Vol. 13 / No. 11 / December 2014

The member magazine of The American Society For Biochemistry And Molecular Biology CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES PERSPECTIVES

2 12 22 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE GOING GLOBAL WITH GENOMICS EDUCATION Time machine Using active-learning approaches 18 in a lecture hall 4 ‘SCIENCE AND ART MIX SO NEWS FROM THE HILL BEAUTIFULLY TOGETHER’ 24 The policy year in review MINORITY AFFAIRS 20 Like water in a desert 5 PUT A SMILE AROUND YOUR NECK MEMBER UPDATE 26 18 OUTREACH 6 Science to a beat JOURNAL NEWS 6 Protein, you can’t hide anymore! 30 7 Englund writes about his ‘passion for professional development parasites’ How to write a teaching philosophy statement 7 How enzymes came to be when you don’t have a lot of classroom 8 Metalloproteins and their metals experience (or even if you do) 9 Investigating the link between noncoding RNAs and alcoholic liver disease 32 10 Niacin and triglycerides OPEN CHANNELS 32 Mugs for scientists 11 33 The giving list: supporting science with NIH UPDATE 20 annual donations Money, sex and cell tracking 32 6

12 26 Researchers at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History want to advance the genomics of as many life forms on Earth as possible. But first they need to figure out the small details that will make or break the effort.

Image courtesy of James Di Loreto, Smithsonian

december 2014 ASBMB Today 1 president’s message

ing the Clock gene, he quickly recog- relative to wild-type strains when In a spectacular, two-page paper nized that it encoded a transcription grown under a 12-hour-to-12-hour published in 2005, Kondo and col- The member magazine of The American Society factor – it had a distinct bHLH DNA light-to-dark cycle. Amazingly, vari- leagues showed that this Kai complex for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Time machine binding domain. That discovery ants with a long period — such as 28 undergoes rhythmic changes in phos- By Steven McKnight represented a critical, missing piece of hours — out-competed the wild-type phorylation with a period of 24 hours Officers Council Members the puzzle. In short order, Takahashi strain when grown under a 15-hour- (10). In other words, a complex reas- Steven McKnight Natalie Ahn and others established that the genes to-15-hour light-to-dark cycle (9). sembled from recombinant proteins President Squire J. Booker controlling circadian rhythm specify These experiments demonstrated has all of the properties of a biochem- Karen G. Fleming his is the story of a spectacular Jeremy M. Berg the parts list for a negative transcrip- the importance of circadian time- ical clock — a virtual time machine. Past President Gregory Gatto Jr. triumph of biochemistry. The Daniel Leahy Author’s note tion feedback cycle such that the keeping for biological fitness of cya- Complexes composed of mutated Kai Karen Allen story builds upon the founda- Secretary Anjana Rao T pathway could be understood in clear nobacteria. Among the many mutants I’ve decided it’s prudent to take a variants known to have a short period Jared Rutter tion of more than four decades of Toni Antalis and simple terms (8). discovered to affect timekeeping in Brenda Schulman break from the debate about the in living cells displayed a short oscil- Treasurer research on circadian rhythm. Michael Summers quality of reviewers on National Perhaps the coolest piece of the cyanobacteria, the most prevalent Centuries ago, the French botanist latory period in the test tube, and Institutes of Health study sec- circadian rhythm puzzle came from class fell into the kaiA, kaiB and kaiC complexes composed of long-period Ex-Officio Members Jean-Jacques d’Ortous de Mairan ASBMB Today Editorial tions. The American Society for studies of the single-celled marine genes. The products of these three variant polypeptides displayed a long Dorothy Beckett Advisory Board considered how it might be that Mary Roberts Biochemistry and Molecular microbe Synechococcus elongates genes organize into a complex cen- oscillatory period. Charles Brenner Co-chairs, 2015 Annual the leaves of acacia trees zipper up Chair Biology governing council met — a cyanobacterium. Susan Golden, tered with a KaiC hexamer having the That the reconstituted, recom- Meeting Program at night and then open at dawn for Michael Bradley Carl Johnson, Takao Kondo and oth- approximate ratio of KaiA:KaiB:KaiC Committee maximal capture of sunlight. The in mid-November with Richard binant Kai complex has all of the Floyd “Ski” Chilton ers used forward genetics to discover of 1:1:4. The KaiC hexamer has both Peter J. Kennelly Nakamura, director of the NIH’s working parts necessary to create an Cristy Gelling most sensible interpretation, at least Chair, Education and cyanobacterial variants with altered autophosphorylation and autode- Peter J. Kennelly Center for Scientific Review. The isolated and fully accurate biochemi- Professional Development for a simple-thinking person like me, Rajini Rao discussion was enlightening, and circadian periods. In a particularly phosphorylation activities, with KaiA Committee would have been that the earliest rays cal clock represents a breathtaking Yolanda Sanchez the data presented will inform beautiful series of experiments, they enhancing autophosphorylation and discovery. This, my friends, is the Daniel Raben Shiladitya Sengupta of sunlight might trigger the leaves to Chair, Meetings Committee my future columns on this topic. showed that short or long period KaiB attenuating the stimulatory beauty of biochemistry. The field Carol Shoulders open up to optimize photosynthesis. variants were at a fitness disadvantage effect of KaiA. Takita Felder Sumter No, in the complete absence of In the meantime, I encourage needed genetics to open the door, Chair, Minority Affairs ASBMB Today you to take a quick poll on the Committee sunlight, the leaves of the acacia tree but it was hardcore biochemistry that Angela Hopp ASBMB Today website about the ReferenceS Thomas Baldwin opened right at dawn, giving evidence showed us the precise workings of the Editor, [email protected] 1. De Mairan, J.J.O. Histoire de l’Academie Royale des Sciences, ARS, Paris. 35 – 36 (1729). Chair, Outreach Committee that the plant has a built-in clock (1). current state of our NIH peer- Kai time machine. What a triumph Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay 2. Konopka, R.J. & Benzer, S. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 9, 2112 – 2116 (1971). Bob Matthews Sr. Science Writer, This internal timing device allows review system. Visit www.asbmb. of science! 39 Chair, Public Affairs [email protected] org/asbmbtoday to participate in 3. Zehring, W.A. et al. Cell , 369 – 376 (1984). Advisory Committee the plant to anticipate when the sun Marnay Meyer 4. Bargiello, T.A. et al. Nature 312, 752 – 754 (1984). should be coming up. In hindsight, the poll. Steven McKnight (steven. Kathleen Collins Designer, [email protected] 5. Vitaterna M.H. et al. Science 264, 719 – 725 (1994). Chair, Publications the advantage of anticipation is [email protected]) Lauri Pantos 89 Committee 6. Antoch, M.P. et al. Cell , 655 – 667 (1997). is president of the American Publications Technology obvious. tists showed that expression of the 7. King, D.P. et al. Cell 89, 641 – 653 (1997). Society for Biochemistry and Martha J. Fedor Manager, [email protected] Insight into the nature of the regu- period gene was itself rhythmic over a Editor-in-chief, JBC 8. Lowrey, P.L. & Takahashi, J.S. Adv Genet. 74, 175 – 230 (2011). Molecular Biology and chairman Ciarán Finn latory system controlling circadian 24-hour period. of the biochemistry department at the University Herbert Tabor Web Assistant, [email protected] 9. Ouyang, Y. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 8660 – 8664 (1998). Co-editor, JBC rhythm got a huge boost from fruit Two decades of research in the lab of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Karen Schools Colson 10. Nakajima, M. et al. Science 308, 414 – 415 (2005). A. L. Burlingame Director of Publications, fly genetics a bit more than 40 years of Joe Takahashi enhanced the under- Editor, MCP [email protected] ago. In an unusually inspired series of standing of how things fit together. Edward A. Dennis Barbara Gordon experiments, Ron Konopka and the Takahashi took exactly the same Joseph L. Witztum Executive Director, approach as Benzer and Konopka Co-editors, JLR [email protected] late Seymour Benzer found muta- tions that cause fruit flies to have a — forward genetics. Instead of fruit Wanted: lab pranks longer than normal period of circa- flies, Takahashi was sufficiently bold Have you ever pranked a colleague in the lab? Have you been dian rhythm, a shorter than normal to use chemical mutagenesis and For information on advertising, contact Fox Associates Inc. the victim of a (hopefully harmless) prank? Send us your story at 800-440-0231 or [email protected]. period, or no circadian rhythm at all. forward genetics with mice as his for a special feature in April. Email [email protected]. Remarkably, all of these mutations experimental species. Like Benzer mapped to the exact same gene — the and Konopka, Takahashi found his fly period gene (2). gene — Clock — wherein a specific www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday Beautiful, beautiful genetics — yes. ENU-induced mutation resulted in a PRINT ISSN 2372-0409 But advances toward mechanism had lengthened circadian period (5). Like Take the ASBMB Today readership survey Articles published in ASBMB Today reflect solely the to wait decades until the period gene Young, Rosbash and Hall, Takahashi authors’ views and not the official positions of the We value your opinion. Put your email address in the form for American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular could be cloned. This was achieved painstakingly chased down his Clock Biology or the institutions with which the authors are the final question to enter our drawing for $20 Amazon gift affiliated. Endorsement by ASBMB Today or ASBMB independently by Mike Rosbash and gene by positional cloning (6, 7). of products or services mentioned is not implied. Jeff Hall (3) and Mike Young (4). Unlike his predecessors, however, cards. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2014ASBMBToday How cool it was when these scien- Takahashi got lucky. Upon sequenc-

2 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 3 news from the hill member update

The policy year in review Three members elected to Institute of Medicine Notable changes that affected scientists in 2014 By Chris Pickett

y all accounts, 2014 was an some time. However, earlier this year, Congress active year in science policy. the NIH reversed course and now The midterm elections that resulted B While Congress had only a allows unlimited submissions. If an in Republicans taking control of the modest effect on science policy dur- application is rejected after the first U.S. Senate dominated this year’s ing the past year, federal agencies submission, principal investigators political headlines. But when it comes made important changes that will allowed to submit a response to the to science policy, we won’t see the Elliot L. Chaikof Gerard Karsenty John Joseph O’Shea Jr. affect scientists from all disciplines. reviews during the second submis- effects of this until 2015. There was Harvard Medical School and Columbia University National Institute of Arthritis and Here are some science-policy high- sion. However, a failed second sub- quite a bit of talk on the campaign Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases lights from 2014. mission will not prevent the PI from trail about what the government resubmitting the same grant applica- should do with regard to the Ebola The Institute of Medicine in October elected 70 new members and 10 foreign associates. Three members National Institutes tion during a subsequent cycle. The outbreak in West Africa. However, it of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology were among those chosen by active of Health results of this new policy will play remains to be seen if Congress will members at the IOM’s annual meeting. Election to IOM is one of the highest honors for those in the out in 2015. take any action. health and medicine fields. The NIH made significant policy The most notable Congressional changes in a variety of areas. Efforts National Science action this year with regard to sci- to improve the reproducibility of Foundation ence was taken by U.S. Reps. Fred Benovic, Catterall College proud to claim Halpert appointed preclinical research moved forward Upton, R-Mich., and Diana DeGette, with important changes to data and France Córdova became the direc- D-Colo., of the U.S. House Energy to give ASPET talks alumnus Kozak dean at UConn methods reporting in research papers. tor of the NSF this year, while James and Commerce committee. They Leslie P. Kozak, who earned his James Halpert is The agency also issued several grants Olds took over at the Biological launched the 21st Century Cures undergraduate degree in 1964 at St. now dean of the to improve diversity in the biomedical Sciences Directorate. However, the initiative, a bipartisan effort to pass John Fisher College in Rochester, University of research workforce through univer- NSF story that dominated 2014 legislation that removes bureaucratic N.Y., was one of five alumni inducted Connecticut sity collaborations and mentoring was about the Republicans on the roadblocks to discoveries of drugs this year into the college’s Science and School of networks. The NIH and individual U.S. House Science, Space and Tech- Technology Hall of Fame. A professor Pharmacy. Before and technologies. The committee Benovic Catterall Halpert institutes also addressed important nology committee continuing to press held several roundtable events and at the Institute of Animal Repro- being appointed issues such as workforce training, the agency over the release of confi- hearings addressing various top- Jeffrey L. Benovic of Thomas Jef- duction and Food Research of the in June, Halpert was a professor and funding people instead of projects dential merit-review materials. The ics concerning basic research, drug ferson University and William A. Polish Academy of Sciences, Kozak the associate dean for scientific affairs and the sex of research animals representatives accuse the agency of development, clinical trials and data Catterall of the University of Wash- initially attended college part time to at the University of California, San used in experiments, among many using scarce taxpayer dollars to fund sharing. We expect 21st Century ington will give lectures at the annual accommodate his professional hockey Diego. Before that, he was chairman others. frivolous science, and they want to Cures legislation to be introduced at meeting of the American Society career. In the early 1960s, he played of the University of Texas Medical Arguably the most notable change review the confidential materials con- the beginning of 2015. After such an for Pharmacology and Experimental in the National Hockey League for Branch’s pharmacology and toxicol- in NIH policy in 2014 was to allow cerning the grant application reviews. eventful 2014, we expect nothing less Therapeutics in the spring in Bos- the Toronto Maple Leafs. He went on ogy department and held various unlimited grant application submis- Córdova has resisted releasing these in 2015! ton. Benovic won the Julius Axelrod to earn in 1969 a Ph.D. in biochem- other leadership positions. Halpert’s sions. In 2009, the NIH instituted a materials, saying that doing so would Award in Pharmacology. His talk will istry from the University of Notre research focuses on the structure and Chris Pickett (cpickett@asbmb. function of cytochromes P450. He is policy that grant applications could damage the merit-review system. This org) is a policy analyst at ASBMB. be titled “Arresting developments in Dame and has spent the years since be submitted only twice, cutting debate does not appear to be losing receptor signaling.” Catterall will give as a researcher. “Something laid down an American Association for the back from the three-submissions any steam and will continue into the Norman Weiner Lecture. His in that gentle and nurturing time Advancement of Science fellow and a policy that had been in place for 2015. talk will be titled “Structural basis at Fisher provided the background, past editor of the journal Drug for function and pharmacology of which, together with the competitive Metabolism and Disposition. voltage-gated sodium and calcium drive associated with becoming a Interested in science policy? channels.” ASPET’s annual meet- professional hockey player, ignited Contact us Follow our blog for news, analysis and commentary on policy issues ing will be held alongside ASBMB’s my infatuation with scientific discov- Send news and announcements affecting scientists, research funding and society. Visit policy.asbmb.org. at the Experimental Biology 2015 ery, and I have never looked back,” to [email protected] conference in March. Kozak said.

4 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 5 JOURNAL NEWS Protein, you can’t hide anymore! Englund writes about his ‘passion for parasites’ An improved method for the detection of protein-protein interactions By Angela Hopp By Alok Upadhyay “I knew nothing, and had thought notable helping of DNA replication in trypanosomatids, nothing, about parasites until 1971,” self-awareness. which cause a handful of devastating A recent report published in the writes Paul Englund in the Journal He describes human diseases in tropical areas. journal Molecular & Cellular of Biological Chemistry. “In fact, how he first stum- Read about Englund’s scientific Proteomics by scientists from if you had asked me before then, I bled upon the journey at www.jbc.org/content/by/ The Rockefeller University details might have commented that parasites intriguing world section/Reflections. an improved method for detecting were rather disgusting.” Englund of parasitology — protein–protein interactions in a cell’s Angela Hopp ([email protected]) Englund, professor emeritus at the by reading a paper about a parasite natural environment. In this method, is editor of ASBMB Today. Johns Hopkins University School of found in lizards — and ended up dubbed stabilized affinity capture Medicine, infuses his recent “Reflec- spending the next four decades unrav- mass spectroscopy, or SAC-MS, the tions” article with a dash of wit and a eling the intricacies of kinetoplast authors combined commonly used techniques and standardized a proce- dure to affinity-capture proteins and subsequently identify them by mass spectrometry. Protein–protein interactions are How enzymes came to be required in essentially all biological By Maggie Kuo activities. A tremendous amount of research is being done to understand these interactions and their relation- Consider the decarboxylation of Other studies have shown that the ship to human diseases. A number The stabilized affinity capture mass spectrometry (SAC-MS) pipeline for targeted determination of specific orotidine 5′-phosphate reaction. This extent to which artificial catalysts of experimental techniques exist to protein–protein interactions and proximities in cellular milieu. reaction is essential for the synthesis enhance the reaction rate increases isolate and identify these interac- of DNA. Without the correspond- as temperature decreases. If early tions, including isolation of protein in conventional protein complex tion of native interactions, efficient ing enzyme, the uncatalyzed reac- enzymes behaved like this, Wolfenden complexes using specific antibodies isolation methods.” (affinity) isolation, and minimal tion would take millions of years contends, as the Earth cooled, the (collectively termed affinity capture). The SAC-MS technique has three interference with MS readout,” the to complete. With the enzyme, the rate enhancement from the enzymes Although traditional affinity-capture steps: authors wrote. reaction happens in milliseconds. would have increased, compensating methods are used widely and have 1) flash-freezing samples in liquid The authors validated the SAC-MS The Journal of Biological Chem- for the decrease in the reaction rate aided in scientific discoveries, they nitrogen to preserve the native cel- approach by studying two different istry’s recent thematic minireview itself. Studies also have reported that suffer from major shortcomings, lular environment and molecular protein complexes: the nuclear pore series focuses on how enzymes the rate of genetic mutations is sensi- such as inability to capture weak or interactions, followed by fracturing complex and the minichromosome acquire and optimize their traits for tive to temperature. The generation transient protein interactors, and samples at -80°C into microchunks; maintenance complex. Their find- such efficiency. of genetic variants might have been are unable to differentiate proximal 2) glutaraldehyde treatment to ings suggest that they have identified If the reactions necessary for life extremely prolific at the early stages (direct binding) from distant or indi- stabilize protein–protein interactions transient interactors, distinguished occur so slowly, how could an enzyme of the evolutionary process. rect associations. via crosslinking; and false positives from real interactors, even begin to evolve from its ancestral What interactions change as an enzyme evolves? In the second review, Brian Chait, who led the research 3) affinity capture of associated and deciphered direct and indirect form? In the first review of the series, part of the chemical reaction coor- Judith P. Klinman of the University project, describes this methodology as proteins (see figure). associations along with improved Richard Wolfenden of the University dinate. The chronological order of of California, Berkeley, and Amnon a “step forward in protein interaction The affinity-captured complex then yields of many protein components of of North Carolina at Chapel Hill mutations also is important, as some Kohen of the University of Iowa studies in a cell’s native environment.” is subjected to mass spectroscopy to the complexes with SAC-MS. discusses how temperature changes mutations in higher organisms can present examples of how protein He added: “This technique allows us identify individual components. as the Earth developed encouraged support the chemical step only if ear- dynamics and the chemical reaction to capture and identify specifically The salient feature of this method, Alok Upadhyay (alok7930@gmail. the evolutionary process. Recent lier mutations have occurred. Studies com) is a postdoctoral associate being catalyzed influence enzyme evo- associated proteins that may not have which sets it apart from other meth- studies demonstrated that very slow in two highly related alcohol dehy- at Fox Chase Cancer Center. His lution. For dihydrofolate reductase, been feasible — such as transient ods, is the use of sub-stoichiometric reactions, like some in the body, are drogenases that function at extremely major research area is Notch sensitive to temperature, supporting residues directly affecting the reaction and/or weak interactors, interactions amounts of glutaraldehyde with signaling regulation during cell different temperatures showed how step were shown to evolve together, that undergo rapid exchange, or even respect to reactive amino acid fate decisions and neural crest stem cell develop- the idea that the very warm tempera- protein dynamics can increase the those that do not survive the normal residues in the protein. “This low ment. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ tures of primordial Earth would have although the functions of residues biochemical isolation conditions used molar ratio is optimized for stabiliza- alok7667. accelerated their rates dramatically. that coevolved were not necessarily Continued on page 8

6 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 7 Continued from page 7 synergy, or epistasis, suggesting how the reactions catalyzed vary dramati- metal homeostasis. Gram-positive bacterium provides The fifth minireview, by Crysten specificity and function developed as cally between the subgroups. How- In the second minireview, JoAnne a model for the regulation of Fe2+ Blaby−Haas at the University of Cali- efficiency of the catalyzed reaction enzymes evolved. ever, all the subgroups initiate their Stubbe from the Massachusetts Insti- and Mn2+ homeostasis that involves fornia, Los Angeles, delves into the by creating active site configurations tute of Technology and co-authors three regulatory proteins, Fur, MntR with highly specific internuclear Enzymes in the same superfam- reactions by the same strategy. role of metal transporters in storage describe the competition between Fe2+ and PerR, to sense the intracellular distance and charge, illustrating one ily share a common partial reaction Many enzymes accept a number organelles for loading and unloading and Mn2+ for ribonucleotide reduc- levels of Fe2+ and Mn2+ and the ratio way proteins can adapt to different or chemical capability. However, of substrates to catalyze a chemical the metal. Along with animal systems, tase. They discuss how organisms use between them. environmental conditions. the reactions that enzymes within reaction. In the final review, Debra yeast- and plant-based models have either one or both of these metals The fourth minireview, by James What structures and functions did the same superfamily catalyze can Dunaway–Mariano of the University contributed to our understanding in this enzyme and how perturbed Imlay from University of Illinois at an enzyme acquire at each evolution- vary widely. In the fourth review, of New Mexico and Karen N. Allen of vacuoles and related organelles as environmental and genetic conditions Urbana–Champaign, discusses how ary step? In the third review, Charles Shoshana D. Brown and Patricia C. and colleagues of Boston University mediators of metal homeostasis. cause mismetallation. oxidative stress causes mismetalla- W. Carter Jr. of the University of Babbitt of the University of Califor- discuss how a cell capitalizes on this In the third minireview, John tion. Using E. coli as an example, North Carolina at Chapel Hill nia, San Francisco, explore how this promiscuity and how substrate ambi- Umesh D. Wankhade (udvets@ Helmann from Cornell University he explains how oxidation of Fe2+ by describes how Urzymes can be used divergent evolution occurs. Variations guity can occur. Substrate-ambiguous gmail.com) is a postdoctoral reviews the key factors regulating partially reduced O species perturbs fellow at the National Institute of to find these evolutionary intermedi- in the active site and other features enzymes carry out other cellular 2 Fe2+ and Mn2+ homeostasis in the the competition between Fe2+, Zn2+ Health’s diabetes, endocrinology ates. The Urzyme of an enzyme is can generate diversity while conserv- functions, such as removing toxic model organism Bacillus subtilis. The and Mn2+. and obesity branch. created by cutting away portions of ing common traits. The specific varia- metabolites and balancing metabolite the enzyme that are not conserved in tion differs by superfamily. In the two pools. Substrate ambiguity can be all members of its superfamily. What dinucleotide binding domains flavo- promoted by varying the size of the remains is the part that provides protein, or tDBDF, superfamily, the active site and increasing the number the catalytic activity, the core of organization of cofactors within the of locations that can contribute bind- In case you missed it the enzyme. While the Urzyme has active site are physically and chemi- ing energy through domain insertion. We hope you enjoy this excerpt from a Journal of Biological Chemistry Paper of the Week somewhat reduced catalytic activity, it cally constrained to limit how they author profile as much as we did. are used, while changing the protein- has lost much of its specificity. Carter Maggie Kuo ([email protected]) “Although I have received previous awards for various poster and oral presentations at CWRU, I references studies that demonstrate protein interactions allows different is an intern at ASBMB Today and take particular pride in winning the department’s legendary Stall−Pewis Award for excellence in the that adding protein domains can con- reactions to occur. In the nucleophilic a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical field of blooper biochemistry. My award-winning miscues in the laboratory have, therefore, become fer specificity and that these domains attack, 6-bladed beta-propeller, or engineering at Johns Hopkins part of a legacy of bloopers shared by such late legends as professors Harland Wood and Richard Han- University. RACCA influence specificity through their N6P superfamily, the active sites and son. (Corresponding author Michael Weiss) and I dedicate this present recognition to their memory.” – Joseph Racca, a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the first author of the JBC Paper of the Week titled “Structure-function relationships in human testis-determining factor SRY: An aromatic buttress underlies the specific DNA-bending surface of an HMG box.” Metalloproteins and their metals JBC thematic minireview series on metals in biology continues By Umesh D. Wankhade Investigating the link between

Metal ions are essential for the selectivity and affinity for certain noncoding RNAs and alcoholic liver disease function of more than one-third of metals and the consequences of By Jen McGlaughon all proteins. Many enzyme-aided the wrong metal attaching to an processes, such as nutrient absorption enzyme during a reaction known as and excretion, require certain metal mismetallation. Alcoholic liver disease is a term that short) in the regulation of hepatic System and collaborators in China ions at optimum concentrations both In the first minireview, a group of describes a wide range of damage cell proliferation and survival during began by identifying the miRNAs inside and outside of the cells. The authors led by Nigel Robinson from caused by the overconsumption of alcoholic liver injury via their ability that were differentially overexpressed Journal of Biological Chemistry Durham University in the U.K. dis- alcohol, including fatty liver, cir- to switch off specific target genes. in livers from mice that were fed recently published the sixth install- cusses enzymes’ metallation selectiv- rhosis, hepatitis and increased risk of Authors of a recent article in the ethanol compared with controls. ment of an ongoing series about the ity processes and the implications of hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to the Journal of Biological Chemistry They found that 0.8 percent of role of metals in biochemistry and metal deficiency. Under deficient con- variety of factors that likely influence investigated the precise mechanisms known miRNAs in the mouse liver human health. This year’s “Metals in ditions, enzymes compete for metal alcoholic liver disease (both genetic by which miRNAs contribute to were upregulated in the ethanol-fed Biology” series, coordinated by JBC ions in buffered metal pools inside and environmental), it is difficult to cellular responses in alcoholic group. Of those, the most upreglated Associate Editor F. Peter Guengerich the cells. As an example, the authors define the precise mechanisms by liver disease. miRNA was miR-21. of Vanderbilt University, features discuss the competition between Zn2+ which alcohol induces liver damage. Heather Francis, Gianfranco Upon in vitro overexpression of five review articles that describe and Mg2+ and Fe2+ and Mn2+ in the Recent studies have implicated Alpini and Fanyin Meng of the metal homeostasis in terms of enzyme context of metal-delivery systems in microRNAs (called miRNAs for Central Texas Veterans Health Care Continued on page 10

8 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 9 nih update

Continued from page 9 regulates cell survival by targeting targets involved in alcoholic liver dis- two well-characterized genes involved ease may provide key insights into the miR-21, cell survival was increased in in the apoptotic pathway, FASLG development of improved diagnosis Money, sex and cell tracking three different cell types from human and DR5. and novel therapeutic approaches for liver, indicating a possible role for Although IL-6/Stat3 signaling treating patients. By Samarpita Sengupta miR-21 in regulating the survival has been implicated previously in Jen McGlaughon (jla254@cornell. of hepatic cells in alcoholic liver alcoholic liver disease, this is the first edu) is a graduate student in the disease. Indeed, the authors found known linkage to alcohol-dependent molecular biology and genetics that miR-21, which they determined miRNA expression. The identification department at Cornell University. BRAIN awards two X chromosomes or one? Would a NIH has a challenge for you: The is regulated by IL-6/Stat3 signaling, of other noncoding RNAs and their male cell respond differently to your NIH Single-Cell Analysis Program, A wearable scanner to image the experiment than a female cell? In a or SCAP, is calling for innovators to human brain in motion. Lasers to commentary in the journal Nature look at a single cell in a mixed popu- guide nerve-cell firing. Radio waves over the summer, Janine Austin Clay- lation of cells and develop novel tools to stimulate brain circuits. DNA ton, the NIH associate director for and techniques to analyze and track a barcodes to identify complex circuits. women’s health research, and NIH single cell in situ over time. Cellular Niacin and triglycerides No, these are not items from the latest Director Francis S. Collins wrote heterogeneity, now widely accepted, By Mary L. Chang sci-fi thriller! They are among the 58 that there is a paucity of experiments can affect the function of an entire projects funded by the National Insti- designed to analyze the effects of sex. population of cells. Methods to iden- tutes of Health as part of the Brain There are known effects of sex on tify dynamic changes in the cell can Vitamin B , also known as niacin, is macro- Feingold, a JLR associate editor, 3 Research through Advancing Innova- several disease states, such as multiple derive information about the health used alone and with other medica- phages. explains: “If one inhibits the increase tive Neurotechnologies, or BRAIN, sclerosis, Parkinson’s and schizophre- of the cell and the population, allow- tions to decrease blood triglyceride In the in GPR109A/HCA2 that is induced initiative. In 2013, President Obama nia. Also, for example, stress affects ing researchers to develop diagnostic levels and prevent the progression of JLR study, by inflammation, the ability of the launched the BRAIN initiative to and therapeutic modalities to treat atherosclerosis. However, the mecha- a research males and females differently, and macrophages to accumulate lipid bridge the gap between the technolo- human diseases. The Follow the Cell nisms by which niacin affects these team led by males are more prone to substance is increased. This indicates that the gies available for neuroscience research challenge is a two-phase competition. lipid levels is not yet fully under- Kenneth R. abuse. However, more often than increase in GPR109A/HCA2 is play- and the areas of research most In phase I, contestants submit theo- stood. A study in the December issue Feingold not, these differences are neglected in ing a role in preventing or decreasing consequential to our understanding retical solutions. Entries are due by of the Journal of Lipid Research at the Uni- basic science research. To help bridge the increase in lipids in macrophages of this organ. In late September, the Dec. 15. After doing an initial round presents important findings about the versity of the gap, the NIH announced supple- that would typically occur with NIH announced the issuance of $46 of screening, a three-judge panel will activity of a common niacin receptor. California, mental funding of $10.1 million that immune activation.” million in grants, the first wave of review the submissions and award The intramembranous G-protein− San Francisco, treated mouse cells will go toward building a “body of The finding that increased expres- funding, to more than 100 researchers up to six prizes totaling $100,000 by coupled receptor GPR109A/HCA2 with lipopolysaccharide, a component sex-based knowledge, informing the sion and activation of this receptor all over the U.S. and abroad. These March 16. Phase II will involve real readily binds niacin and mediates of Gram-negative bacteria’s outer understanding of health.” “By making with niacin or other ligands can awards are the first round of awards data showing proof of principle from many of its effects. The receptor is membranes. The treatment activated strategic investments that incorporate inhibit feedback is novel and may in a 12-year plan aimed at developing the phase I entries. These are due by expressed predominantly in adipose macrophages, which increased expres- sex into existing funded studies, we inform researchers studying diabetes March 30, 2017, and up to two win- tissue and immune cells such as sion of the receptor. tools and technologies that will help are paving the way for researchers to and atherosclerosis, common diseases ning solutions will win prizes totaling macrophages, specialized white blood The esearchersr then targeted dissect and demystify complex neural better understand when sex mat- with roots in inflammation. $400,000. The phase II winners will cells that engulf and digest foreign the receptor with small interfering circuits with the hope that under- ters in their research,” said James M. be announced July 31, 2017. Happy particles. Previous research has shown RNA, or siRNAs. That decreased the standing how the brain works will Anderson, director of the Division of stalking! niacin treatment does not affect lipid receptor’s expression. Also, they saw help decipher therapies to treat a wide Program Coordination, Planning and Mary L. Chang (mchang@asbmb. variety of neurological disorders. levels in mice lacking this receptor. a small but statistically significant org) is publications manager for Strategic Initiatives, which oversees Samarpita Sengupta (samarpita. It also has shown that triglyceride increase in triglyceride accumulation ASBMB. the NIH Common Fund. [email protected]) is a postdoctoral fellow in the accumulation occurs when the nor- in macrophages in cells with targeted The X factor pharmacology and neuroscience mal innate immune response activates siRNA. Have you ever looked at a plate of May the best stalker win! departments at the University of cells and wondered whether they had Calling all wannabe cell stalkers! The Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

ASBMB journal articles optimized for the Web The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is piloting a new article-reading tool on its three Upcoming ASBMB events and deadlines journal websites. Called Lens, the tool allows a website visitor to view figures, legends, references and other parts of JANUARY FEBRUARY an article alongside the text and with backward and forward linking. Jan. 21: 2015 ASBMB annual meeting late-breaking ASBMB is one of six publishers on the Highwire platform that are piloting Lens, an open-source tool introduced Feb. 2: 2015 ASBMB annual meeting discounted registration deadline abstract deadline originally by the journal eLife. Visit the online versions of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (www.jbc.org), Jour- Feb. 6: Accreditation webinar nal of Lipid Research (www.jlr.org) and Molecular & Cellular Proteomics (www.mcponline.org) to test it out. Feb. 23: 2015 ASBMB annual meeting housing deadline

10 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 11 feature Going global with genomics Researchers at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History want to advance the genomics of as many life forms on earth as possible. But first they need to figure out the small details that will make or break the effort By Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay

taxidermied elephant greeted visitors with a raised trunk at A the main entrance of the Smith- sonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. It was a Monday morning on a regular workweek, but there was a busy hum of visitors clicking photos and getting their bearings. Up on the third floor, where the sounds of traipsing visitors dissipated, Jonathan Coddington, the museum’s associate director of sci- ence, laid out his grand vision for the museum’s Global Genome Initiative, which aims to accelerate genomic study of up to 50 percent of eukary- otic life forms on Earth. to species). “We want to collect Image courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian Rotunda “As a museum, we’re doing collec- genome-quality tissues of half the tion-based research,” he told me as genera of life on Earth,” said Cod- we got comfortable at a pine-colored dington, adding that the collection table in his office. Coddington, who will be made available to researchers. looked like a college professor in his The biorepository will hold black blazer, khakis and glasses, said 5 million tissue samples. By the end that in the 21st century, that means of 2015, museum researchers hope to the research has to embrace genomics have genome-quality tissues from 500 in addition to the classical physical families. morphology work that has dominated For the grand plans to become natural history studies for centuries. achievements, the scientists involved The Global Genome Initiative did first have to figure out some details not adopt the word “global” hast- that sound rather mundane but ily. There are somewhere between are essential for the success of the 160,000 and 200,000 genera on endeavor. For example: Which tubes Earth (all living things are ranked into categories, from family to genus Continued on page 14 Image courtesy of James Di Loreto, Smithsonian

12 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 13 Continued from page 13 preserve tissue during field collections But it looks like the scientists are getting closer to coming up with are the best for collecting the tissue without liquid nitrogen. The method tissue-collection protocols that will samples that will provide the DNA has to be cheap and easy. They have work on the global scale. On the for sequencing? to make sure whatever preservative is used doesn’t degrade the DNA to the first floor of the museum, molecular point that it can’t be used for genomic biologists in the glistening white Tubes and other troubles analysis. Laboratory of Analytic Biology, Coddington flicked through an During her trip to Djibouti, which many visitors don’t even realize assortment of screw-cap, 2-milliliter Dove, a petite woman with a bright exists within the museum, were busy tubes in a woven basket on the table. smile, saved her samples in etha- analyzing the quality of the DNA in He pulled out an inch-long white nol, dimethyl sulfoxide and sodium the tissue samples Dove brought back tube. This tube, he said, is the cur- dodecyl sulfate. from Djibouti. rent candidate for tissue collection. But what constitutes genomic- From the white bands on an But the problem with the tube – the quality DNA from samples subjected agarose gel under ultraviolet light, problem, in fact, with all of the tubes to the trials and tribulations of it was obvious that all the samples in the basket – is that “none of them travel? Coddington said that with the in the different preservatives gave is warranted by the manufacturers for sequencing instruments they have good-quality DNA. The news thrilled liquid phase nitrogen,” he said. now, such as the ones made by Pacific Dove, who was desperate to know Biosciences and Life Technologies, how the tissues fared. “We don’t have their working definition of “genome- to carry those heavy nitrogen tanks “We spent almost as much time preparing labels quality DNA” is having 50 percent all the time!” she exclaimed. But her as we did preparing birds.” of the DNA at lengths of 9 kilobases excitement was squelched by LAB or larger. biologists, who prefer to work with – CARLA DOVE Then there is the headache of keep- the gold standard of frozen tissues. ing track of boxes of 2-milliliter tubes Freezing samples in liquid nitro- with various tissue samples during Ramping up gen is the gold standard for tissue collection and analysis. While looking at one of the gels, preservation in the field. But the caps As head of the Feather Identifica- Coddington emphasized how pop off 2 percent of the tubes selected tion Lab at the museum, Dove made important it was for the Smithsonian by the Smithsonian researchers when the trip to Djibouti at the behest of scientists to work out the kinks in they are dropped into liquid nitrogen the U.S. Navy. She was to inventory sample collection and analysis. As the Dewar flasks in the field. When set- the biological diversity on Camp scale of the Global Genome Initia- ting up a biorepository of 5 million Lemonnier, which is being expanded. tive expands, the museum scientists tissue samples, we’re talking about Dove’s interest lies in obtaining bird don’t intend to get bogged down with 100,000 lost caps. DNA sequences to help identify those analyzing tissues from 100,000 differ- And that’s only one of the prob- involved in midair collisions with ent genera. They intend to farm out lems. Another is actually getting a aircraft. much of the sequencing. “We’re not hold of liquid nitrogen. On a recent While there, Dove and her team going to turn into the Broad Institute trip to Costa Rica, Coddington collected samples from 430 verte- and spend all our time sequencing,” said, he found only one town that brates, including a series of birds. said Coddington. Because the tissue sold the stuff. Another museum Dove did specimen preparation on collection and sequencing will hap- scientist, Carla Dove, had worse dead birds, as is her normal routine, pen all over the world, Coddington luck in the Republic of Djibouti this but she also collected tissues from the and his team want to be certain that summer. There was no liquid nitrogen birds for the genome initiative and they arm their collaborators with to be found in the entire country. popped them into the tubes with the sample collection and analysis proto- “When you start thinking about different preservatives. She discovered cols that are rock-solidly reliable and industrial-scale biodiversity genomics, that just making all the sticky labels easy to do. all the problems that attend to you for the tubes and making sure they Coddington, a spider expert in the field ramp up,” noted were cross-referenced back to the himself, has great hopes for the Coddington. correct birds was labor intensive. biodiversity collection. Only about So the 80 or so scientists at the “We spent almost as much time 1,000 eukaryotic genomes have been museum who are doing the genomic preparing labels as we did preparing analyses have to think about how to birds,” she said. Continued on page 16 Displays of samples at the Feather Identification Lab. Images courtesy of Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay

14 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 15 adis.com

Laboratories of Analytical Biology Image courtesy of Donald E. Hurlbert, James Di Loreto and Brittany M. Hance, Smithsonian

Continued from page 15 will enable higher-quality, finer-grain, more reliable environmental monitor- sequenced to date, and Coddington ing in important ecosystems,” said pointed out that scientists haven’t Coddington. “It will be important for paid close attention to phenotypes. climate change.” He also talked about Take the cow genome, he said. The the great likelihood of commercially DNA came from “a bull named important natural products emerging Dominico. Nobody seems to know from the project as scientists discover what happened to Dominico. In new species in their quest to sequence most cases, there is no actual physical them. voucher for the phenotype,” he said. The initiative also will be a basic researcher’s goldmine for understand- “But something, somewhere on Earth, is breaking those ing life itself. Coddington rattled off oddball facts: Sharks don’t get cancer; rules, and you wonder why.” there is a jellyfish that is immortal; – Jonathan Coddington and there is a marine worm that can regenerate an entire organ from a tiny cube of tissue. “For humans and Coddington explained that similar organisms, there are absolutely because Dominico’s sperm was used ironclad rules of biology,” Codding- AdisInsight for sequencing, genomics research- ton mused. “But something, some- ers did not record what Dominico where on Earth, is breaking those Written by scientists even looked like. Was he a brown rules, and you wonder why.” bull or a black bull? But that’s where For now, he and his team need he says natural history museums like to figure out how best to get tissues A database to support drug development and research, the Smithsonian come to the rescue from about 100,000 genera, evaluate – because they excel at cataloging the the DNA in each, and make the data based on trusted, scientifically sound data morphologies. As Coddington noted, available for scientists of today and Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay ([email protected]) “We’re all about phenotypes.” tomorrow. “We’re in the forever busi- is the senior science writer and The project isn’t simply about ness,” said Coddington. “Some of our blogger for ASBMB. Follow her creating a catalog of genomes. The collections are 200 years old. When on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ collection will become an essential we say we’re going to keep something, Visit adis.com/scientist rajmukhop. tool to understand biodiversity. “It we mean it.” A09898

16 ASBMB Today december 2014 feature

“Smart girls like fashion too.” Defying stereotypes: In undertaking these different ventures, Grey had to overcome ste- reotypes of what is expected of those ‘Science and art in different professions, especially for women in science. Science “felt very elitist when I was studying,” laments mix so beautifully Grey, who also modeled at one point. “People don’t take you as seriously if you don’t fit that stereotype.” Though Grey was more comfort- together’ able in the worlds of arts and fashion, her curiosity about science didn’t As a partner and program director diminish. She says she strives to bal- ance her interests in both domains. of Neuehouse, Michelle Grey gets to straddle For much of her career, it’s been a struggle, Grey admits, “of where can the worlds of art and science I express my creativity, be heavily By Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay and Geoffrey Hunt involved in the artistic and creative community but also have a cursory understanding and knowledge of the sciences.” ust a block away from Madison says. “I’m really excited to introduce That’s what makes her current Square Park in Manhattan sits science to the creative set and to see role so exciting. At Neuehouse, Grey J a place called Neuehouse. Part where they can meet creatively.” seems to have hit the perfect balance office space, part gallery, part bou- Creativity is Grey’s major passion, between the two worlds of science tique hotel and restaurant, the venue something that she has channeled and art, getting a particular thrill out describes itself as a “series of spaces, into all of her disparate endeavors of bringing them together in interest- experiences and amenities especially through the years, from science to ing ways. suited to ambitious innovators.” fashion to media. It hasn’t always Take, for example, a recent event It’s the kind of place where a been easy. Although she earned an that featured a discussion between fashion designer will sit next to an undergraduate degree in genetics with physicist Brian Greene and Ellie architect at a work table and an an honors year in immunology and Mannette, the inventor of the steel inventor can hope to find business microbiology, Grey knew she didn’t drum, about the physics of sound partners over coffee in the lounge. To want to be a researcher. Both her sis- waves. Or Speed Science, a col- boost the creative and entrepreneurial ters are scientists, and she knew from laboration with the Science and vibe of the place further, the monthly their experiences that a life at the Entertainment Exchange in which programming schedule features celeb- bench wasn’t her cup of tea. Instead, “seven scientists in seven different rities from across the cultural and she says was more intrigued by the art conference rooms talked for seven scientific spectrum. and craft of telling stories about sci- minutes about the most exciting part How does science find a place in ence “in a fun and entertaining way of their research,” according to Grey. this milieu? Enter Michelle Grey, a to the general public.” The seven scientists later regrouped in Image courtesy of Manolo Campion business partner at Neuehouse who That interest first led her to Passion for communicating science has taken Michelle Grey from the lab to programming director at the one of Neuehouse’s amphitheaters for Neuehouse creative work space. serves as director of programming. journalism. She became a writer and a roundtable discussion moderated “With a science background, presenter for a now-defunct TV show by filmmaker Scott Burns, who has begin to collaborate. Indeed, she finds science is a huge love of mine,” says in England called “Einstein TV.” She Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay directed “Contagion,” “The Bourne that there is a common thread that (rmukhopadhyay@asbmb. Grey. At Neuehouse, Grey aims to then moved back to her native Aus- Ultimatum” and “Side-Effects.” “That ties together scientists and artists. org) is the senior science writer develop initiatives that bring together tralia and contributed science pieces was a really amazing combination, “The main character trait is always a and blogger for ASBMB. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter. science with the arts into one syner- to radio programs, TV shows and life- having together scientists and a film- huge curiosity of life and a passion for gistic experience for the Neuehouse style magazines before launching Yen, com/rajmukhop. Geoffrey Hunt maker,” says Grey. what they are doing,” explains Grey. ([email protected]) is the patrons. “The arts can be an inspira- a magazine that carried “heavy-hitting From her vantage point, Grey sees “I think the crux of any successful ASBMB’s public outreach coor- tion for scientists, and scientists can articles on science, world politics and what can happen when scientists and person in science or in the arts is a dinator. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thegeoffhunt. be (the) inspiration for many things socioeconomics but also had a heavy artists emerge from their silos and real curiosity.” that are happening in the arts,” she fashion proposition.” As Grey says,

18 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 19 feature

ity of the molecule. Defying stereotypes: Hanna says she makes sure that the pieces retain their scientific accuracy, admitting that she is constantly ask- Put a smile ing herself, “Have I watered down the science behind the jewelry too much?” Ensuring that her work appeals to both scientists and non- around your neck scientists is important to Hanna. “I really wanted my stuff to be aesthetic Raven Hanna makes molecular jewelry, enough to appeal to people who aren’t necessarily attracted to the very geeky bringing out the art in science science stuff,” she says. By Geoffrey Hunt and Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay Of course, those who are attracted to the geeky science stuff make up a significant proportion of Hanna’s customer base. Her first major show- or Raven Hanna, the motiva- Instead, she was a dedicated scien- ing at an American Chemical Society tion to launch a science-themed tist, first getting her Ph.D. from meeting was an enormous hit. “It F jewelry company came from a Yale University in 2000 and then was so amazing to me that people dark place. completing a postdoctoral stint at the really love the stuff they work on, to While coping with an “emotion- University of California, Berkeley. the point where it’s not work. Their ally exhausting” relationship breakup, But she was getting restless in the lab. chemical is a member of the family,” Hanna, a molecular biophysicist “It was around the end of my postdoc she says. After that meeting, Hanna by training, was browsing sleepily that I was thinking more about how was inundated with requests from sci- through a book on neurotransmit- to communicate science to people entists asking her to make “whatever ters, trying to understand the science who don’t realize that science is really their favorite molecule was.” behind her emotional state. She stum- cool,” says Hanna, who decided to act The most challenging part of being bled upon a passage on serotonin. on her newfound interest by enrolling a professional jeweler, she says, has anna, who describes the molecule H in a science writing program at the been adjusting to the business side as being “symbolic of happiness,” had University of California, Santa Cruz. of things, such as having to learn an epiphany: This molecule “would Hanna still wasn’t sure about how to file taxes as a business owner. make a pretty necklace,” she recalls where her passions would take her The creative aspect of her business, thinking. career until she was approached in a however, comes naturally. “I have to When an Internet search for such Gap store by a teenager who inquired say that a lot of skills that I use doing an item came up empty, Hanna took about her serotonin necklace. “I sud- this are things that I’ve enjoyed doing matters into her own hands, enlisting denly found myself giving a science my whole life,” she says. “When I was While Hanna is comfortable with ImageS courtesy of Raven Hanna a local jeweler to make a silver sterling lesson,” she says. That interaction doing science, I felt there was a huge her choice, she occasionally runs into One of Hanna’s pieces is a chlorophyll necklace. pendant in the shape of serotonin. crystallized for Hanna the realization value on creativity that was respected people who wonder, “What does my Inspired by that experience, in that “I really wanted to communicate and honored.” Hanna says a “love of mother think about how I’m not the mid-2000s, Hanna launched her science through art.” experimentation and the willingness doing science anymore?” she says. one-woman science-themed jewelry Hanna chooses her designs care- to observe results in an objective way” Thankfully, Hanna, who is now company, Made With Molecules. fully, focusing on molecules that are, in her view, critical aspects of living in Hawaii, knows that her Blending her scientific background could be “really interesting and both artistry and science. current career is making an impact. with her natural creativity, Hanna also could be pretty as jewelry,” she As for jettisoning her life at the She says her customers are “looking produces pieces for people who, like explains. Examples include a neu- Geoffrey Hunt ([email protected]) bench in favor of one in the studio, for symbols in their life and none of is the ASBMB’s public outreach her during that painful period, are rotransmitter bracelet, a chlorophyll/ Hanna admits having certain regrets. the traditional symbols really appeal coordinator. Follow him on Twitter looking for physical representations of heme necklace that incorporates “I miss growing bacteria so much,” to them.” It therefore shouldn’t be at www.twitter.com/thegeoffhunt. their feelings. “People see their mol- semiprecious stones and nucleotide Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay she says with a laugh. However, surprising that they would turn to ecules as a personal symbol,” she says. earrings. Ever the scientist, Hanna ([email protected]) the repetitive nature of scientific a nontraditionalist like Hanna to is the senior science writer and Strangely enough, jewelry never includes a small card with each of experimentation and validation was help them express themselves. That blogger for ASBMB. Follow her appealed to Hanna growing up. the 5,000 pieces of jewelry that she on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ Artist Raven Hanna uses her chemistry background not for her. “At that point, it’s not serotonin necklace around her neck is “I have not had a huge interest in produces annually to help explain the rajmukhop. to inspire her jewelry creations, which are found at fun anymore,” she says. “It’s work.” now more appropriate than ever. www.madewithmolecules.com. jewelry until I started this,” she says. underlying chemistry and functional-

20 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 21 education

down, and a discussion of the correct bring class to a close, summarizing transition to higher-level learning. answer led by the teacher follows. major points. Using active-learning This quiz can be enhanced by the Doing problems together use of clickers, allowing for more Case studies Many students benefit from working complex questions. It can be used at The teacher gives pairs of students out problems with the instructor. The the start of class to assess previous a scenario that applies concepts teacher leads the class through a prob- approaches in a lecture hall knowledge or throughout to monitor discussed in the lecture. Question lem but stops for student participation student comprehension. design encourages students to make now and then rather than completing By Elizabeth Sandquist This paperless quiz allows the connections between the information the whole problem on his or her own. instructor to determine the class’s learned and the provided situation. This technique allows students to mastery of a topic in a single glance. Student pairs may be called upon to see a problem completed step by step ctive learning has emerged as It also avoids the stress many students share their work with the class or a and promotes student engagement by an effective pedagogy in the feel when speaking in front of a large nearby group. This flexible activity requiring participation to solve the science, technology, engineering A class. This instant feedback allows can be short, with only a few ques- and math disciplines. Active-learning problem. instructors to accommodate the tions, or extended for a full session. approaches engage students through intellectual needs of students, correct By applying their knowledge to activities or discussions rather than Undergraduate misunderstandings and reinforce con- a new situation, students achieve having them listen passively in a cepts in real time. Students benefit higher-ordered learning. In addition, teaching assistants lecture environment. In an active- from the simple quiz as gaps in their group work challenges students to Teaching assistants can be of great learning classroom, students learn understanding are revealed, indicating improve their teamwork and commu- help when implementing active-learn- critical thinking, teamwork and where to focus their studies. nication skills. ing techniques. Especially in large problem-solving skills. classes, teaching assistants can monitor Recently, a meta-analysis of 225 Quick paper studies showed that active-learning Note check students during group activities and approaches improved student The instructor asks participants to In this activity, a student shares his create more one-on-one interactions. performance on exams or concept take two to three minutes during class or her lecture notes with a partner Undergrads who have completed the inventories and reduced failure rates to write about a topic or a question or small group. This activity may course already can provide useful sug- compared with traditional lectures the teacher has asked. The prompt be used to summarize the end of a gestions to their peers on strategies for (1). Furthermore, active-learning may be used at the start of class to lecture and confirm student com- success in the class as well as testing interventions are especially effec- focus students’ thoughts on the con- prehension of a lesson. Students also out potential class activities. tive for black and first-generation tent of the day or later on to reinforce may use each other’s notes to create or By implementing these strategies, students (2). In the widely promoted important concepts. answer problems. among others (6, 7), teachers can pro- and extensive technology to facilitate each other’s work. The assignments 2009 American Association for the This activity also may be used to The note-check technique is a mote active learning in a traditional discussion, but not every teacher is so are then returned to the students, Advancement of Science report encourage student reflection on past rapid way to ensure students have lecture setting. Techniques that use lucky as to have access to those. Many who are allowed time to review the “Vision and Change In Undergradu- and current knowledge, encouraging caught the main points of the lecture. small-group work, reflection and peer academic institutions do not have suggestions. The teacher then may ate Education: A Call to Action” (3), a transition to higher levels of learn- Additionally, it encourages students critique enhance student engagement alternative classrooms, and resistance call on a few pairs of students to sum- in numerous reports by the National ing. Instructors also may use the exer- to look at the concepts from a dif- in a class that otherwise promotes pas- to active-learning approaches can be marize their findings. Research Council (4), and in the cise to solidify student understanding ferent perspective. By answering or sive learning. strong in some departments. Addi- This activity provides instant feed- American Society for Biochemistry of difficult or critical concepts or to generating questions together, they The use of active-learning tech- tionally, you may not feel ready to back for students at any point during and Molecular Biology report to the niques, even in small amounts, has overhaul your course and may want class, allowing them to evaluate their Teagle Foundation (5), active-learn- been proved to improve student to test out just a few techniques. Here own learning. In addition, students ReferenceS ing approaches are recommended in performance in the STEM disciplines. are some strategies you can use to improve their communication skills 1. Freeman, S. et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sciences USA. 23, 8410 – 8415 (2014). the STEM disciplines. Though you may be trapped in a lec- engage students without the need for and get a different perspective on the 2. Eddy, S.L. & Hogan, K.A. Life Sciences Education. 3, 453 – 468 (2014). As a teacher, you may be interested ture bowl, with these simple strategies, alternative classroom space or exten- topic at hand. The final discussion by 3. “Vision and change in undergraduate education: a call to action.” American Association for the in using active-learning approaches Advancement of Science (2009). you can escape and create a class of sive technology. the instructor clarifies any miscon- in your classroom but find yourself 4. “Transforming undergraduate education in science , mathematics , engineering , and technol- engaged learners. ceptions and summarizes the major trapped in a lecture bowl. These ogy.” Committee on Undergraduate Science Education, National Research Council (1999). points to be learned. rooms are designed for traditional Think, pair and share 5. “Biochemistry/molecular biology and liberal education: a report to the Teagle Foundation.” Elizabeth Sandquist (elizabeth. Teagle Working Group for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2008). [email protected]) is a lecture and are not conducive to dis- In this activity, each student com- Simple quiz 6. Bonwell, C.C. & Eisen, J.A. “Active learning: creating excitement in the classroom.” ASHE- graduate student at the University cussions among students or interac- pletes a short assignment based on ERIC Higher Education Report No. 1. Washington, D.C.: The George Washington University, of North Dakota pursuing a Ph.D. tions between students and teachers. the day’s lecture. Upon completion, In this quiz, the instructor asks a yes/ School of Education and Human Development (1991). in biochemistry and molecular biology. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ Some universities have alternative students trade assignments with those no question to the class. All students 7. “Science teaching reconsidered: a handbook.” Committee on Undergraduate Science Education, ilovebraaains. classrooms featuring group seating seated next to them and comment on respond with thumbs up or thumbs National Research Council (1997).

22 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 23 minority affairs

ricular reform and the role of health-care benefits or even inquir- been marginalized and ignored for so trauma and resiliency in the health ing about what you can do to make long, the publication fills a striking Like water in a desert of these individuals. To highlight a colleague feel more welcome, your need, much like water in a desert. national leaders, the book lists actions can help create a supportive We hope that the publication By Andrew D. Hollenbach and Kristen L. Eckstrand institutions that are implementing climate. will initiate much-needed change these curricula into their educational Regardless of where you are across the health-care professions. programs. employed or your role, you can be With dedication and perseverance At this point, you, as a reader of that agent of change. espite recent legal and soci- by all people involved in health-care ASBMB Today, are probably asking Change can be frustratingly slow, etal advances, patients who education, including basic scientists, What you’ll find inside the book yourself, “If this book targets health- but any level of change is important. identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual our work can grow and truly trans- D 1. History – laying the foundation for inclusion and equality: care professionals, how does this Remember that it has taken centu- and transgender still face significant form medical education and improve • Historically, people who are LGBT, gender nonconforming and/or born relate to me, a basic scientist?” If this ries for marriage equality to become disparities in health care. Individuals health-care delivery and outcomes with DSD face discrimination. is your question, we instead suggest a reality, yet this one change has who are born with differences of sex for any population facing health-care • Discrimination leads to challenges when these populations interact with asking, “How can a basic scientist impacted millions. Smaller changes development, those who are trans- disparities as a result of implicit or the health-care system, which translates into significant health disparities. support this work?” The answers are frequently become the impetus for gender and gender-nonconforming explicit prejudice. 2. The role of medical education in eliminating these disparities: numerous. If you work in a medical larger changes, and the actions of a individuals often face even greater institution, then part of your job is to person at one institution may spark • Increase awareness and knowledge of health disparities and risks for Andrew D. Hollenbach is an asso- difficulties obtaining compassionate, teach medical students and to develop someone else to initiate a similar patients in these populations. ciate professor in the genetics patient-centered care. Reducing the curricula. The book targets a wide process at another institution, thereby department at the Louisiana State • Train students to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. health disparities affecting these com- audience including teaching faculty leading to true, sustainable health- University Health Sciences Center. • Inspire students to be advocates for change. He is a member of the Association munities requires an interdisciplinary and basic scientists. system change. • Promote resilience in and foster positive health outcomes for patients in of American Medical Colleges’ approach, beginning with ensuring a Also, chances are someone you The book is the first and only com- these populations. Sexual Orientation, Gender competent, sensitive and welcoming know is LGBT, gender nonconform- prehensive, evidence-based curricu- Identity and Sexual Development health-care workforce. 3. A detailed list of competency objectives to improve health care for ing or born with a DSD — although lum and institutional climate guide Patient Care Advisory Panel and For the past two years, we had the patients in these populations you may not know that about him from an academic health association the lead editor of the recent pub- honor and privilege of serving on a lication. Kristen L. Eckstrand is an M.D. candidate 4. How to integrate competencies into medical school curricula: or her. On any team, team members to address the health disparities of at Vanderbilt University, chair of the Association committee dedicated to improving • Encourage trainees, faculty members or administrators to serve as play a valuable role in ensuring the these unique populations. For the of American Medical Colleges’ Sexual Orientation, the education of the next generation champions for change. well-being of their peers. Whether it many individuals who have advocated Gender Identity and Sexual Development Patient Care Advisory Panel and co-editor of the recent of physicians in caring for patients • Identify barriers and implement strategies to incorporate change. is supporting inclusive nondiscrimi- for such change with few resources who may be LGBT, gender non- publication. She is vice president of the Gay and • Integrate competencies across all years of education and learning nation policies, demanding inclusive and for those individuals who have Lesbian Medical Association: Health Professionals conforming or born with DSD: the modalities. Advancing LGBT Equality and a member of the Association of American Medical 5. Clinical scenarios relating to these populations with discussion points Reference American Medical Association Advisory Committee Colleges Advisory Committee on on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. for experiential learning 1. https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/diversity/portfolios/330894/lgbt-patientcare-project.html Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sex Development (1). Our initial 6. Assess and evaluate the curricular initiatives: charge was to develop learning com- • Assess the learners to evaluate the effectiveness of the curricular petencies for medical educators and changes. The human microbiome and institutions to guide the advancement • Evaluate the effects of curricular changes on institutional environment. of medical curricula to provide high- health disparities quality, patient-centered care for these Changes to Improve Health Care for relate to people within these popula- Trillions of microbes inhabit the human body, populations. However, we quickly Individuals Who Are LGBT, Gender tions; and forming a complex ecological community that realized that learning competencies Nonconforming, or Born with DSD: 3) to provide a framework to influences normal physiology and susceptibil- alone are insufficient to produce the A Resource for Medical Educators” facilitate and assess the effectiveness ity to disease through its collective metabolic desired change in medical curricula. (www.aamc.org/publications). This of new curricula. activities and host interactions. Disruptions to Medical institutions need to ensure book has three goals: This book achieves these goals by the normal balance between the microbiota and the effectiveness of curricula and pro- 1) to help educate the reader about detailing the history of disparities the host have been associated with a number mote a climate that supports, values people who may be LGBT, gender faced by these populations, by provid- of diseases that disproportionately affect the and includes people who are LGBT, nonconforming or born with DSD ing the learning competencies that health of minorities. The American Society for gender nonconforming and/or born and how academic medicine can sup- all medical students should achieve, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual with DSD at all levels. port these populations; and by explaining how to integrate meeting this spring in Boston will include a symposium on On Nov. 11, the committee 2) to instruct medical schools on and evaluate the effectiveness of the how diet influences the quantity and quality of microbiota released the culmination of these the importance of evaluating their curriculum. The publication also that inhabit the human body. Find out more at www.asbmb. efforts in the publication “Instituting cultural climates and on how to discusses how to assess institutional org/asbmbtoday/201410/Meeting2015/Microbiome/ Curricular and Institutional Climate implement curricular changes as they climate to identify the barriers to cur-

24 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 25 OUTREACH Science to a beat Sparking interest with wows and hip-hop moves By Maggie Kuo

he Dancing Scientist is decked kindergarten to high school. He sets sodium metal. “I was just that into out like a rock star in a bejew- the demonstrations to upbeat music, science,” he says. In high school, T eled lab coat and Bono-like lab makes them interactive and performs Vinokur did research at Rutgers glasses. He is on the set of ABC’s TV some while dancing to engage and University and Pennsylvania State show “The View,” standing by glass inspire kids to be enthusiastic about University. He went to the University containers of purple cabbage juice. science. of Wisconsin-Madison for college and The show’s host pours lemon juice In between shows, the Danc- continued doing research there. into the first container. The Dancing ing Scientist is Jeffrey Vinokur, a Vinokur’s passion for lively dem- Scientist stirs the mixture, and the Ph.D. student in biochemistry at onstrations stems from the teach- deep purple color of the cabbage juice the University of California, Los ers he had along the way. He had fades to a brilliant pink. The studio Angeles. Vinokur redesigns enzymes a chemistry teacher in high school audience “aahs” in surprise. “So this to produce biofuels and commodity who did “every demonstration in the is an acid-base indicator,” he explains. chemicals. He solves the structures book,” he says. As an undergraduate “It’s telling us that the lemon juice is of enzymes using X-ray crystallogra- at the University of Wisconsin– acidic.” At the end of the segment, phy and figures out how to mutate Madison, he saw the demonstrations Image courtesy of Lou Rocco/ABC the Dancing Scientist remarks, “Red them to make useful chemicals again performed by his chemistry Jeffrey Vinokur shows how coffee creamer can catch on fire when puffed into the air over a flame with WhoopiG oldberg on ABC’s “The View.” cabbage juice has some amazing instead of the metabolites that they professors and noticed that his class- effects.” As he takes a sip of the liq- normally produce. mates were amazed. Vinokur realized why. But you wouldn’t care why if Dancing Scientist was a vague idea, Jim Bowie, a professor of chemis- uid, techno music begins playing, and that if his fellow classmates had not you’ve never seen the amazing stuff.” but now, with the producers’ interest, try and biochemistry well-known for he slides into a slick hip-hop dance Coming together witnessed the wonders of chemistry as The idea to do the Dancing Sci- Vinokur set out to make the Danc- his work in protein crystallography routine. The audience goes wild. Growing up, Vinokur was extremely he had before college, students with entist act came to Vinokur five years ing Scientist real. He recruited the and studying notoriously difficult The Dancing Scientist is a science- enthusiastic about science. He built even less access certainly had not. ago while he was an undergraduate. chemistry lecture demonstrator at his membrane proteins, is Vinokur’s outreach persona who dazzles his a lab for himself, equipped with “Their experience with chemistry “We’ll call it a case of convergent university and developed the science adviser. Bowie sees Vinokur’s zeal audience with classic chemistry goggles, gas mask, gloves and fans for is big vocabulary words, abstract con- evolution,” he says. Vinokur was part in the lab. He then took the dem- for outreach as a rare gift among and physics demonstrations while ventilation. In his homemade lab, he cepts and this dense textbook. That of an outreach group that went to onstrations back to his dorm room scientists and is happy to support explaining the science behind them. did “really dangerous, stupid things,” never got anybody into science. When libraries and elementary schools to and put them together with music to Vinokur’s outreach efforts. He is While he can be seen on TV shows he recalls. For instance, he ran you get into science, it’s because you do science-education activities. He make them an act. impressed by Vinokur’s success in like “The View” and “The Today electricity from a car battery through see all that amazing stuff — flash, was also an avid hip-hop dancer and handling the demands of both the Show,” he does mostly school pro- molten sodium hydroxide, which he bang, fizz — and then you go to the posted videos of his routines on You- Leading a double life Dancing Scientist and the graduate grams, performing for students from sourced from drain opener, to make textbook interested in figuring out Tube. His videos became so popular researcher. that they caught the attention of the Neither of his roles — Dancing Scien- “Jeff seems to have energy to producers of “America’s Got Talent,” tist or graduate researcher — are side burn and has an unusual ability to and Vinokur was invited to audition activities. They are full-time commit- compartmentalize,” Bowie says. “For for the show. ments. When the Dancing Scientist example, he sent me a revised draft His audition with just the danc- is performing on TV, Vinokur works of his latest paper the night before he ing did not take him far, but the sunup to far past sundown for several appeared on the ‘Today Show!’ If you next year, Vinokur went back to the days before and after the show. On a think about all the logistics of orga- producers and pitched an idea to day when the Dancing Scientist has a nizing a wild science demonstration combine dancing and science. The school performance, Vinokur does the before millions of viewers, I think it routine would be “crazy,” he prom- show in the morning and then returns would be hard for most of us to pull ised, and they would “never have seen to the lab in the early afternoon and our attention away from it to focus anything like it.” The producers were works late into the evening. Vinokur on something else.” Vinokur says that intrigued and invited him back to averages two school shows a week and Jeffrey Vinokur performs his Dancing Scientist shows at elementary schools. ImageS courtesy of Jeffrey Vinokur perform the act. Until that point, the regularly appears on TV. Continued on page 28

26 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 27 The Dancing Scientist’s tips for doing outreach for kids Keep it simple. Most kids don’t have dedicated science classes until around age 10. They are blown away by disappearing ink, instant snow (polyacrylamide) and pulling a tablecloth out from underneath plates. These are easy, cheap and highly portable. Leave the complicated chemistry for the research lab. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Vinokur Focus on fun. It’s more useful Jeffrey Vinokur demonstrates the hydrophobic properties of water repellent with a white shoe and red wine with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on NBC’s “The Today Show.” to spark curiosity and create a memorable experience than to Continued from page 27 Does he pursue his passion for focus on teaching vocabulary words and concepts. They have Bowie’s support and flexibility have outreach, or does he pursue his pas- full-time teachers for that. Spark allowed him to pursue both of his sion for research? Ideally, he wants their interest so when they have passions. to do both. He cites Carl Sagan and science class they will be more Vinokur’s career in science is Bill Nye as his models. Sagan was interested. That is goal No. 1. already promising. Only in his second an astronomer who made significant Maintain control with a year of graduate school, he has two contributions to planetary science but quiet symbol. The kids undoubt- publications and a third one on the is known by the public for the 1980 edly will get very excited. To pre- way. He is a National Science Foun- TV series he narrated and co-wrote, vent chaos, teach them a simple dation fellow and a trainee in the “Cosmos.” Nye was a mechanical clap sequence or a special hand University of California, Los Angeles, engineer at Boeing before he became symbol. It’s corny but works like Chemistry–Biology Interface Train- known as Bill Nye the Science Guy. magic. When you make the sym- ing Program funded by the National Vinokur dreams of having a dual bol, they will get absolutely silent. Institutes of Health. career in which he is a professor Have them practice with you. While Vinokur loves performing running his own lab and teaching his shows for kids, his outreach is also university classes while occasionally Join a group. That’s how I got a business that handsomely comple- hosting TV shows that engage the into it — with the student group ments the stipend he receives as a public in science. A career like this at the University of Wisconsin. graduate student. A 50-minute school would demand even more time than They already were going to librar- show runs $995, and two shows back- his commitments now, and he won- ies and things. They trained me to-back, which most schools book, go ders if he can do both well. one day — here’s your script, for $1,595. His TV segments pay less. But right now, being the Danc- here’s what you do, here’s how you For appearing on a one-hour national ing Scientist in the morning and the don’t get hurt. And you go the talk show, he receives $1,094, while graduate researcher in the afternoon library and do the presentation. news programs do not pay at all. is “such a great day,” Vinokur says. Keep at it! No matter who you Vinokur says he mainly does TV “I went in and did science for 500 are, your first time is not going to shows for publicity and to bring sci- kids, potentially impacted their lives. be outstanding. Mine sure wasn’t. ence to a larger audience. TV appear- Then I was back in the lab, doing my You just learn it and improve. The ances drive school bookings and research. It’s perfect.” key here is you’re really making also train him for a career in hosting an impact; you really are making Maggie Kuo ([email protected]) a difference. When these kids see science TV shows, which he hopes to is an intern at ASBMB Today and do after completing his Ph.D. a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical this stuff, they’re really impressed. When graduation comes, Vinokur engineering at Johns Hopkins You leave a mark on them. will be at a crossroads in his career. University.

28 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 29 professional development

Think like a scholar This is particularly important for Know the learning outcomes How to write a teaching applications to primarily undergradu- The American Society for Biochemistry and ate institutions. What kinds of peda- Molecular Biology and other organizations offer gogical approaches have you used or many resources you can use in your teaching philosophy statement when you will you consider using in class? You philosophy statement. Don’t be afraid to men- may not have used POGIL (process- tion such organizations as part of your plans. oriented guided inquiry learning) These are the sorts of comments that show your or know much about flipped class- understanding of teaching and indicate to the don’t have a lot of classroom committee you are as serious about your teach- rooms or even have an idea about David Lopatto’s assessment of learn- ing as you are about research and other aspects ing gains by research, but you can of your career. experience (or even if you do) certainly read about them and then • The ASBMB Undergraduate Affiliate write out your plan to use them. Network has information on its website By Joseph Provost Explore the current literature. Would (www.asbmb.org/UAN) and its blog you ever consider creating an experi- (substrate.asbmb.org/). ment or research proposal without • The ASBMB accreditation program (www.asbmb.org/accreditation/) reading critical literature? What has the foundational principles of a biochemistry program and education. sking for a statement of teach- to create an inspirational teaching have to teach various labs. Can you would you think of someone who • Other organizations, including the Council on Undergraduate ing philosophy from candidates philosophy. find examples of other programs to wrote about a research project that Research, Project Kaleidoscope, and the American Association for the A who haven’t taught very much is Here are some tips for those of you emulate? There are many examples Advancement of Science, also offer information. kind of crazy, but the document is a writing your first teaching philosophy that use different pedagogies in the was based on what they experienced standard requirement for an applica- statements: teaching laboratory that you can as a student or thought of off the tion package in academia. Having include in your statement. Imagine if top of their head? Such a research Read the literature recently taken a new position and Identify a strong thread you were to create a new lab on your proposal would be considered non- Here are three good journals that cover current teaching methods: having written my second teaching own. Look at the literature to see what sensical and not based on current Consider taking the same approach • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education statement after 16 years, I realize how concepts and skills should be included scientific understanding and quickly you would take with a research state- • Journal of Chemical Education difficult it is for someone to write his in such a lab. Use these references ignored. The same can be said for a ment: Find an overarching theme. • Cell Biology Education—A Journal of Life Science Education or her first teaching philosophy. to discuss how you might create, for teaching statement that isn’t informed Think of the statement as a develop- My first teaching statement, example, a research- or inquiry-based by current literature and teaching ment plan and not a chronology of written when I was a postdoc, was biochemistry laboratory. approaches. Fundamental elements of a strong teaching statement your time as a teaching assistant. clumsy and superficial, filled with • Keep the statement personal and a reflection of who you are. What kind of professor do you want declarative, unsupported statements. • Show your interest in and passion for teaching. to be? Keep your statement student Emphasize your Most importantly, show I wrote that I wanted to reach out • Keep your philosophy focused on students. centered. A hiring committee will your passion to students without indicating how experience • Include your teaching history. want a candidate who can articulate a I would do that. I wrote about how A hiring committee will want to The reason we teach is to mentor, • Include how you would use a couple of techniques to engage students distinctive vision that implies passion I wanted to involve students as part- know about your experience, but help students realize their potential, and perhaps even an example (such as POGIL to teach cooperativity, for teaching. ners in learning but didn’t seriously don’t make a laundry list of what help students grow and share our case-based learning to teach kinetics or a flipped classroom to approach a address a method or approach to do you did as a teaching assistant. Use knowledge. Bring these elements difficult topic). so. I should have shown that this is a Be fairly specific specific experiences to emphasize your to your document. Highlight that • Use the education literature to talk about teaching effectiveness and vocation, and I should have com- How will you engage students, create successes and how you overcame chal- teaching is an important part of your take a scholarly approach to your teaching. Don’t make a laundry list of municated that I have a passion for interesting and challenging courses, lenges. You might think of a specific career and that you are more than a pedagogies. teaching and need to share this with and maintain rigor in the classroom example of how you mentored a promising researcher. Don’t forget • Consider writing about building programs and majors. students. while maintaining student motiva- student or a positive moment as a that teaching happens in the class- • Assessment of teaching effectiveness and student learning are important During my career, I’ve read hun- tion? Writing about your need to TA. This will help demonstrate your room, in the halls and your office, and often overlooked concepts that will get attention. dreds of teaching philosophy state- push students is good and expected, motivation to teach. If your teaching and, very important, in your research • Think about learning objectives ments, and many of the applicants but how will you do it? Will you experience is limited, focus on what laboratory. I can’t split my passion for and outcomes. have made the same mistakes I did. assess your learning outcomes? you want to do, your observations teaching and research. In fact, they Joseph Provost (josephprovost@ • Teaching laboratories are sandiego.edu ) is a professor While most scientists are trained to of what works and how you want to are often the very same thing. If at the University of San Diego important. Find examples (from think about research and have honed Include teaching emulate strong professors. Remember you can communicate this in your chemistry and biochemistry your observations and reading of their curricula vita and research state- that most applicants have been teaching statement, you will be in department and a member of the the literature) that you may want ments to be inventive, inviting and laboratories teaching assistants, and don’t linger good shape. ASBMB Education and Professional Development to emulate or develop. Committee. impressive, most are not prepared Look at the opportunities you will on that experience.

30 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 31 open channels

Mugs for scientists The giving list: supporting By Chris Pickett, Maggie Kuo & Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay science with annual donations By Donna Kridelbaugh

undraising campaigns – from of alumni support in continuing valuable data and interpret data sets. ice bucket challenges to pink university operations: “In FY14, SciStarter features a collection of F cleats on the football field –have alumni were the second-largest source more than 850 projects open to the been all the craze lately, saturating of donors to the University of Illinois. public. Darlene Cavalier, founder our social media feeds and news They designated $35.8 million for of SciStarter and Science Cheer- headlines. student support. That funding helps leader, explains, “There is something While it’s refreshing to see people defray some of the educational debt for everyone: bird lovers, armchair pitching in to support groups that that now saddles students.” astronomers, nature enthusiasts, con- return a portion of funds to biomedi- Norton adds, “The burden of cerned citizens, pet owners, DIYers cal research, these donation fads can debt frequently has repercussions on and hobbyists.” Projects range from quickly fizzle out. lus,P many non- students’ future employment, dictat- playing online games to tracking profit research and science-education ing when and where they work. There wildlife in your backyard. programs rely on consistent, year- are many financial ways for alumni Cavalier says she sees an advantage Useful for the bench scientist constantly Failure to comply with the mug may extend round donations. donors to support students at their for scientists to be involved with being asked to diagnose friends’ and time to dissertation. I use the end of the year as a men- family members’ illnesses. alma mater. Endowed scholarships, citizen science projects, especially tal reminder to plan my annual giving for example, can provide student for projects in need of community list comprised of worthy science and assistance in perpetuity.” leaders or that require data interpreta- education causes. Also, I have tran- When I graduated from college, I tion. She also said she has observed sitioned to making donations in lieu made a promise to contribute to the the emergence of new a project type of giving materialistic holiday gifts to Chemistry Alumni Scholarship fund where the public directly provides maximize my donation potential and that supported me during my under- input on science policy issues promote a philanthropic culture. graduate days. I now give annually (e.g., Informing NASA’s Asteroid If you care about grassroots science to that scholarship fund. Plus, I am a Initiative). initiatives or supporting young sci- contributing member to the alumni entists, you too can adopt a year-end association at my former graduate Donate funds to nonprofit tradition and include science on your school institution. For those oscillating between science organizations and annual giving list. In addition to supporting students, anxious and frustrated, here’s a mug to urge you to keep your active involvement with alumni crowdfunding projects eye on the prize. Contribute to your associations provides endless benefits. Nonprofit research and education alumni associations Alumni connections are strong and centers depend on private donors and university foundations provide an important networking to sustain their operations. I make a avenue, while many alumni asso- yearly contribution to Discover Life State funding for public colleges ciations offer career-development in America, a nonprofit that runs and universities continues to decline resources to support you throughout citizen science projects in the Great across the nation. At one of my alma your lifetime. Smoky Mountains National Park. maters, the University of Illinois at DLiA is on a mission to identify all Urbana−Champaign, direct state sup- Get involved with the living species in the national park port has decreased from 50 percent in to inform biodiversity and conserva- 1987 to 11.9 percent in 2014. citizen science projects Every situation has a silver lining. Remember: What goes around, comes around. tion efforts. Dick Norton, a regional direc- If you are strapped for cash, you can Todd Witcher, executive director tor with the University of Illinois volunteer with citizen science projects Visit Cafepress.com and the Cafe Press store on Amazon.com to purchase these mugs and more. ImageS courtesy of CAFE PRESS Foundation, explains the vital role to help speed up research, provide Continued on page 34

32 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 33 Continued from page 33 enrichment opportunities. projects to fund. For example, special education of DLiA, emphasizes the importance teacher Shani Cutler is raising funds Support the professional of leveraging private donations for for a classroom microscope via her general operating support. “This is crowdfunding project called The development of a young the most difficult line item to find Unseen World. If her funding goal is scientist funding for,” he says, “and generally met, Cutler says, the microscope will Membership fees for professional private donations are not restricted enhance her classroom: “The unseen societies add up quickly, especially or designated for specific projects.” world of cells and cellular structure is for early-career scientists who are in Unrestricted funds can be used for a vital part of a student’s understand- career transitions. Think about pur- day-to-day needs, including staff ing of the parts of a whole concept chasing a professional membership or wages and to keep the lights on. — mineral composition, symbiotic donating funds toward travel to a sci- Funds also may be raised directly organisms, microcopy and so many ence conference for a young scientist from the public for specific research more. A microscope is an essen- in your life. A prepaid money card projects via crowdfunding platforms tial part of any successful scientific with a note that the money is to be like IndieGoGo, Experiment and journey.” used to support their awesome sci- Petridish. You can back a number of Cutler adds, “When students have ence is a good way to give, too. innovative research projects or sup- access to hands-on manipulatives Author’s note: In the U.S., chari- port local education initiatives, such and tools for science, technology, table contributions can be deducted on as the neighborhood biohacker space. engineering and mathematics, it feeds federal income taxes when itemizing to their natural curiosities about the deductions on a tax return. Consult a Help buy needed STEM world around them. When they are tax professional for details. education materials for interested, they are more likely to go beyond the textbook and explore Donna Kridelbaugh K−12 classrooms (@science_mentor) is a commu- possible fields in the STEM areas that nications consultant and founder Thousands of inspiring K−12 they may have not considered.” of ScienceMentor.Me. Her mission classroom teachers seek funds on Instead of holiday gifts this year, is to create an online field guide DonorsChoose.org to purchase you can donate to a classroom in to self-mentoring in science careers. She offers writing, editing and marketing services for early- equipment and supplies. Teachers honor of friends and family or buy career professionals who are ready to advance work with limited budgets and thus DonorsChoose.org gift cards so that their career to the next level. Learn more at turn to private funding for student- recipients can pick out their own http://sciencementor.me/.

Give to ASBMB to support emerging scientists Submit Your Next Paper to an ASBMB Journal! and their teachers When you make a gift to the ASBMB, you When you submit a paper to an ASBMB ASBMB journal special features: make it possible for emerging scientists and journal, you can expect: their teachers to attend the annual meet- • Customized eTOC alerts ing. Our travel award program supports • Thorough, constructive reviews by scientists • Explore the Editorial Board undergraduate and graduate students, • Affordable publication charges (*FREE color) postdoctoral fellows and teachers of under- • Meet new Associate Editors graduates. Travel award winners present • Peer reviewed papers published the day of • Read Collections including: Reflections, their research, learn about projects by oth- acceptance Minireviews and Thematic Series ers, explore career options and expand their professional networks.

Donate when you renew your membership *ASBMB has eliminated color figure fees for Regular ASBMB or contact ASBMB Executive Director www.asbmb.org/publications members publishing as corresponding authors. Barbara Gordon at [email protected].

34 ASBMB Today december 2014 december 2014 ASBMB Today 35 2015 CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

HOBBIES We know that a life in science can be grueling. We also know that some of you have very interesting or unusual ways of blowing off steam or finding your Zen. We would like to feature your essays, poems, artwork or multimedia reflecting on scientists’ pastimes. We welcome all creative interpretations of the theme. You could send us a photo of you shooting hoops or jumping out of an airplane. You could send us a video of you jamming with your band. You could send us a poem about a childhood hobby or otherwise abandoned escapes. You could write about a hobby enjoyed by someone else — perhaps a figure in science history or one of your men- tors. And you could send us a rant about how you don’t have time for such frivolity.

GENERATIONS This collection of essays, poems and artwork will explore generations in a very loosely defined way. You might have come from a family of scientists. You might have insights about parenting while doing science. You might have something to say about generations of cell lines or scientific lines of inquiry. You might have a story to tell about a line of researchers mentored by one scientist. Interpret the theme as you will. It is not a boundary but rather a springboard for the making of meaning.

Deadlines for Hobbies and Generations: Dec. 31, 2014.

Format: We’ll print some; others, we will post online. Some might appear both in print and online.

Submissions: Email (to [email protected]) your manuscripts as Word documents, static images as JPEG or TIFF files (the higher the resolution the better), audio as mp3 or mp4 files, and videos in something like QuickTime, Vimeo or YouTube. Please indicate to which series you are submitting in your email subject line.

36 ASBMB Today december 2014