February 2018 Asbmb Today 1 Editor’S Note
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CONTENTS NEWS FEATURES PERSPECTIVES 2 20 35 EDITOR’S NOTE SIX QUESTIONS MEETINGS Reclaim inspiration FOR THREE PRESIDENTS ASBMB to host symposium on transcriptional regulation 3 26 NEWS FROM THE HILL ADDRESSING THE TANGLED ROOTS 36 The NIH is cruising — WHEN SCIENCE MEETS SICKNESS OF HEALTH DISPARITIES now let’s boost the NSF From a personal disease to a personal research project 4 20 NEWS Three college 38 Member update and university presidents from ESSAY underrepresented Raising a rainbow of scientists groups talk about 10 how a background LIPID NEWS in science serves 42 Back to the (poly)basics — them at the helm. RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT lipin enzyme phosphoregulation From back-porch evolution 12 to learning slang at the bench JOURNAL NEWS 26 12 New insights into treating 38 amoebic keratitis 13 When mitochondria make B cells go bad 14 Sugary secrets of a cancer-related protein 15 Scientists find cellular backup plan for keeping iron levels just right 16 From the journals 13 16 36 WHEN SCIENCE MEETS SICKNESS FEBRUARY 2018 ASBMB TODAY 1 EDITOR’S NOTE THE MEMBER MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Reclaim inspiration By Comfort Dorn OFFICERS COUNCIL MEMBERS Natalie Ahn Squire J. Booker President Victoria J. DeRose Wayne Fairbrother ack when Juliette Bell was a dential tweet. And I have to admit Gerald Hart Rachel Green President Elect Blake Hill chemistry professor, she shared that Coates is right. It’s a perilous her concerns about a lack of thing to be an American of color. Jennifer DuBois Susan Marqusee B Secretary Celia A. Shiffer research support with the new presi- You wouldn’t know that talking to Takita Felder Sumter dent of her university. “That president Juliette Bell and Ashley Oyirifi and Toni M. Antalis JoAnn Trejo Treasurer told me that if I wanted things to the other African American scientists ASBMB TODAY EDITORIAL change, I had to be willing to take a and educators featured in this issue. EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ADVISORY BOARD leadership role and not just stand by As we enter Black History Month Jin Zhang Rajini Rao and complain,” she said. And Bell Wilfred van der Donk Chair in this most peculiar era, we need to Co-chairs, 2018 Annual Charles Brenner did just that. She became an interim balance all the awfulness of the last Meeting Program Past Chair dean, a dean and then a provost. Now year with some inspiration. So in this Committee Ana Maria Barral she is president of the University of issue, we question three college and Cheryl Bailey Floyd “Ski” Chilton Maryland Eastern Shore. Chair, Education and Henrik Dohlman university presidents about how their Professional Development Peter J. Kennelly After earning an undergraduate lives as black Americans and scientists Committee Beronda Montgomery degree and working in analytical have shaped the way they administer Daniel Raben A. Maureen Rouhi chemistry for a few years, Ashley Chair, Meetings Committee Melissa Vaught institutions of higher learning. That’s Binks W. Wattenberg Warfield Oyirifi realized it was time quite the crucible for leadership, yet Sonia Flores to face the distance and detachment Chair, Minority Affairs they wear their legacy and respon- ASBMB TODAY Committee she felt as a black woman in the field sibility with grace and humility. “I Angela Hopp Susannna Greer of biochemistry. She wrestled with Executive Editor, learned by making a lot of mistakes,” Chair, Public Outreach [email protected] this question in graduate school and Committee says Roy Wilson of Wayne State Uni- Comfort Dorn began to find answers in, of all places, versity, “and learning from mistakes.” Matthew S. Gentry Managing Editor, an elective anthropology class. She is Chair, Public Affairs [email protected] We also talk to experts tackling Advisory Committee now a passionate advocate for scien- John Arnst the tough issues of health dispari- Amnon Kohen Science Writer, tific investigation situated in a larger ties among people of color in this Chair, Publications [email protected] societal context. country, asking them about the role Committee Valery Masterson I recently heard the writer Ta- Designer, of basic researchers in what seems to Lila M. Gierasch Nehisi Coates say in a podcast that, Editor-in-chief, JBC [email protected] be overwhelmingly an issue of poverty Ed Marklin no matter what they say, no white A. L. Burlingame and inequality in the delivery of Web Editor, person would ever really want to be Editor, MCP [email protected] health care. black. I thought back a decade to Edward A. Dennis Allison Frick And we bring you Oyirifi’s imagi- Editor-in-chief, JLR Media Specialist, when Barack Obama was on his way [email protected] native and inspiring essay on diversi- William L. Smith to becoming president and Michele Barbara Gordon fying educational content to attract Editor-in-chief, JLR Obama said she was proud of her Executive Director, and keep more underrepresented [email protected] country for the first time. Though I knew that was a harsh and problem- minorities in scientific research. This piece was submitted to us back in For information on advertising, contact Pharmaceutical atic thing to say, it made sense. I was Media Inc. at 212-904-0374 or [email protected]. proud too, but I wished I could share August, and I’ve been itching to share the pride that was in her heart. At it since then. I’d love to hear your that moment, I thought, it must feel responses. And it may sound corny, so good to be a black American. but please — keep the faith. Now it’s 2018 and Donald Trump www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday is in the White House, and it feels Comfort Dorn PRINT ISSN 2372-0409 like all the progress that’s been made ([email protected]) is managing in my lifetime and the century that Articles published in ASBMB Today reflect solely the authors’ views and not editor of ASBMB Today. Follow her the official positions of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular preceded my birth is in danger of on Twitter @cdorn56. Biology or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. Mentions of products or services are not endorsements. imploding with each morning’s presi- 2 ASBMB TODAY FEBRUARY 2018 NEWS FROM THE HILL The NIH is cruising — now let’s boost the NSF By Benjamin Corb ince fiscal 2015, the National from $7.3 billion to $7.4 billion, a 4 the ASBMB’s public affairs staff and Institutes of Health budget percent increase. It is a mistake not to take part in meetings with congressio- S has increased 13 percent, from fund the two agencies proportionally. nal representatives to talk about the $30.3 billion to $34.1 billion. We are Partnerships between the NIH importance of robust federal invest- thrilled to see NIH funding on the and the NSF include the BRAIN ments in science. This year’s Hill Day rise, especially after nearly a decade of Initiative and the Precision Medicine will be April 12. We are accepting flat budgets that, when adjusted for Initiative. Many NIH-funded investi- applications for participants at asbmb. inflation, eroded the NIH’s purchas- gators have received grants by build- org/advocacy/HillDay. ing power by 25 percent. Current ing off NSF-funded basic research. proposals for fiscal 2018 will likely For example, the CRISPR-Cas9 gene Advocacy opportunities lead to another 3 percent increase, editing technology that is breaking As we prepare for the release of so we are cautiously optimistic that ground in the life sciences has its President Trump’s fiscal 2019 budget, members of Congress from both par- roots in NSF-funded research. the Public Affairs Advisory Commit- ties recognize the need for robust and As Congress receives the fiscal tee is launching our first 2018 grass- sustained investment in the NIH. 2019 budget from President Donald roots advocacy campaign. In February Sometimes, though, we wonder Trump and begins its appropriations and March, we ask our members if Congress realizes how the research process, the ASBMB will host a Capi- to take to social media to tell your enterprise works. While the NIH tol Hill briefing to educate lawmak- elected representatives how the presi- wins support, other critically impor- ers on the NSF’s important role in dent’s budget proposal would affect tant science agencies in the govern- supporting and advancing life science your science and your lab. In addi- ment don’t receive the same attention research. This is part of our ongoing work to influence the funding process tion to tweets and Facebook posts, and are in need of funding increases. we’ll create and circulate a petition The National Science Foundation to benefit all our members. In advocating for the NSF, the calling on Congress and the president funds basic biological research, work to provide the scientific community that often builds a foundation for the ASBMB remains committed to fight- ing for a diverse, sustainable and suc- with the investments we need to keep groundbreaking, lifesaving discoveries cessful American research enterprise. the United States the global leader in made at the NIH. The NSF is also the biomedical research and innovation. second highest funder of our mem- Details are at policy.asbmb.org. bers (after the NIH) according to Hill Day recent surveys of the American Soci- It’s that time of year again. The ety for Biochemistry and Molecular Public Affairs Advisory Committee is Benjamin Corb Biology membership. And while the preparing for its annual day of Capi- ([email protected]) is director of NIH budget has grown significantly, tol Hill visits, when scientists from public affairs at the ASBMB.