartin@ ASBMB applauds Reps. Upton and asbmb.org) is the science policy would be divided among grants for fellow at the ASBMB. early-stage investigators and research DeGette for their bipartisan coopera- such as high-risk, high-reward projects tion in drafting, managing and now
36 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 AVANTI AWARD IN LIPIDS Farese’s dedication to important questions has yielded work with ‘tremendous promise’ By Kamalika Saha
Robert V. Farese Jr., professor of droplets. Additionally, their key nd- genetics and complex diseases at the ings show that the formation of lipid Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public droplets depend on the Arf1/COP-1 Health, won the Avanti Award in vesicular tracking machinery and Lipids from the American Society for that the CTP: phosphocholine cytidyl- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology transferase — the rate-limiting enzyme for his seminal contributions to the for phosphocholine, or PC, biosynthe- understanding of neutral lipid metab- sis — regulates PC biosynthesis at the olism and its relevance to homeostatic surface of lipid droplets. mechanisms in health and disease. One of Farese’s recent interests is e Avanti Award recognizes out- the role of lipids and lipid biology standing research contributions in the in neurodegeneration, particularly area of lipids. frontotemporal dementia. He is the Tobias C. Walther, who runs a co-founder of the Consortium for I am truly honored to receive the joint laboratory with Farese at the Frontotemporal Dementia Research, Avanti Lipid award in recognition Harvard School of Public Health, a cross-institutional initiative aimed of our contributions to neutral lipid says, “It is hard to overemphasize the at discovering the underlying mecha- metabolism. I am very grateful to my truly groundbreaking discoveries of nisms of this rare disease and identify- many mentors who in uenced me, Dr. Farese, their lasting impact on ing treatment strategies. the many trainees who contributed to the elds of lipid and metabolism In his letter of support for Farese’s our work, and in particular to Tobias research, as well as on human health.” nomination for the award, Rudolf Walther, my scienti c partner for the Farese has made multifaceted con- Zechner at the Institute of Biomedical past decade. tributions to the eld of lipid research. Sciences, in Graz, Austria, says, “What – ROBERT V. FARESE JR. One of his key contributions is the impresses me most is the quality of discovery of the DGAT enzymes, his science and the vigorous way he DGAT1 and DGAT2, which govern diverse enzymes, and by doing so, his approaches the important questions in triglyceride synthesis and storage. work has shown tremendous promise lipid research.” (DGAT is short for diacylglycerol for creating therapeutic targets to treat Farese received his medical degree acyltransferase.) Using knockout and and cure common, chronic diseases.” from the Vanderbilt University Medi- mutant transgenic mouse models, Farese was also instrumental in dis- cal School and did a residency at the Farese demonstrated that DGAT1 covering other lipid synthesis enzymes, University of Colorado Aliated Hos- knockout mice were resistant to the such as ACAT2 and MGAT enzymes, pitals. He pursued his postdoctoral development of diet-induced obesity, and elucidating their physiological training at the Gladstone Institute of diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver role. His unique ability to transcend Cardiovascular Disease. disease. is discovery led to the domains of science led to his pioneer- His award lecture, “Cellular energy development of DGAT enzyme inhi- ing contributions to the cell biology metabolism: mechanisms of fat syn- bition as a potential treatment strategy of lipid droplets. Lipid droplets are thesis and storage,” will take place at for these diseases. An interesting cytosolic organelles that contain the 3:15 p.m. Sunday, April 3, in Room o shoot of this work is the potential neutral lipids essential for energy and 6B in the San Diego Convention utilization of these enzymes to increase membrane synthesis. In collaboration Center. oil production in biofuels. with Walther, he identi ed a set of Gökhan S. Hotamisligil at the 227 proteins governing the number, Kamalika Saha (kamalika.saha@ Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public size and cellular localization of lipid gmail.com) is a postdoctoral Health, who nominated Farese for droplets. ey discovered two classes fellow at MedImmune. the award, says, “Farese’s research has of lipid droplets: smaller initial lipid revealed fundamental biology of these droplets and larger expanding lipid
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 37 MILDRED COHN AWARD Nogales shows ‘bold’ use of cryo-electron microscopy By Kathleen McCann
Eva Nogales at the University of and has set Eva apart in the whole California, Berkeley, has won the macromolecular EM eld,” said Ken- American Society for Biochemistry neth Downing, Nogales’ postdoctoral and Molecular Biology’s Mildred mentor at Lawrence Berkeley National Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry Laboratory. “ ere is no question that for her revolutionary application of she is recognized throughout the EM- structural biology to molecular-level structural biology community as one insights of eassential large multipro- of its rising stars and leaders.” tein complexes. e Cohn award Robert Glaeser of the University honors scientists who have utilized of California, Berkeley, emphasized physical approaches to make substan- Nogales’ many important contri- tial advances in understanding biologi- butions beyond her work on the cal chemistry. cytoskeleton. “Prof. Nogales is a Nogales is one of the preeminent structural biologist of extraordinary I feel most honored to receive the accomplishment. She has made major leaders in the eld of cryo-electron Mildred Cohn Award from the contributions in several di erent top- microscopy, or cryo-EM. Robert ASBMB. I also feel in debt to women ics of protein structure and function,” Tjian at the Howard Hughes Medical like Mildred Cohn who paved the he said. rough continued re ne- Institute wrote in support of Nogales’ road for other women scientists and ment and development of advanced nomination: “She has been bold, served as an example for us to follow. innovative and rigorous in applying ese are exciting times for the techniques, Nogales has been able to negative stain and cryo-EM to solving cryo-EM eld, and I see this award generate numerous impressive high- 3-D structures of very challenging bio- as a tribute to how far this technique resolution structures of important logical macro-molecules.” In his letter is taking us toward a mechanistic multiprotein complexes including the of support for Nogales’ nomination, understanding of biological processes. CRISPR-associated complex, the 26S Carlos Bustamante, Nogales’ colleague I look forward to continuing using proteasome and the human transcrip- at Berkeley, said, “I can think of very cryo-EM in our e orts to visualize tion preinitiation complex. few other scientists whose work has large biological macromolecular Nogales is a Howard Hughes deepened and broadened our knowl- assemblies at work. Medical Institute investigator and a edge to anywhere near the same extent – EVA NOGALES member of the National Academy of as Eva’s achievements have done.” Sciences. She has received the Protein Society’s Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Nogales was trained as a physicist. advance for the eld of cell biology She earned her bachelor’s degree in Award and the American Society for but also a landmark achievement in physics at the Universidad Autonoma Cell Biology’s Early Career Award. structural biology, since alpha and beta de Madrid in Spain and completed Nogales’ award lecture, “Atomic tubulin had been resistant to X-ray her Ph.D. in biophysics in the physics structures of microtubules in dif- crystallographic approaches. Microtu- department of Keele University in the ferent states: towards a mechanistic U.K. bules and their interactions with other understanding of dynamic instability,” It was as a postdoctoral fellow in proteins have remained an important will take place at 2:15 p.m. Monday, the laboratory of Kenneth Downing focus of Nogales’ research. She has April 4, in Room 6B of the San Diego at the Lawrence Berkeley National published several seminal papers Convention Center. Laboratory that Nogales made her rst describing the structural basis of the complex dynamics of microtubules Kathleen McCann (kathleen. signi cant contribution to the eld of [email protected]) earned her structural biology. She used electron and their interactions with important Ph.D. in genetics from Yale Uni- crystallography to generate an atomic regulatory proteins. versity. She is now a postdoctoral structure of alpha and beta tubu- “Her work has been at the forefront fellow at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. lin. is was not only an important of microtubule cytoskeleton research
38 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 ASBMB YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD Haynes’ studies of mitochondrial stress response put him on ‘an upward trajectory’ By Bree Yanagisawa
Cole Haynes, assistant member at regulation. ATSF-1 functions as a the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer transcription factor in two separate Center, won the American Society for locations within the cell: the nucleus Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s and the mitochondria. ese ndings Young Investigator Award for elucidat- are fascinating on their own, and they ing pathways involved in the mito- may hold further value as potential chondrial stress response. therapeutic targets. Nunnari cited the ough still early in his career, potential of Haynes’ work to both Haynes’ work has had a substantial “provide much greater insight into impact on the understanding of the diseases” and identify “new therapeu- unfolded protein response, or UPR, tic approaches.” As a result, she says, that occurs in the mitochondria in “while (Haynes) has already contrib- reaction to stress. In letter supporting uted seminal work, his laboratory Haynes’ nomination for the award, I am certainly honored and thrilled remains on an upward trajectory.” F. Ultrich Hartl at the Max Planck Beyond his many scienti c accom- Institute of Biochemistry said, “Over a that our work on the mitochondrial UPR is being honored by the plishments, supporters praise Haynes’ period of a few years, he has estab- ASBMB with the Young Investigator personability and desire to educate lished himself as the international Award. I am grateful to many others. In her nomination letter, leader in the mitochondrial stress including my laboratory members Marilyn D. Resh at Memorial Sloan response eld, an active and medi- as well as those in the mitochondrial Kettering Cancer Center cited Haynes’ cally highly relevant area of research and stress response communities active involvement in graduate school to which he has contributed the most that make these areas of research so teaching and mentoring and said he is incisive discoveries.” a popular invited speaker for national Haynes’ research career began in exciting. – COLE HAYNES and international meetings and the lab of Antony Cooper at the Uni- seminars. Nunnari also praised Haynes versity of Missouri–Kansas City. Using for being “a real delight to spend time yeast as a model organism to study support for his nomination, Nunnari with in general,” explaining that his stress response pathways in the endo- said the now Haynes “is making excel- dry wit helped him easily transition plasmic reticulum ignited Haynes’ lent progress identifying the human from a colleague to a friend. interests in the UPR and led him to counterparts (of the mtUPR), which Haynes’ award lecture, “Adapta- take a postdoctoral research posi- will have a major impact on the eld.” tions to mitochondrial dysfunction via tion at New York University School In 2010 in the journal Cell, Haynes interorganelle communication,” will of Medicine. While there, Haynes identi ed the activation of ATFS-1, take place at 4 p.m. Monday, April studied the role of the mitochondrial a previously unexplored transcription 5, in Room 6D of the San Diego Con- unfolded protein response, or mtUPR, factor that accumulates in the nucleus vention Center. as a mitochondrial stress pathway in in response to stress. is accumula- another model organism, C. elegans. tion triggers existing UPR pathways ough some human components are that in turn signal to the mitochon- Bree Yanagisawa lacking in this model, Jodi Nunnari dria that the cell is stressed. In more ([email protected]) at the University of California, Davis, recent work, Haynes showed that is a graduate student at expressed con dence in Haynes’ abili- not only is ATFS-1 important in the the Johns Hopkins School of ties to expand his conclusions from mtUPR response, but it also illustrates Medicine and managing editor of C. elegans to humans. In her letter of a completely novel method of gene the Biomedical Odyssey blog.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 39 WALTER A. SHAW YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD IN LIPID RESEARCH Ejsing’s mass spec work ‘will be essential for further progress in the field’ By Preethi Chander
Christer Ejsing, associate profes- new generation of mass spectrometers sor at the University of Southern for lipidomics. Since 2009, Ejsing Denmark, is the recipient of the 2016 has continued his pioneering work in Walter A. Shaw Young Investigator lipidomics at his own independent Award in Lipid Research from the laboratory in Denmark. He is also the American society for Biochemistry founding member of the Danish Lipid and Molecular Biology. e award Research Society and serves on the recognizes outstanding research editorial board of the journal Scien- contributions in the area of lipids by a ti c Data. young investigator who is an assistant In his nomination letter, Vytas professor (or equivalent) and has had Bankaitis at the Texas A&M Health no more than 10 years of experience Science Center said, “Christer Ejsing since receiving a Ph.D. or MD. is simply a winner — he is driven, he Ejsing’s research focuses on the has exactingly high standards, and he development and application of mass I am truly honored and humbled is a ‘hard-core’ analytical biochemist. spectrometry to understand how lipid to receive this year’s Walter Shaw In my view, he is at the very top of the Young Investigator Award. I am metabolism is regulated on a global young investigator cohort involved in very grateful to my colleagues for scale. He successfully has applied studying lipidomics and is already a the nomination. is award would shotgun mass spectrometry methods pioneer in that eld.” Tobias Wal- not have been possible without to high-throughput lipidomics to ther of the Howard Hughes Medical the support of great mentors and characterize comprehensively the yeast Institute and Harvard University is contributions from colleagues, lipidome — the rst such analysis in a a former Shaw award recipient who eukaryotic cell. Using this technique, students and our funding agencies. also supported Ejsing’s nomination Ejsing and collaborators also were able – CHRISTER S. EJSING and describes him as “a humble and to describe lipid sorting during vesicle friendly colleague … always helpful,” biogenesis in living cells. is is a feat the Max Planck Institute talks about who has “the highest standard for his that previously had been impossible Ejsing’s latest quantitative proteomics work.” with existing technologies. work on regulators of the cellular Ejsing will deliver the award On the experimental side, Ejsing lipidome. Simons describes the work lecture, “Functional lipidomics: from has developed a new surface sampling as “a truly impressive advance (that) lipid timelines to regulation of meta- method that streamlines lipid extrac- will be essential for further progress in bolic networks,” Tuesday, April 5, at tion for tissue imaging by mass spec- the eld.” 4 p.m. in Room 6F of the San Diego trometry. On the computational front, After an early education in Den- Convention Center. he has created an open-source software mark, Ejsing went on to do his Ph.D. platform, ALEX, to streamline data and postdoctoral training at the Max Preethi Chander (chander. processing to extract quantitative lipid [email protected]) did her Ph.D. Planck Institute in Dresden, Ger- in biochemistry and molecular data from mass spectrometry data. In many. ere he developed innovative biology and her postdoctoral work his letter supporting Ejsing’s nomina- experimental and computational tools in eye and vision research and is tion for the award, Kai Simons at to harness the analytic power of the interested in science policy and communications.
40 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 DELANO AWARD FOR COMPUTATIONAL BIOSCIENCES Yeates an ‘exceptional structural biologist’ By Jen McGlaughon
Todd Yeates, professor of biochem- Research Institute, where he was later istry at the University of California, made an adjunct professor. In another Los Angeles, won the 2016 Ameri- letter of support, his Scripps colleague can Society for Biochemistry and Ian Wilson said that Yeates’ “teach- Molecular Biology’s DeLano Award ing of the most complex subjects in for Computational Biosciences for his crystallography and structural biology exceptional contributions to the eld is exceptionally clear and profound” of computational structural biology. and that he considers Yeates the “go-to e DeLano Award is presented guy” for dicult protein structure to investigators who develop acces- determination or analyses. sible and innovative computational Yeates continues to develop applications to advance the life sci- innovative and novel computational ences. Yeates has developed a number approaches to address issues in struc- of computational tools widely used by tural biology. His most recent work It is a special honor to be recognized the structural biology community in involves designing proteins that self- by an award named for someone the areas of protein structure analysis, assemble into complex structures, such who made such a broad impact at crystallography, comparative genom- the intersection of molecular biology as cubic cages. As David Eisenberg at ics, bioengineering and protein design. and computing. Warren DeLano’s UCLA stated in his nomination letter, One of Yeates’ rst major contribu- vision to help others understand and this work “will surely propagate and tions was the computational program appreciate macromolecular structure lead to a major long-term impact on ERRAT, which validates the accuracy is an enduring legacy. the area of biodesign and nanobio- of protein structures. ERRAT has – TODD O. YEATES tech.” become a powerful tool for interpret- Eisenberg goes on to say, “Yeates’ ing and re ning X-ray crystallography work stands out with respect to its data, is accessed on the UCLA Web for making functional predictions diversity, originality and impact,” and server by researchers about 8,000 about proteins from genomic data. Wilson praises Yeates for his pur- times per month, and has been cited ese have had broad impacts on the suit of discovery with “tremendous more than 1,000 times. eld of comparative genomics, and the imagination and air.” By sharing “his Another widely used computational original paper on protein phylogenetic programs, advances and insights freely method he developed addresses the pro les has received more than 1,700 the community,” Wilson adds, “all our complex crystallography problem citations. research can be advanced, improved known as twinning. Twinning is the Yeates received his Ph.D. in and accelerated.” symmetrical intergrowth of two sepa- biochemistry from UCLA in the lab Yeates’ award lecture, “Symmetry rate crystals, and Yeates’ algorithms for of Douglas Rees, where he played a and computational methods in the analyzing these problematic crystals key role in determining the crystal design of self-assembling protein can be found in a multitude of avail- structure of the Rhodobacter sphaer- materials,” takes place at 3:15 p.m. able software programs. Exemplifying oides photosynthetic reaction center. Monday, April 4, in Room 6B of the a key element of the DeLano Award, Rees wrote in his letter of support San Diego Convention Center. Yeates made the algorithms available for Yeates’ nomination of the award to the community long before they that Yeates is an “exceptional struc- tural biologist with a unique focus Jen McGlaughon (jla254@cornell. were included in software packages. edu) is a graduate student in the Additional computational methods on theory, experiment and computa- molecular biology and genetics developed by Yeates and made acces- tion.” Yeates went on to complete his department at Cornell University. sible to the community include tools postdoctoral fellowship at e Scripps
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 41 BERT AND NATALIE VALLEE AWARD IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE Nobelist Sancar ‘an essential figure’ in DNA repair By Alexandra Taylor
Aziz Sancar at the University of and hosted many international visiting North Carolina School of Medicine, scientists to his laboratory. He and his a 2015 Nobel prize winner, won the wife founded a Turkish cultural center American Society for Biochemistry near the UNC campus, as well as the and Molecular Biology’s Bert and Aziz and Gwen Sancar Foundation for Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical educational and charitable purposes Science for his research on a type of to increase understanding of Turkey, DNA repair called nucleotide excision and to promote closer ties between the repair and the enzyme photolyase, United States and Turkey.” which lead him to study the circadian Sancar earned his medical degree clock. Both areas have implications for from the Istanbul University School cancer prevention and treatment. of Medicine in Turkey and studied at e award was established by the Johns Hopkins for a year and a half on Bert and N. Kuggie Vallee Foundation I am honored to receive the Bert and a NATO fellowship. e fellowship in 2012 to recognize established sci- Natalie Vallee Award and dedicate was distributed on the basis of merit entists with outstanding accomplish- it to my Ph.D. mentor C.S. (Stan) to students who wished to pursue ments in basic biomedical research. Rupert who discovered DNA repair advanced degrees in science and tech- In his recommendation letter for and to the students and postdocs nology in NATO countries. Sancar Sancar, Jerard Hurwitz at the Sloan- who have worked in my lab for later earned his Ph.D. in molecular Kettering Institute says, “Dr. Sancar’s the past 33 years to understand the biology from the University of Texas work has focused on the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair. at Dallas, where he conducted research mechanism of DNA damage repair, – AZIZ SANCAR under C.S. Rupert, who discovered initially studied in E. coli and now in the enzyme photolyase in 1958. Dur- mammalian cells. His laboratory has ing his postdoctoral fellowship at Yale Hall Laboratory at the Francis Crick also studied the circadian clock sys- University, Sancar invented a simple tem, which depends on the photolyase Institute, received the Nobel Prize for method for identifying plasmid- system in lower forms and crypto- chemistry for their contributions to encoded proteins in E. coli, known as chromes in higher eukaryotes. ese the eld of DNA repair.) maxicells. He began teaching bio- somewhat disparate research e orts, Sancar “always impressed me by chemistry and conducting research at primarily through Dr. Sancar’s work, his intensity in pursuing his research UNC, Chapel Hill, in 1982. In 1997, have been linked together since the goals, by his drive towards clarify- he was named the Sarah Graham cryptochrome system acts as a repair ing biochemical processes to the last Kenan distinguished professor, a system in higher eukaryotes.” detail, and by his highly infectious position he still holds today. Sancar Paul Modrich at the Howard enthusiasm for research,” writes was elected to the American Academy Hughes Medical Institute and Duke Johann Deisenhofer at the University of Arts and Sciences in 2004 and the University, who has collaborated with of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Sancar on several papers and who in his recommendation letter. He National Academy of Sciences in 2005. was a co-winner of the 2015 Nobel, credits Sancar as “an essential gure Sancar’s award lecture will take supported Sancar’s nomination for the in making DNA photolyases the ‘best place at 8:55 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, in ASBMB award. He says, “Aziz Sancar’s understood enzymes.’” Room 6B of the San Diego Conven- contributions to the DNA repair eld Sancar also was nominated for the tion Center. are legendary. I can think of no one award by Judith Bond at Penn State more worthy of the Vallee Awards in University and Henrik Dohlman at Alexandra Taylor Biomedical Science.” UNC, Chapel Hill, who say he “has ([email protected]) is (In December 2015, Sancar, provided valued service to our com- a master’s candidate in science munity. He has trained over 50 gradu- and medical writing at Johns Modrich and Tomas Lindahl, at Clare Hopkins University. ate students and postdoctoral fellows
42 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 ASBMB–MERCK AWARD Breaker ‘vastly expanded our appreciation of the versatility of noncoding RNAs in biology’ By Nicole Parker
Ronald R. Breaker, of the Howard synthetic biology experiments. eir Hughes Medical Institute and Yale creation of the rst catalytic DNAs led University, has won the 2016 Ameri- to the discovery that enzymes made of can Society for Biochemistry and DNA or RNA can exploit cofactors to Molecular Biology–Merck Award. e increase their catalytic power just like award recognizes outstanding contri- protein enzymes. is work validated butions to research in biochemistry DNA as the third natural polymer and molecular biology. with enzymatic activity. Breaker has done pivotal work Breaker’s work has established that establishing the importance of riboswitches are in bacterial pathogens ligand-binding RNAs in biology. He and can serve as antibacterial drug discovered and characterized more targets. His work also has established than 20 natural allosteric RNAs, theoretical speed limits for various cat- called riboswitches, and showed that e scope of noncoding RNAs is alytic strategies by proteins, RNAs and they demonstrate complex behavior, vast, and it is so rewarding to work DNAs. According to Pollard, “ ese melding cooperative binding, dual with a research team that brings studies using biochemical and molecu- ligand binding and intrinsic catalytic many skills to bear. Our explorations lar biological methods by Ron Breaker activity. In addition, he engineered the require approaches ranging from and his colleagues vastly expanded rst examples of RNA switches and bioinformatics and genetics to our appreciation of the versatility of enzymes made of DNA. His group’s biochemistry and synthetic chemistry noncoding RNAs in biology.” development of key bioinformat- — which would exceed the abilities Breaker has a bachelor’s degree in ics tools also paved the way for the of any one person. biology with a chemistry minor from discovery of numerous functional – RONALD R. BREAKER the University of Wisconsin, Stevens noncoding RNAs that are essential for Point, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Purdue University. He is a How- bacterial survival. discovered riboswitches but identi ed ard Hughes Medical Institute investi- In his letter nominating Breaker that they are structurally complex and gator, and his honors include election for the award, omas Pollard at Yale can function as cooperative or tandem to the National Academy of Sciences recounted Breaker’s many discoveries, “digital” switches, co-factor-mediated and the Eli Lilly Award from the including riboswitches. “Breaker and ribozymes and allosteric ribozymes. In American Society of Microbiology. He his co-workers independently discov- addition, most riboswitches operate in holds several patents for his discovery ered and studied 24 of the 25 classes the absence of proteins and as a result of riboswitches and methods for their of metabolite-binding riboswitches played a role in how our early ances- use as well as nucleic acid catalysts. reported to date,” Pollard said. tors were able to regulate complex Breaker’s award lecture, “Prospects Riboswitches are regulatory segments biological processes prior to the evolu- for noncoding RNA discovery in of a messenger RNA molecule that tion of proteins. bacteria,” will take place at 2 p.m. can bind a small molecule, thereby Before the discovery of ribo- changing the expression of the protein switches, the Breaker group used Tuesday, April 5, in Room 6B of the encoded by the mRNA. directed evolution to create the rst San Diego Convention Center. As a result of selective binding to examples of engineered RNA switches small molecules like co-enzymes, amino and catalytic DNAs. As a result of his Nicole Parker (nparke11@jhu. acids and ions, riboswitches control the work, a eld of RNA switch engineer- edu) is completing her Ph.D. expression of many key metabolic genes ing has emerged, and the switches in biochemistry and molecular in all types of organisms. now are used as biosensors and as biology at the Johns Hopkins Breaker and his group not only designer gene control elements in School of Public Health.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 43 HERBERT TABOR RESEARCH AWARD Roeder ‘a consumate biochemist and absolute perfect fit’ for the honor By Aditi Dubey
Robert G. Roeder, head of the with puri ed enzymes and associated Laboratory of Biochemistry and factors isolated from cellular extracts. Molecular Biology at e Rockefeller At Washington University School of University, won the Herbert Tabor Medicine, and now at Rockefeller, Research Award for his pioneering Roeder has researched the most funda- work on eukaryotic transcription mental aspects of eukaryotic transcrip- initiation. tion mechanisms, as well as regulatory e Tabor award recognizes out- factors implicated in cell growth standing scienti c accomplishments, and di erentiation, oncogenesis and excellence in biological chemistry and homeostasis. molecular biology, and signi cant “Our understanding of the abso- contributions to the community of lutely central biological events of scientists. e award is named after primary RNA transcript initiation the Journal of Biological Chemistry’s and the enormously complicated set Given my personal admiration of longtime editor. of proteins involved in regulation Herb Tabor for his lifelong scholarly Roeder’s accomplishments include of initiation has pro ted more from biochemical research and profound the identi cation of three distinct the work of Robert G. Roeder than contributions to the scienti c nuclear RNA polymerases, develop- community through his dedication any other scientist in the world,” ment of cell-free in vitro transcription to the JBC and the ASBMB, it is a says James E. Darnell Jr., emeritus initiation assays, and the characteriza- distinct and immeasurable honor to professor at Rockefeller in his letter tion of dozens of proteins involved receive the Herbert Tabor Research nominating Roeder for the award. in transcriptional initiation and its Award. And while this award is “Having known Herb Tabor at a regulation by gene-speci c factors. His personally rewarding in view of distance when I was in Harry Eagle’s work also has played a signi cant role my own 45-year devotion to the lab in 1956–60, I admired him greatly in elucidating the importance of his- arts and pleasures of biochemistry and am very pleased for my very great tone and chromatin modi cations for and molecular biology, I hope it friend Roeder.” the regulation of transcription factor will continue to serve as inspiration A member of the National Acad- activity and, in turn, gene expression. for others, including my many emy of Sciences since 1988, Roeder A leader in this eld, Roeder is known trainees, to pursue excellence in these has won the 2003 Albert Lasker for his exceptional dedication and disciplines. Award for Basic Medical Research, scienti c rigor. – ROBERT G. ROEDER the 2010 Salk Institute Medal for In support of Roeder’s award Research Excellence, the 1999 General nomination, Stephen Buratowski at Motors Cancer Research Foundation’s Harvard Medical School says, “ ere at the University of Washington while Alfred P. Sloan Prize (shared with are very few people who can justi ably in the laboratory of William J. Rutter. Tjian), the 2000 Gairdner Foundation claim to have given birth to an entire ere he discovered and worked on International Award and the 2002 eld of research, and even fewer who various forms of RNA polymerases ASBMB–Merck Award (shared with can remain at the cutting edge of that found in eukaryotic organisms. He did Roger Kornberg), the 1986 National eld for four decades. Bob Roeder is his postdoctoral work with Donald Academy of Sciences U.S. Steel Award one of those rare individuals … Much D. Brown at the Carnegie Institu- in Molecular Biology, the 1999 Louisa of what undergraduates learn in basic tion of Washington and thereafter Gross Horowitz Prize (shared with molecular biology textbooks traces continued to work on the isolation Robert Tijian and Pierre Chambon), back directly to his work.” and functional characterization of and the 2012 Albany Medical Center Roeder hails from Boonville, Ind. RNA polymerases and to demonstrate Prize in Medicine and Biomedical He completed a Ph.D. in biochemistry accurate transcription of speci c genes Research (shared with Darnell).
44 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 CONTINUED FROM PAGE X mate biochemist, an absolute perfect tors, coactivators and chromatin,” Steven McKnight at the Univer- t for the Tabor award. Very much takes place at 6p.m. Saturday, April like Herbert Tabor, Bob is impeccably 2, in Room 20 B/C of the San Diego sity of Texas Southwestern Medical honest and unusually humble and Convention Center. Center at Dallas and president of the understated relative to the enormous ASBMB, says of Roeder, “He has done impact of his science.” Aditi Dubey ([email protected]) more to elucidate the mechanisms Roeder’s award lecture, “Eukary- is a postdoctoral associate at controlling transcription in eukaryotic New York University studying otic transcription mechanisms: from mechanisms of placode cells than any person in the world, nuclear RNA polymerases to general development in Xenopus. dead or alive … Bob is a consum- initiation factors, gene-speci c activa- ! HERBERT A. SOBER LECTURESHIP Sligar lauded for nanodisc disovery and generosity By Kristian Teichert
Stephen Sligar at the University soluble in solution. ese assem- of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign won blies consist of small lipid discs held the American Society of Biochemistry together by a sca old protein — a and Molecular Biology’s Herbert A. derivative of apolipoprotein A1. By Sober Lectureship for his discovery, properly controlling the stoichiom- development and use of nanodisc etry, single-membrane proteins can be technology. e Sober lectureship embedded in the discs. Additionally, recognizes outstanding biochemical the size of the discs can be controlled and molecular biology research, with a by engineering di erent lengths of the special emphasis on the development sca old protein. of methods and research techniques. is format allows researchers to A signi cant portion of Sligar’s circumvent challenges such as solubil- research encompasses membrane- ity and functionality and proceed with bound proteins, such as cytochrome studies of the structure and mecha- P450, which is involved in critical Progress in scienti c discovery nistic determination of the proteins. activities such as hormone synthesis. requires two major pieces. One is In his letter of support for Sligar’s According to Robert B. Gennis at the the innovative idea that brings new nomination for the award, Joshua Illinois, Urbana, who nominated Sli- perspective to a perplexing problem. Wand at the University of Pennsyl- gar for the lectureship, researchers who Equally important is the technological vania says, “ e nanodisc is literally study membrane proteins long had infrastructure to bring the thought revolutionizing access to details of been faced with the lack of a “simple to reality. When we discovered the integral membrane protein structure, and reproducible procedure for isolat- self-assembly of membrane proteins dynamics and function.” Even more ing these systems in a monodisperse into nanodiscs over 10 years ago, to his credit, Sligar freely distributed and functional form.” Simply put, it each construct and component of the we initially thought of this as an was extremely dicult to isolate the nanodisc system to anyone who asked immediate solution to a roadblock proteins in order to study them. for it. While studying human high- in our own work. e broad While a remarkable achievement, density lipoproteins, Sligar was struck applicability, however, has moved Sligar’s revolutionary insight did not by their discoidal shape and thought us into completely new research begin with nanodiscs. In studying that perhaps by self-assembling areas such as cancer signaling — the cytochrome P450, Sligar noticed that membrane proteins into the bilayers most exciting and ful lling aspect of speci c, site-directed mutants would he could create a situation where the academic research! be instrumental in further understand- membrane protein was in its native – STEPHEN G. SLIGAR ing the mechanisms of this protein. environment and the entire entity was CONTINUED ON PAGE 46
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 45 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 is technology later was used to and began his independent academic William Atkins at the University of generate recombinant sperm whale career at Yale University. He returned Washington says that, in a time before myoglobin, human hemoglobin and to Illinois in 1982 and is now a the HIV protease. Truly a milestone tenured professor in the biochemistry recombinant protein production was in the eld of biochemistry, recom- department. a common activity, Sligar “exploited binant DNA technology has allowed Sligar’s award lecture, “Revealing the power of molecular biology and researchers to generate quantities the structure and function of mem- became the rst to utilize synthetic of proteins required for biophysical brane proteins through nanotechnol- gene technology for any heme protein analyses, such as crystallography or ogy,” will take place at 3:10 p.m. with a codon-optimized, restriction nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Tuesday, April 5, in Room 6B, of the site optimized” gene. ese manipula- Sligar received his undergradu- San Diego Convention Center. tions allowed for simpli ed mutagen- ate degree in physics from Drexel esis and high expression of proteins, University in Philadelphia. He then Kristian Teichert (Teichert.k@ such as rat cytochrome b5 in bacteria. pursued both a master’s and Ph.D. in As with the nanodisc system, Sligar husky.neu.edu) is a biochemistry physics at Illinois. Sligar continued his student at Northeastern distributed both wildtype and mutant postdoctoral training in biochemistry University. constructs of rat cytochrome b5 freely. at the University of Illinois, Urbana, ! RUTH KIRSCHSTEIN DIVERSITY IN SCIENCE AWARD August ‘unselfish proponent of access to STEM careers’ By Allison Frick
Avery August, professor of immu- as African-American, Hispanic or nology and chair of the department American Indian/Alaska Native and of microbiology and immunology are pursuing doctorates in engineer- at the Cornell University College of ing, the physical and natural sciences, Veterinary Medicine, won the 2016 or mathematics. August’s mentorship Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science achievements at Cornell extend to the Award for his advocacy and mentoring university’s Broadened Experiences of underrepresented minorities in the in Scienti c Training program. As a sciences. primary investigator for BEST, Avery e award honors outstanding sci- researches ways for graduate students entists who are committed to helping and postdoctoral fellows to get experi- underrepresented minorities enter the ences that will prepare them for career scienti c enterprise and thrive within opportunities beyond traditional posi- it. August was selected as this year’s tions in academia. winner by the American Society for Ruth Kirschstein was a huge advocate August says he wants to create an Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s for diversity at the National Institutes easier path for the next generation of of Health. So to be considered even Minority A airs Committee. underrepresented minorities in sci- worthy of being considered in that roughout his career, August ence. “I’ve been really, really lucky … has been an advocate for underrep- company is just a huge honor for me. to have gotten help from people who resented minorities. He established – AVERY AUGUST came before me … Seeing the paucity the Bridges to the Doctorate Program of scientists of color in meetings, in at Pennsylvania State University. obtained funding from the Alfred P. the academy, in the industry … that Funded by the National Institutes of Sloan Foundation’s Minority Ph.D. really drives me,” he says. Health, the program helps students Program to recognize Cornell as a When August was 16 years old, from Alcorn State, a historically black Sloan University Center of Exemplary he immigrated to Los Angeles from college, matriculate into doctoral Mentoring. e MPHD program Belize with his mother and siblings. programs at Penn State. August also supports students who self-identify He says he soon was bored at his L.A.
46 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 high school and didn’t want to wait to paving his own road to success. by underrepresented minorities.” study more advanced material. Against “ at GED has just opened the By studying immune system cells a school counselor’s advice, August door for so many things for me,” said and the enzymes that control the dropped out of high school in his August. “It opened the door for me activation of these cells, August seeks junior year and took and passed the to go to community college, and that to understand how the immune sys- General Education Development tests. opened the door for me to go to Cali- tem takes on invading infections and He went on to community college fornia State University, which opened allergens, how allergies and asthma and later earned a bachelor’s degree the door for me to go to Cornell.” develop, and how symptoms can in medical technology at California August’s honors include plenary be reduced or prevented. His team State University, Los Angeles. is was lectureships at the Annual Biomedi- already has found that when speci c followed by a Ph.D. in immunology cal Research Conference for Minority enzymes, Tec family tyrosine kinases, from Weill Cornell Graduate School Students in 2005 and 2014 and the are targeted in mice, the mice do not of Medical Sciences. He was a distin- 2014 E. E. Just Lecture Award from develop asthma or allergies. guished professor of immunology and the American Society for Cell Biology, August’s award lecture, “Chemical director of the Center for Molecular which recognizes outstanding scienti c genetic analysis of mast-cell activa- Immunology and Infectious Disease at achievement by a minority scientist. tion,” will take place at 2:40 p.m. Penn State before accepting his current In his letter nominating August for Sunday, April 3, in Room 6B of the position at Cornell. this award, Squire Booker, at Penn San Diego Convention Center. August says he keeps a framed copy State, says, “(August) is an outstand- Allison Frick ([email protected]) of his GED in his oce because it rep- ing biochemist/molecular biologist, an is the ASBMB’s print and digital resents the start of his academic jour- outstanding teacher and mentor, an media specialist. ney and is a reminder that he didn’t let outstanding leader, and an unsel sh someone else’s opinion stop him from proponent of access to STEM careers ! WILLIAM C. ROSE AWARD Baserga honored for work on ribosomes and commitment to teaching and mentoring By Mariana Figuera–Losada
Susan J. Baserga, professor of ribosome biogenesis, the nucleolus, molecular biophysics and biochemis- human diseases of making ribosomes try, genetics and therapeutic radiology (ribosomopathies) and the impact of at Yale University, is the winner of the ribosome biogenesis on cell growth, American Society for Biochemistry cell division and cancer. Her work and Molecular Biology’s William C. established the small subunit (or Rose Award for her valuable contribu- SSU) processome as the large ribonu- tions to ribosome biogenesis research cleoprotein required for processing and her dedication as a teacher and a and assembly of the small ribosomal mentor. Joan Steitz and Karla Neuge- subunit. She continues to study 17 bauer at Yale nominated Baserga for new proteins rst described in a 2002 the Rose award, which is given to report in the journal Nature, to de ne scientists who have made outstand- their role in making ribosomes as part ing contributions to biochemical and of a large RNA–protein complex. molecular biology research and have a Utterly surprised, utterly grateful, Mechanistically, Baserga was the rst proven commitment to the education utterly happy to be doing science! to show that nucleolar RNA helicase of younger scientists. activity was regulated by protein co- Baserga has a long-standing – SUSAN J. BASERGA factors and demonstrated RNA-bind- interest in fundamental aspects of CONTINUED ON PAGE 48
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 47 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47 ment of biomedical research. engineering and medicine. ing protein Esf2 activation of Dbp8 In his letter of support for Baserga’s Baserga also has been the associate director of Yale’s M.D./Ph.D. program ATPase activity in vitro. Furthermore, nomination for the award, Joseph G. and was a member of the National she proposed the Utp24 protein as Gall at the Carnegie Institution of Institute of General Medical Sci- a pre-rRNA cleavage enzyme for the Science wrote, “Susan is not afraid to ences study section for training-grant rst time. In collaborative work, tackle dicult molecular problems. review. She is the program director for she has studied the e ect of lack of She has been unusually successful in the largest graduate training grant at ribosome biogenesis on the cell cycle elucidating the complexities of RNA- Yale (in cell and molecular biology), and of deubiquitination on ribosome based cellular machines and the way is the director of medical studies and biogenesis. Recent work includes a they control everything from tran- has been the course director for the collaborative publication with crystal- scription and transcript processing to medical student biochemistry course lographer Traci Hall of the National translation by the ribosome.” Jonathan Warner at Albert Einstein College since 2002. In 2014, Baserga won the Institute of Environmental Health Charles W. Bohmfalk Prize for teach- Sciences on a novel fold in the RNA- of Medicine also supported Baserga’s nomination, writing “She had the ing in the basic sciences. binding protein Puf-A/Puf6. Baserga earned her bachelor’s and Baserga has published key initial insight to select an important problem and to pursue it from a variety of master’s degrees at Yale, a medical studies on the molecular pathogenesis degree at the Yale School of Medi- angles, digging deeper and deeper, of North American Indian Child- cine and a Ph.D. from Yale’s depart- learning new and important facts lead- hood cirrhosis as a potential disease of ment of human genetics. She was an ing to new and important concepts.” ribosome biogenesis. Because of the assistant professor at the Yale School At Yale, Baserga is a driving force increasing number of ribosomopathies of Medicine and has been a profes- for education at the undergraduate, that are being described, almost all of sor in the departments of molecular graduate and postgraduate levels. She which are congenital diseases, Baserga biophysics and biochemistry, genetics, has moved recently to the study of chairs the Beckman Scholars Pro- and therapeutic radiology at the same ribosome biogenesis in embryonic gram, which funds research for Yale institution since 2007. development in sh, with collabora- undergraduates, and has served on the Baserga’s award lecture, “When tor Pam Yelick of Tufts University, steering committee of the Howard good ribosomes go bad,” is scheduled and frogs, with collaborator Mustafa Hughes Medical Institute Under- for 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, in Khokha of the Yale University School graduate Science Program; her school’s Room 6B of the San Diego Conven- of Medicine. To recapitulate the Teaching Support Committee; and tion Center. phenotypes of these ribosomopathies the Undergraduate Advisory Com- and to study their molecular basis, the mittee of the Science, Technology and Mariana Figuera–Losada Baserga lab uses yeast and human cell Research Scholars Program. e latter ([email protected]) is an lines as well as animal models and has supports underrepresented minorities associate scientist at Albert established a bench-to-bedside con- and economically underprivileged Einstein School of Medicine in nection fundamental for the advance- students studying science, technology, the Bronx. ! ASBMB AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION Brenner is devoted to ‘cutting-edge education’ and serving the biomedical community By Samarpita Sengupta
Charles Brenner, professor and Award for Exemplary Contributions own teaching, education leadership, head of the biochemistry depart- to Education. e award recognizes research, mentoring, writing or public ment at the University of Iowa, those who encourage e ective teach- enlightenment. won the 2016 American Society for ing and learning of biochemistry Debra Schwinn of the University of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and molecular biology through their Iowa, who nominated Brenner for the
48 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 award, says that Brenner exempli es courses. ese changes are expected commitment to “cutting-edge educa- to improve medical preparation and tion” by going above and beyond to bene t the multitude of students who ensure that educational opportunities begin in premedical tracks and end up are broadened for students. At Iowa, doing something else. he helped develop a new semester- Brenner is also active in science out- long biochemistry course for rst-year reach. Brenda Schulman of St. Jude’s dental students that builds on their Children’s Research Hospital and a undergraduate training in biochem- member of the ASBMB Council, istry. In addition to teaching under- whow wrote in support of Brenner’s graduate biochemistry, he helped craft nomination for the award, notes that a program that allows biochemistry Brenner “champions raising general postdocs to be appointed instructors interest in molecular biology and of a biochemistry laboratory course for biochemistry through what I can best Since moving to Iowa, I have had the a semester. describe as ‘fun’ content in ASBMB.” pleasure of teaching metabolism to Brenner’s most recognizable contri- Brenner received his Ph.D. with undergraduates and engaging with bution to education is in the area of Robert Fuller at Stanford Univer- fellow educators in chemistry and premedical education. When the Asso- sity. After postdoctoral training with biology, and in graduate, medical, ciation of American Medical Colleges Gregory Petsko at Brandeis, he began physician assistant, dental and began the planning process to revise his independent academic career at pharmacy programs. While there is the Medical College Admission Test, omas Je erson University before always some inertia and there are the it became clear that core competencies moving to Dartmouth University and challenges brought by more students in biochemistry would be required nally to Iowa. Brenner has served as and limitations of resources, I have for premeds. However, the AAMC chairman of the ASBMB Publications been pleased to see undergraduate made no recommendations about the Committee and currently chairs the institutions adapt to meet student courses or educational structures nec- editorial advisory board of ASBMB needs and that some medical and essary for students to attain these com- Today. Milestones of Brenner’s professional schools continue to petencies. Brenner realized that about research include the discovery of the understand that biochemistry has 500,000 U.S. college students a year eukaryotic nicotinamide riboside not simply become an undergraduate begin their studies as premeds, such kinase pathway and dissection of that curricular changes could have a subject. It is a language and a set of the roles of DNA methylation and profound e ect on many more stu- tools that researchers, educators and demethylation in the epigenetic regu- dents than the approximately 20,000 people in the health professions use lation of tumor suppressor genes. that annually matriculate in medical to understand health and disease. Brenner’s award lecture, “Biochem- schools. In March 2012, Brenner and ere is still much work to be done istry and molecular biology educa- Dagmar Ringe of Brandeis University to focus the premedical chemistry tion in a transforming academy and published premedical curriculum curriculum on the organic chemistry a molecular world,” will take place at recommendations in ASBMB Today of functional groups, to improve 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3, in Room that were endorsed by many lead- our students’ understanding of 6B in the San Diego Convention ing biochemists. Additionally, in statistics and genetics, and to ensure Center. peer-reviewed articles in the journal that biochemical understanding is Biochemistry and Molecular Biology extended en route to medical, dental Samarpita Sengupta is a Education and the Journal of Chemi- and pharmacy degrees. I appreciate scientific research writer in the cal Education, Brenner advocated for a the support of ASBMB in helping to neuroscience research develop- spread these messages. ment office at the department of rigorous grounding in genetics, chemi- neurology and neurotherapeutics cal reactivity and biochemistry and the – CHARLES BRENNER at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical inclusion of data analysis in laboratory Center.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 49 Chasing the North American dream By Eleftherios P. Diamandis
n a warm October day in 1986, Toronto. During that time, I’d met a give lectures and act as consultants for I boarded a jumbo jet in Ath- lot of people who expressed interest in the government. We received awards, O ens, Greece, with my wife, my employing my wife and me, were we including corresponding membership 5-year-old daughter and my 3-year- to come back. to the prestigious Academy of Athens. old son. It had been only a week since Looking back at this move after 30 When we came to Canada, our I had nished my medical degree at years, I can cite a lot of positives. But thinking was rather simplistic. We the University of Athens, and my wife more interesting to me now are the would concentrate on our professional and I, both of us Greek natives born many diculties we faced that I had success and our family. At rst, as we on the island of Cyprus, had chosen not anticipated when we made the worked hard to become established, to leave our country behind. We were decision to go. we didn’t pay attention to the issues bound for a new life in Toronto. of acculturation that were slowly but Why did we make such a choice? The successes steadily arising for all of us. At the time, both my wife and I held We were a professional success in tenured positions as assistant profes- Living outside of your Toronto. I ascended to the highest sors at the University of Athens, and ranks of academia, opened a research natural habitat our decision to give them up and chase the North American dream lab and published extensively. My wife In our native Cyprus, the winters seemed crazy to everyone we knew still enjoys her work as a senior sci- were short and mild. When we wanted in Athens. But our motivations were entist at a major hospital. Along with to see snow, we had to wait until Janu- clear to us. our professional accomplishments ary and then take an excursion from e nancial troubles Greece is fac- came nancial success. our village to the highest mountain ing today were not much di erent in In 1974, while in Greece and in the country. When we arrived in 1986. At the time, the university was Cyprus, we tasted the bitterness of a Toronto, we thought we would grow o ering us a research budget of $100 war that had exploded between the accustomed to the colder weather and per year and no other opportunities to Greek and Turkish Cypriots, severing it would not become an issue for us. apply for competitive funding. To do Cyprus into two and turning half of Unfortunately, acclimatizing is not our research, we used to look around the Greek Cypriot population into as easy as it sounds. I now think that and see which reagents were available, refugees. During this period, I was the human brain is wired to live in its then plan our experiments. It was called to the army, and I saw rsthand natural habitat and that some of our very clear that real research was going that the wildest animal on Earth is a brain circuitry malfunctions under to be impossible under such condi- man at war. Our transition to Canada totally di erent environmental condi- tions. We felt we had no other choice; immediately relieved our family of the tions. Immigrants are known to su er if we wanted to stay in the eld and mishaps of a war that continued on from anxiety disorders much more our research to thrive, we had to go for years after we left. frequently than native populations, somewhere else. Being an academic that worked and I now believe that vastly di erent In between my medical studies abroad also gave me a lot of prestige weather and other foreign stressors can in Athens, I’d taken two years o in my native country, and my wife render the unprepared brain vulner- to train as a clinical biochemist in and I started getting invitations to able to psychological disorders.
50 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 Typically sunny day near the beach in Protaras, Cyprus. The Toronto skyline in winter. WIKIMEDIA USER JOHN VETTERLI Family disconnect culture in a large and mixed society. we originally thought that they would Somebody told us that second-gener- marry people from our own nation, When we left Cyprus, we left ation immigrants who cannot speak but nally we had to agree with them behind our aging parents and many their native language can no longer that their best spouses would be the siblings. Our children have grown preserve their culture, and we nd this ones they most liked, independent of up deprived of interaction with their to be true. To try to counter this loss what our culture suggests. grandparents and vice versa. In our early on, we enrolled our children in culture, staying close to your immedi- Greek school on Saturdays and Sun- Epilogue ate family is the norm. Immigration days. Naturally they rebelled, insisting Our transition from a poor country to a distant country is painful for weekends should be about pleasurable to a rich and advanced country those who leave and for those who activities, not schooling to catch up has been a grand professional and stay. e situation becomes more dif- with your parents’ culture. We have nancial success. But I’ve come to cult as time goes by, because even if now accepted that our culture likely believe that the true measure of suc- you visit regularly, you often cannot will not be passed on through our cess should include the happiness of be home in times of need. children. children, parents and other family and take into account cultural and health Friends and community Children issues. When we are young, our focus Immigrants initially try hard to When we came to Canada, my two is mostly on professional and nancial establish themselves and often do not children could not speak English, and goals, and other factors are not antici- have much time to develop friend- the rst few years in local schools were pated or considered. Would I have ships and participate in community a nightmare for them. My son became made a di erent decision that October activities. Many immigrants also tend aggressive because he could not com- day if I had had to consider everything to want to stick together but can municate and was frustrated with that my family and I ultimately would have a hard time nding others from people talking to him in a language he go through? I will never know. their home countries and ultimately did not understand. It took a few years develop only limited circles of friends. for them to get accustomed to all that Eleftherios P. Diamandis was di erent about their new country, ([email protected]) is a professor and head of the and it was tough for us to see them Culture clinical biochemistry division at struggling. the University of Toronto. He holds We came from a country rich with When they eventually grew up, we an endowed chair in prostate cancer biomarkers history and culture. But we’ve found started thinking of their future fami- at Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health it is extremely dicult to preserve our lies. As is customary in our culture, Network in Toronto, Canada.
MARCH 2016 ASBMB TODAY 51 CAREER INSIGHTS Research spotlight A Q&A with University of Arkansas’ Clemencia Rojas By Andrew Macintyre
Tell us about your current career position. I am an assistant professor in the department of plant pathology at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. I use tools from molecular and cellular biology to understand how patho- genic bacteria cause diseases in plants and how plants sense and respond to pathogen threats. e ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to counteract the e ects of plant diseases in crops. is in turn will lead to improved food production for the growing human population. What are the key experiences and decisions you made that have helped
you reach your current Clemencia Rojas position? project involved working with a fungal responses gave me enough con dence Every single experience in my life pathogen that causes disease in rice. to establish my own lab. has contributed to my career. I was Our main collaborator in that project, exposed to an academic environ- Morris Levy, invited me to work in his How did you first become ment early in life. My parents are lab at Purdue University as a research interested in science? professors at Colombian universities assistant. While I was working at and instilled in my brother and me Purdue, I took graduate-level classes a passion for education. ey also and later obtained a master’s degree One day, when I was about 8 years set very high standards for us, and, in genetics. I decided to continue old, I saw on TV a cartoon about as a result, we both wanted to study with my Ph.D. and was admitted to a man in a white lab coat mixing in the best universities in Colombia Cornell University, where I studied a things in a lab with smoke coming bacterial pathogen that causes rot in a and abroad. I attended Universidad out of some test tubes. I thought that wide range of plants. To complete my de los Andes in Colombia, and two looked pretty cool, and from then training, I joined the Samuel Roberts professors recommended me for an Noble Foundation and worked with on I wanted to be a chemist. How- internship at the International Center Kiran Mysore to investigate how ever, because my target university for for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia. plants defend against pathogens. Hav- undergraduate studies did not o er at experience was fundamental to ing expertise in both pathogen strate- a chemistry degree, I decided to join shaping my career path, because my gies to cause disease and plant defense the microbiology program, which
52 ASBMB TODAY MARCH 2016 performance is out of the question. she stayed at home with my brother required taking chemistry classes every You have to be committed to every- and me until we started school. When Research spotlight semester. In the second semester, while thing you do, strive for excellence we were older, she started acquiring taking my rst bacteriology class, I and challenge yourself to come out of more responsibilities, and now, at age A Q&A with University of Arkansas’ Clemencia Rojas observed bacteria under the micro- your comfort zone. If you feel your 73, she is the dean for the school of scope, and I was in awe. I fell in love background is a limitation, seek men- social sciences at a Colombian univer- By Andrew Macintyre with the eld of microbiology and tors; you will be surprised to nd that sity. She has understood her priorities a lot of people are very generous and continued pursuing it. at the di erent stages of her life and willing to give advice and help. has ful lled her roles as wife, mother Were there times when you and career woman to the fullest. She What are your hobbies? has shown me that it is possible to failed at something you felt Spending time with my family. strike a balance between a family was critical to your path? life and an academic life, and that is something with which I constantly If so, how did you regroup What was the last book you struggled. and get back on track? read? My scienti c role model is my Ph.D. adviser, Alan Collmer. He is I am a very positive person, and I do not have time for leisure read- hence I don’t consider any of my bad ing, but my 9-year-old son introduced a symbol of excellence, integrity and experiences as failures. In one way or me to Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson leadership. He is also an outstanding another and in retrospect, all of the & the Olympians” and “ e Heroes human being and a bona de mentor dicult experiences and the conse- of Olympus.” I was hooked on these who is able to appreciate the di er- quences of my bad choices have had books, and so they became my leisure ences among people and extract the positive outcomes. Of course, living reading in addition to giving me best from everyone. through them was not fun, but I tried quality time to spend with my son. Of to remain in control, considered all course, I also have to read “Berenstain What is it that keeps you the scenarios, asked for advice and Bears,” “ omas the Train,” “Curious working hard and studying made rational rather than emotional George,” “Mercy Watson,” etc. to my decisions. 4-year-old. science every day? e thrill of discovering something What advice would you Do you have any heroes, nobody knew before. It is not easy, heroines or role models? If and it is frequently challenging to give to young persons gure things out, but, after you do, from underrepresented so, describe how they have the result is well worth the e ort. backgrounds who want to influenced you.
pursue a career in science As a woman, my mom has been Andrew Macintyre (amacintyre@ a role model, because she went to asbmb.org) is an education similar to yours? college when it was not customary in and professional development Regardless of background, science Colombia for young women to do so. manager at the ASBMB. is a very competitive eld, and average Although she was a college graduate,
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