CONTENTS

NEWS FEATURES PERSPECTIVES

2 24 48 EDITOR’S NOTE MEET MONA NEMER, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Look back and listen CANADA’S TOP SCIENCE ADVISER Policy is your BFF 3 32 50 NEWS FROM THE HILL THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS FIX AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN Weigh in on initiatives across the NIH IN THE MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES 41 Managing underrepresentation 4 ANNUAL MEETING MEMBER UPDATE 41 Scientific session snapshots 48 44 Abstract advice 7 46 Abstract topics NEWS 7 Chapter leader finds his niche 24 8 Shadow gene gives otters, manatees susceptibility to banned bug-killer 10 2018 honor society inductees 11 50 LIPID NEWS Studying protein–lipid interactions 12 JOURNAL NEWS 32 12 Scientists sweep cellular neighborhoods where Zika hides out 13 Spectroscopic studies scrutinize links between liver disease and mitochondria 15 Scientists fill in a piece of the copper transport puzzle 16 What bacteria can teach us about combating atrazine contamination 18 Award winners pen essays for JBC 20 From the journals

8 41

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 1 EDITOR’S NOTE

THE MEMBER MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Look back and listen By Comfort Dorn OFFICERS COUNCIL MEMBERS Gerald Hart Squire J. Booker President Victoria J. DeRose Wayne Fairbrother n general, and My involvement in Jennifer DuBois Rachel Green especially in this this work was minimal. Secretary Blake Hill space, I like to look Early in the process, Toni M. Antalis Susan Marqusee I Treasurer Celia A. Shiffer ahead. That’s my job. when Allison told us Takita Felder Sumter This week (about two she wanted to make an JoAnn Trejo EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS weeks before you are audio article, I dubbed David Bernlohr ASBMB TODAY EDITORIAL reading these words), it an “audicle” and Hao Wu I am making assign- won a few laughs. They Co-chairs, 2019 Annual ADVISORY BOARD Meeting Program Rajini Rao ments for articles to invited me into the Committee Chair run in April and editing not-quite-soundproof Cheryl Bailey Floyd “Ski” Chilton essays for January. We’re storage room to tape Henrik Dohlman Chair, Education and deciding on feature an introduction. Then Professional Development Peter J. Kennelly Committee Beronda Montgomery stories for the spring they asked me to tape it A. Maureen Rouhi Daniel Raben and pondering what to include in the again. Then two more times. (I have Melissa Vaught Chair, Meetings Committee 2019 careers issue (scheduled for next new respect for audio journalists.) Binks W. Wattenberg Sonia Flores August). It’s the nature of the beast. We’re all pretty busy around here, Chair, Minority Affairs ASBMB TODAY And of course, I’m all about print so I didn’t listen to the piece until Committee Angela Hopp journalism, one of the breed that used it was almost finished. And I was Susannna Greer Executive Editor, to be called ink-stained wretches. completely blown away. Even though Chair, Public Outreach [email protected] Committee Comfort Dorn I like to read stories, preferably on I had read Laurel’s story more times Matthew S. Gentry Managing Editor, paper, interspersed with compel- than I could count, hearing the voices Chair, Public Affairs [email protected] ling photos and images. Though I’ve of the women she interviewed — the Advisory Committee John Arnst adapted myself to screen reading, I’d anger and resolve and courage — gave Amnon Kohen Science Writer, [email protected] rather turn pages than scroll. it new depths of meaning. Chair, Publications Committee Laurel Oldach But we all need to jump out of I can’t explain it. I can only recom- Science Writter character once in a while, so I’m mend it. Lila M. Gierasch [email protected] Editor-in-chief, JBC Valery Masterson going to use this space to urge you to The audio story was posted late A. L. Burlingame Designer, go back to the September issue of this (we’re new at this), and we didn’t tout Editor, MCP [email protected] magazine, specifically to the online it in the September print edition. I’m Ed Marklin Edward A. Dennis version of Laurel Oldach’s powerful making up for that now. Web Editor, Editor-in-chief, JLR [email protected] article on sexual harassment in sci- Take my word for it: It’s totally William L. Smith Allison Frick ence and the women who are working worth your time. Editor-in-chief, JLR Media Specialist, to stop it. And though I want you to [email protected] Barbara Gordon read every well-turned phrase, what Comfort Dorn Executive Director, I’m really juiced about is the audio ([email protected]) is managing [email protected] story that Laurel and our multimedia editor of ASBMB Today. Follow her whiz Allison Frick put together to go on Twitter @cdorn56. For information on advertising, contact Pharmaceutical with the written words. Media Inc. at 212-904-0374 or [email protected].

Corrections In the September issue, the article “Not one more generation: Women www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday in science take on sexual harassment” incorrectly stated the American Geo- PRINT ISSN 2372-0409 physical Union’s chief executive officer’s name. She is Chris McEntee. Articles published in ASBMB Today reflect solely the authors’ views and not In the June/July issue, the list of 2018 ASBMB Honor Society members the official positions of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. Mentions of was incomplete. We republish the complete list on page 10 of this issue. products or services are not endorsements.

2 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 NEWS FROM THE HILL Weigh in on initiatives across the NIH By Benjamin Corb

he Public Affairs Advisory Com- ily accessible will help scientists and In a recent email, the PAAC asked mittee represents the members scientific societies provide effective ASBMB members for comments on T of the American Society for and meaningful recommendations to how the NIH can support early-stage Biochemistry and Molecular Biology improve the biomedical enterprise. and at-risk investigators. The PAAC not only before elected officials but One final thought on this topic: has published several documents on also at funding agencies to ensure The blogs of several NIH leaders strategies to support young research- the creation of sound policies that sometimes offer deep issue analyses ers. Because we want our members’ support their research. We do our job and provide information on the voices to be heard, we have created best when ASBMB members share NIH’s research portfolio that is not an online tool for you to review these their concerns and ideas with us. publicly available. Deputy Direc- recommendations and share your Here are some issues we’re moni- tor for Extramural Research Mike opinions. toring. Please consider weighing in. Lauer publishes his Open Mike blog, and National Institute for General Increasing data Medical Sciences Director Jon Lorsch Diversity of NIH councils publishes the NIH Feedback Loop. The public affairs staff is analyzing transparency While these blogs include graphs to the makeup of the federal advisory illustrate data and trends accompa- The ASBMB PAAC develops councils within the NIH, the groups nied by useful insight and analyses, policy statements and recommenda- of scientists who provide guidance to the raw data behind these figures are tions. It also responds to requests for leaders shaping internal NIH policies. sometimes inaccessible. comments from funding agencies. Each institute has an advisory coun- The PAAC supports its arguments cil, and several additional advisory using data that are either publicly Supporting the next councils advise the NIH director. available or provided by the agency We are reviewing gender, race and after the PAAC submits a Freedom of generation of researchers ethnicity, geography, career stage, and Information Act request. The PAAC has provided prelimi- other variables. We believe diversity Unfortunately, agency calls for nary comments to the NIH working must be considered when filling comment sometimes have short group that is crafting policy recom- vacancies on NIH councils. Councils submission windows, and materials mendations to support the future should include a variety of perspec- requested by the PAAC under the biomedical research workforce. tives and professional experiences to FOIA don’t always arrive in time Mandated by the U.S. Congress in advocate for policies that will support for the committee to use them as the 21st Century Cures Act, the Next all of the research enterprise. intended. The PAAC is working with Generation Researchers Initiative will Our analysis is in the early stages, the National Institutes of Health to provide NIH institutes with strate- and we look forward to sharing our make more agency data relating to gies to better support early-stage and results with you later this year. grants publically available. at-risk investigators. The policies that Want to know more about these We often use the NIH’s Research come out of this effort are likely to efforts, or have a topic you’d like us Portfolio Online Reporting Tool, have an influence on grant funding to address? Email us at publicaffairs@ called both RePORTer and RePORT, at all career stages and may result in asbmb.org. depending on who you talk to. changes to the research enterprise that While RePORT contains lots of are long overdue, including chang- Benjamin Corb data, some are not easy to suss out, ing the definition of “early-stage ([email protected]) is director of particularly when we are trying to investigator” and enacting policies public affairs at the ASBMB. analyze historical and demographic that are aimed at supporting at-risk Follow him on Twitter @bwcorb. information. Making data more eas- investigators.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 3 MEMBER UPDATE Member update By Erik Chaulk

Charpentier, Doudna biology at the University of Califor- tor. She has written that her teaching nia, Berkeley, and a Howard Hughes philosophy “involves self-identity as win Kavli Prize Medical Institute investigator, a coach who provides motivation, The Norwegian Academy of recently opened a lab at the Gladstone prepares drills, supplies feedback, and Science and Letters has announced Institute in San Francisco where she reiterates the process, all with the aim that Emmanuelle Charpentier and was appointed a senior investigator. of promoting student progression Jennifer A. Doudna Doudna and Charpentier shared from novice to expert.” are among the the nanoscience prize with Virgini- Hanna-–ose recently was named recipients of the jus Šikšnys of Vilnius University in head of the department of biochem- 2018 Kavli Prize in Lithuania. The 2018 Kavli Prizes were istry and molecular biology in the nanoscience. awarded in September in Oslo. Eberly College of Science at Penn State. CHARPENTIER The Kavli Prizes, Norway’s highest Hanna–Rose receives science honors, are Hochstrasser continues presented every two teaching award years in astrophys- The Pennsylvania State University as chair at Yale ics, nanoscience professor Wendy Hanna–Rose has Mark Hochstrasser has been reap- and neuroscience. received the Milton S. Eisenhower pointed chair of the department of DOUDNA Each recipient Award for Distinguished Teaching. molecular biophysics and biochemis- receives $1 million. Established in try in the Yale School of Medicine. Charpentier and Doudna are being 1992, the Eisen- Hochstrasser’s honored for their invention of the hower Award is appointment is groundbreaking genetic editing tool given to a tenured one of four faculty CRISPR-Cas9. professor who appointments Charpentier is scientific director at HANNA–ROSE has demonstrated announced in June the Max Planck Institute for Infection excellence in both HOCHSTRASSER by the dean of the Biology and honorary professor at teaching and mentoring students. faculty of arts and Humbolt University in Berlin. Mentoring and developing sciences at Yale. Doudna, a professor of chemistry students has played a crucial role in Hochstrasser is the Eugene Higgins and of biochemistry and molecular Hanna–Rose’s identity as an educa- professor of molecular biophysics

ASBMB member wins lifetime achievement Lasker award The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation recently ership in biomedical science—exemplified by pioneering announced the recipients of the 2018 Lasker Awards. discoveries in RNA biology, generous mentorship of Among the four recipients was Joan Argetsinger Steitz, a budding scientists, and vigorous and passionate support professor of biophysics and biochem- of women in science,” according to a release from the istry at Yale University and member of foundation. Over her pioneering career in RNA biology, the American Society for Biochemis- for which she won the Herbert Tabor Research Award try and Molecular Biology. in 2015, Steitz has been known as a generous mentor to Steitz received the Lasker-Koshland young scientists and an ardent voice for inclusion in the STEITZ Special Achievement Award in Medi- scientific community. She and the other Lasker Award cal Science “for four decades of lead- recipients received their awards on Sept. 24.

4 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 Kopchicks give $23M to Indiana University John and Char Kopchick will give $23 million to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the largest gift in the history of the university. The alumni couple’s gift is part of the university’s Imagine Unlim- ited fundraising campaign, which has increased its initial goal of $40 million to $75 million. The Kopchicks are providing funds to support the university’s sci- ence and mathematics initiatives, which include a new science build- ing, scholarships and endowed professorships. John Kopchick is a professor of molecular biology at Ohio Uni- versity and co-inventor of Somavert, a drug used to treat the growth

hormone disorder acromegaly. Char Kopchick serves as the assistant Char and John Kopchick. dean of students at Ohio University.

and biochemistry and a professor of as interim co-director of the Penn graduates in the College of Biological molecular, cellular and developmental State Neuroscience Institute and cur- Sciences. biology. rently serves as the founding director Research at his lab focuses on the of the Center for Molecular Investiga- Ozber receives ubiquitin system, one of the funda- tion of Neurological Disorders. mental regulatory systems of eukary- teaching award otic cells. UC Davis honors Callis Penn State graduate student Natali for teaching, research Ozber has won the Harold F. Martin Lüscher wins Penn State Graduate Assistant Outstanding faculty scholar medal Judy Callis has received the Uni- Teaching Award. versity of California, Davis, Prize for Ozber has been Bernhard Lüscher has been Undergraduate Teaching and Schol- teaching at Penn awarded the Faculty Scholar Medal in arly Achievement. State for about a Life Sciences from Penn State. This award rec- year and has been Faculty Scholar Medals recog- ognizes a UC Davis praised for her nize excellence in faculty member for OZBER dedication and pas- scholarship and excellence in under- sion for teaching. research. Lüscher, graduate teaching A doctoral candidate in plant biol- professor of biology, CALLIS and research and ogy, Ozber completed her undergrad- biochemistry and carries a $45,000 uate and master’s degrees in engineer- LÜSCHER molecular biology, prize. ing at Koç University in Istanbul. is among six faculty Callis is a professor and vice chair members to receive Faculty Scholar of the department of molecular and Her research focuses on plant Medals. cellular biology in the College of viruses and how these viruses move Lüscher, whose research focuses on Biological Sciences at UC Davis. inside of plants, causing infection. gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, A plant biologist, Callis’ research She received a Penn State College of the principal inhibitory neurotrans- focuses on the ubiquitin protein deg- Agricultural Sciences Graduate Stu- mitter in the brain, is being recog- radation system in plants. dent Competitive Grant for her work. nized for achievements in the life Callis is highly regarded by stu- In addition to her lessons in the sciences and his role in building and dents and colleagues. Since joining classroom, Ozber has been involved developing the neurobiology program the UC Davis faculty in 1989, she with various outreach programs, at Penn State. has taught a number of biochemistry including the Graduate Women He has served as co-director of the courses, including BIS 103, one in a in Science and the Upward Bound neuroscience graduation program and series of classes taken by most under- programs.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 5 Bostwick, Mineo awards include more than $1.5 mil- calcium binding. lion in funding for 58 undergraduate Stanford University researcher and Boettiger win students at 12 universities. Alistair Boettiger has received the Beckman awards A biology major from Hope Col- Beckman Young lege in Holland, Michigan, Alicia Investigators Award Alicia Bostwick, Charlotte Mineo Bostwick is being honored for her for his project on and Alistair Boettiger are among the project investigating mechanisms of highly multiplexed 2018 Beckman award recipients. regulation of mitochondrial DNA super-resolution Alicia Bostwick transcription. BOETTIGER imaging of chroma- and Charlotte Charlotte tin structure. This Mineo have been Mineo, a biochem- award provides support to early-career recognized as part istry major from faculty members who demonstrate of the Beckman Union College excellence in the chemical and life Scholars Program, BOSTWICK in Schenectady, sciences. which honors MINEO New York, is being outstanding undergraduate students honored for her Erik Chaulk ([email protected]) in chemistry, biochemistry and the research on changes in the catalytic is a peer-review coordinator and biological sciences at select universi- activity of schizophyllum commune digital publications web specialist ties across the United States. at the ASBMB. metacaspases in response to impaired The 2018 Beckman Scholars

Upcoming ASBMB events and deadlines

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

OCT Oct. 1: Communications Fall Course begins Oct. 3–5: Special Symposium: Science Outreach: Models, Methods and Measures Oct. 4–7: Special Symposium: Transcriptional Regulation by RNA Polymerase II Oct. 11–13: Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference Oct. 15: Special Symposium: The Many Faces of Kinases and Pseudokinases poster deadline Oct. 15: ASBMB Accreditation deadline

American Diabetes Month

NOV Nov. 1: Special Symposium: The Many Faces of Kinases and Pseudokinases registration deadline Nov. 1: Special symposia call for proposals for 2020 deadline Nov. 14: Annual meeting abstract deadline Nov. 14–17: Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) Nov. 27: Annual meeting travel award application deadline Nov. 27: Student chapters renewal deadline

Dec. 1: World AIDS Day

DEC Dec. 4: ASBMB-Deuel Conference on Lipids early registration deadline Dec. 9–12: Special Symposium The Many Faces of Kinases and Pseudokinases

6 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 NEWS Chapter leader finds his niche By Elizabeth Stivison

rom his days poring over “1,000 Facts on Science and Technol- F ogy,” one of a series of children’s books an uncle sent him, to recently starting a Ph.D. program, Jacob Crosser always has let his interests guide him. As an undergraduate, Crosser was active in the Purdue University American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student Chapter, first as a member and then as outreach chair CROSSER and eventually as president. Crosser joined the chapter to get an idea of what working as a bio- chemistry researcher might be like; he ended up staying active because of its outreach activities. The chapter organized volunteer opportunities, including science demonstrations in local elementary school classrooms, COURTESY OF JACOB CROSSER and participated in the Purdue Spring Jacob Crosser does an elephant toothpaste demonstration to introduce chemical reactions and catalysis during Fest, a day when the university invites Celebrate Science Indiana, an outreach event, in fall 2015 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. people from the surrounding com- munity of West Lafayette, Indiana, to in his life, so he wanted to help others took an extra year to complete minors campus to participate in science dem- figure out their potential career paths in both subjects. onstrations and experiments. Crosser, by exposing them to science while Crosser now has found a niche for who grew up in the town, said he was they were young. himself pursuing a Ph.D. in applied inspired by these events. “To help someone else figure that mathematics with a focus in compu- “Two years ago, I had done an out,” he said, “that’s a good feeling.” tational biology at the State Univer- estimate of how many active partici- The figuring out wasn’t straightfor- sity of New York at Stony Brook. pants came by our booth, and it was ward for Crosser, who started college “I intend to center my career something on the order of 700 people hoping to study engineering before he around the study of the complex bio- over two days,” he said. realized he wanted to solve the more logical systems I’ve come to love,” he He noticed that several children complex problems that appear in said, “through the lens of mathemat- came back to the ASBMB booth year biological systems. After this realiza- ics that I’ve found very natural.” after year, looking forward to making tion, he discovered biochemistry. That slime out of borax and glue or what- wasn’t quite the answer either, how- Elizabeth Stivison (elizabeth. ever the science demonstration was ever; Crosser found he really missed [email protected]) is a Ph.D. for that year. Outreach kept Crosser doing the math problems he’d enjoyed student at Columbia University involved, he said. The chapter helped in school when he was younger. He studying mechanisms of DNA him figure out what he wanted to do returned to physics and math and repair.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 7 NEWS Shadow gene gives otters, manatees susceptibility to banned bug-killer By John Arnst

f you’ve ever dreamed decision to discontinue the of being born anew as a ban was certainly not,” Fur- I sea otter or other marine long said. “It’s to the benefit mammal, you may be in for of sensitive humans, par- a neurotoxic surprise. ticularly the very young, and After the forerunners of animals that have no protec- modern whales, dolphins tion, including the marine and manatees independently mammals, birds, fish, other turned their backs on ter- animals that are missing the restrial lives tens of millions paraoxonase function.” of years ago, their descen- In addition to sireni- dants soon lost the function ans, the taxonomic order of PON1, a gene whose containing manatees and the encoded enzyme, paraox- extinct Steller’s sea cow, and onase, reduces oxidative cetaceans, the order contain- damage to lipid particles in ing dolphins, whales and mammals’ bloodstreams. In porpoises, the researchers losing the function of that found that North American enzyme, whose gene still COURTESY OF ROBERT ENGBERG/ FLICKR beavers as well as pinnipeds lingers, wraithlike, in the Experts estimate that manatees’ mammalian ancestors began adapting to such as the Weddell seal, aquatic life around 60 million years ago, whereas the forebears that became animals’ genetic code, a vast both dolphins and whales returned to the ocean nearly 50 million years ago. Hawaiian monk seal and number of marine mammals elephant seal, lost func- also lost its serendipitous tion of the PON1 gene. secondary ability to break tural use within 60 days. The court’s Senior author Nathan Clark down a neurotoxic metabolite of the decision, a rebuke to the agency after believes this may have been an adap- pesticide chlorpyrifos. former EPA chief Scott Pruitt denied tation to the oxidative stresses caused More than 50 years after Dow an environmental group’s petition to by prolonged diving. Chemical Company introduced ban the use of chlorpyrifos on food “If we pump up our bodies with chlorpyrifos to the market, it con- crops, coincidentally was made public tons of oxygen, submerge, deplete tinues to be one of the most widely less than an hour after a study on all that oxygen and then come back used insecticides in the United States, the marine mammals’ loss of PON1 and rapidly reperfuse our bodies with although it was banned from residen- function was published in the journal oxygen, proteins and DNA and lipids tial use in 2000. That ban came on Science. would just be oxidized like crazy, and the heels of highly publicized cases of Clement Furlong, a biochemist at that would cause a lot of damage, chlorpyrifos poisoning in the ’90s that the University of Washington and co- and we would not survive very long,” left a West Virginia child paralyzed author on the paper, applauded the Clark said. and a Texas man in a vegetative state. court’s action. To deal with the stress, marine The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals “The decision to discontinue the mammals have evolved to pump out in Seattle in August ordered the use of chlorpyrifos was based on very high amounts of the antioxidants Environmental Protection Agency solid scientific evidence from many catalase and superoxide dismutase. to a ban the pesticide from agricul- different laboratories, and the (initial) “So one thought is that if their

8 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 COURTESY OF NEIL HOOTING/FLICKR Sea otters are among the marine mammals that Nathan Clark and colleagues found to have lost production of an antioxidant enzyme that also breaks down organophosphate pesticides. upfront defenses for free radical- of smell, so we thought we’d see a lot “We’ll see them sometimes at 20 producing things that would cause of chemosensation genes like olfac- feet, but they really prefer shallower oxidative damages are so strong, then tory receptors, and we did,” said waters,” she said. “They do hold their maybe PON1 is no longer necessary,” Clark, a comparative genomicist at breath, so that could be related to it, Clark said. the University of Pittsburgh. “Some but it is pretty interesting because While it is unclear when PON1 of our expectations didn’t come out, they’re not diving or holding their evolved, the gene is believed to be but then this gene Paraoxonase 1 was breath for a length that we see in ubiquitous among land mammals sitting right on top of the list.” due to the role it plays in prevent- Margaret Hunter, a research geneti- some other cetaceans or pinnipeds.” ing the buildup of arterial plaques. cist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Clark and his colleagues plan to Fish and birds lack PON1, and their Wetland and Aquatic Research Center examine a greater number of marine populations consequently have been in Gainesville, Florida, who was mammals in their next analysis and devastated by chlorpyrifos, whose not an author on the study, is also begin collaborations with ecologists metabolite chlorpyrifos oxon dis- intrigued at the scope of PON1’s loss in Florida to monitor manatees for rupts acetylcholine activity at nerve of function. the presence of chlorpyrifos, which, terminals. “I thought it was quite surpris- despite the court-ordered ban, likely Clark and his colleagues discov- ing, and a pretty interesting find, will remain in agricultural runoff in ered that marine mammals had lost especially because of the breadth of the U.S. for the near future. PON1’s functionality by scouring the the mutation in the different spe- “Just because you ban a pesticide protein-coding sequences of more cies,” she said. “And the evolutionary doesn’t mean it’s removed from the than 17,000 genes in 60 species for divergence of all of these animals is signs that genes had become non- extremely broad too, all the way to environment very rapidly,” Hunter functional pseudogenes through the sirenians, which originated in Africa said. “We still need to monitor popu- addition of early stop codons and and are related to elephants and lations for these pesticides moving frameshift mutations. They tabulated hyraxes.” forward.” the results in a matrix and used phylo- Hunter, who specializes in manatee genetic software to score each gene on population genetics, said the gene’s John Arnst ([email protected]) is how quickly it was lost in a species. loss of function might be less heavily ASBMB Today’s science writer. “Physiologists and marine biolo- tied to diving, given PON1’s loss in Follow him on Twitter @arnstjohn. gists have known for decades that manatees and their preference for dolphins and whales have no sense coastal waters.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 9 NEWS 2018 honor society inductees

he American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Honor Society (Chi Omega Lambda) recognizes exceptional undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in the molecular life sciences at colleges or universi- T ties with ASBMB Student Chapters. Students are recognized for their scholarly achievement, research accomplish- ments and outreach activities. Information on nominating a student is at asbmb.org/education/honorsociety.

ASBMB PHOTO American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Honor Society inductees pose for a group photo in April during the ASBMB 2018 Annual Meeting in San Diego.

Benjamin Anderson, Purdue University Christine Little, Wesleyan University Will Barr, Wesleyan University Sonoor Majid, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Shannyn Bird, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Victoria Mak, Saint Louis University Emily Bliss, Otterbein University Antoinette Martinez, University of St. Thomas Kyle Boulanger, Grandview University Julie McDonald, Wesleyan University Kelly Budge, Goucher College Rachel Nguyen, Otterbein University Michael Chen, University of Massachusetts Amherst Rubye Peyser, Wesleyan University Stephanie Choi, University of Massachusetts Amherst Shivani Phadke, Rochester Institute of Technology Jacob Crosser, Purdue University Camille Potts, Trinity University Jocelyn Daubendiek, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Alexander Shames, Wesleyan University Lauren DeLong, Salisbury University Anna Sharabura, Hendrix College Amanda Duplan, Grandview University Flowreen Shikwana, University of San Diego Grace Ferri, Boston University Halie Sonnenschein, University of San Diego Corey Gallen, Saint Leo University Coleman Spence, Marymount Manhattan College Nina Marie Garcia, University of San Diego Alexa Strauss, Wesleyan University Kate Harris, Purdue University Joelle Strom, University of South Carolina Victoria Henderson, Trinity University Jonathan Tadros, Stockton University Megan Horita, Saint Louis University Danyal Tahseen, Trinity University Evan Huggins, Otterbein University Tracy Tauro, Marymount Manhattan College Thomas Hynes, Rochester Institute of Technology Reyhaneh Tirgar, University of St. Thomas Aria Jordan, University of Massachusetts Amherst Sydney Townsend, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Thomas Kania, University of Massachusetts Amherst Sirena Tran, University of San Diego Emily Kessler, Wesleyan University Jasmine Warren, Saint Leo University Sophia Kisling, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Derek Wei, Otterbein University Auston Larratta, Saint Leo University Kathleen Wendover, Hendrix College Cindy Le, University of Massachusetts Amherst Kellie Wong, Minnesota State University, Mankato

10 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 LIPID NEWS Studying protein–lipid interactions By John Burke

lmost every signaling event in cells has a component that A includes the recruitment of sig- naling proteins to lipid membranes. The proper recruitment, assembly and activation of these enzymes is integral to how cells live, divide and move. In recent years, we have seen a sea change in our ability to study lipid signaling systems, primarily through major advancements in cryo-electron COURTESY OF JOHN BURKE microscopy and X-ray crystallography. Hydrogen–deuterium exchange is a useful technique to probe conformational changes that occur upon small molecule, protein, and membrane interactions. Colors in the figure represent regions that undergo confor- This allows for molecular analysis mational changes in the bound state. Experiments require a comparison to an apo unbound state, with all of how integral membrane proteins conformational changes representing the sum total of both direct and allosteric conformational changes that are regulated and provides insight occur upon binding. into novel strategies to treat myriad human diseases including cancer and A new tool used to study how pro- and conformational changes due to metabolic syndrome. teins interact with lipid membranes either direct membrane interactions One remaining challenge in is hydrogen–deuterium exchange or allosteric conformational changes characterizing lipid signaling at the mass spectrometry, or HDX-MS. will be observed. This is particu- molecular level is the study of periph- This approach is conceptually simple, larly useful in the study of large, eral membrane proteins and how they as hydrogens, specifically amide complicated multidomain signaling interact with lipids. These proteins hydrogens, within proteins exchange complexes with experiments on the (enzymes) reside in a cytosolic loca- with solvent, and this exchange is phosphoinositide 3-kinases revealing tion in the absence of signals and, dependent primarily on the stability how previously undescribed disease- upon activation by various stimuli, of protein secondary structure. This causing mutations mediate altered are recruited to specific membrane occurs because amide hydrogens are lipid signaling through unexpected surfaces to carry out their function. protected from exchange with solvent allosteric conformational changes. Misregulation of how lipid signaling by their participation in hydrogen Due to great advances in the last enzymes are recruited to membranes bonds in alpha helices and beta decade in the instrumentation and is implicated directly in cancer and sheets. When a protein is shifted into software for HDX-MS experiments, immune deficiencies. Researchers a different chemical environment, in studies examining protein complexes have used a variety of techniques this case bound to a membrane, any larger than 500 kDa on membrane to study this problem, including regions with differences in protein surfaces are now commonplace. This nuclear magnetic resonance, molecu- conformation will experience a change provides the larger lipid signaling lar dynamic simulations and other in amide exchange. The exchange of community with novel opportunities biophysical approaches (surface plas- individual amides is localized through to more carefully define how periph- mon resonance, protein-lipid Förster digesting the protein and measuring eral membrane signaling complexes resonance energy transfer, single the mass of fragments using a mass are regulated. molecular total internal reflection spectrometer. This can be compared fluorescence microscopy and so on). across different conditions (apo, All these approaches have distinct membrane bound, bound to specific John Burke ([email protected]) lipids, disease-linked mutants and so is an assistant professor in the advantages and disadvantages, but department of biochemistry and together they provide unique insight on), revealing unique conformational microbiology at the University of into how proteins interact with and changes for each. Victoria and winner of the 2018 are recruited to specific membrane The technique measures exchange ASBMB Shaw Young Investigator surfaces. rates throughout the entire protein, Award.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 11 JOURNAL NEWS Scientists sweep cellular neighborhoods where Zika hides out Interrogating the virus’ molecular associates yields clues about where to apply pressure By Laurel Oldach

Most people infected Because of the increas- with Zika never show ing evidence linking Zika symptoms. But the virus infections in expectant sometimes causes severe mothers to microcephaly disability — from micro- in their children, Raught cephaly in babies to weak- said, “We thought it better ness or partial paralysis to leave the actual virus in adults — and there is work to the experts.” no treatment. In a paper Instead of using infec- in the journal Molecular tious material, the team & Cellular Proteomics, made 10 strains of human researchers report a com- cells, each expressing one prehensive study of how of Zika’s 10 proteins. By the virus interacts with adding a small epitope host cells. One of their tag to each viral protein, findings gives insight into they were able to retrieve how Zika escapes immune the viral proteins using an signaling and proliferates antibody that binds to this inside the body. tag. The host proteins that Like most viruses, Zika stuck tightly to each viral accomplishes a lot with protein came along for the a few tools. It has just ride; the researchers used one protein coding gene, mass spectrometry to iden- which produces a single tify those human proteins. polypeptide that’s cleaved But there was a into 10 smaller proteins drawback to using this COURTESY OF DAVID GOODSELL/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS approach. What if proteins — a number dwarfed This drawing shows the outside of one Zika virus particle and a cross-section through from the human cell were by the estimated 20,000 another as it interacts with a cell. The two main proteins of the viral envelope, interacting with Zika protein-coding genes in the envelope and membrane proteins, are red and purple, respectively. The lipid membrane of the envelope is light lavender. The capsid proteins, in orange, interact proteins but separating a human cell. Neverthe- with the RNA genome, in yellow, at the center of the virus. The cell-surface receptor from them before being less, Zika can take over proteins are green, the cytoskeleton is blue and blood plasma proteins are gold. extracted? To identify the vastly more complex proteins that are close human cell, repurposing it to but not inseparably into a virus factory. Brian Researchers in Raught’s lab, led by intertwined with each viral Raught, a researcher at the University postdoctoral fellow Etienne Coyaud, protein, the team used a second tech- of Toronto, said he found that process wanted to find out how the handful nique called proximity labeling. In fascinating. of Zika proteins were able to hijack essence, they rigged each viral protein “With just these 10 proteins, this the host cell. They knew that the feat with an enzyme that would attach a crazy virus turns your cells into zom- must depend on physical interactions sticky biotin tag onto anything that bies that do its bidding,” Raught said. between viral proteins and proteins “I always found that mind-blowing.” native to the cell — but which ones? CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

12 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 JOURNAL NEWS Spectroscopic studies scrutinize links between liver disease and mitochondria By Laurel Oldach

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, is a metabolic disease that affects up to 40 percent of American adults. Though the condi- tion produces no noticeable symptoms, one out of every five patients will go on to develop a more serious condition called NASH (short for nonalcoholic steatohepatosis). The inflammation NASH causes can result in scarring, cancer and even organ failure. With those consequences in mind, researchers are working to understand the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver to NASH. In fatty liver disease, hepatocytes fill with triglyceride vesicles. At this stage, the condition is reversible, but it can It has been clear for some progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, which involves irreversible tissue damage. time that mitochondrial dysfunction has something to example, they saw an increase in tri- triglycerides early in fatty liver disease. do with the onset and progression of glycerides and an increase in acylcar- However, because of the increase in nonalcoholic fatty liver. Two recent nitine, a molecule that shuttles fatty reactive oxygen byproducts, raising studies, described below, offer addi- acids to liver mitochondria so that the mitochondrial respiration also can tional information on this front. organelles can use the lipids in cel- be risky. For example, cardiolipin is The first study illuminates how lular respiration, in the patients with highly susceptible to a chemical reac- mitochondrial energy production fatty liver disease and NASH. But the tion called peroxidation, which can stutters and fails as fatty liver disease team also found significant changes cause mitochondrial dysfunction. progresses. The second study describes in several lipid types without known The study also reported that the how changes to the liver in the course connections to fatty liver. fatty liver biopsies had higher than of disease affect the organ’s use of They zeroed in on two lipids that normal accumulation of phospha- incoming nutrients. participate in mitochondrial respira- tidylcholine and several types of tion: cardiolipin and ubiquinone. The ceramide. The significance of these researchers found that both lipids are changes isn’t yet clear. Overworked cells elevated in the early stages of fatty More detailed study will be needed Kang-Yu Peng and a team of liver and stay high as the disease pro- to determine whether, as the authors researchers from Australia and the gresses. The researchers think the level hypothesize, mitochondrial overwork Netherlands used lipidomics to ana- of both lipids, which are involved contributes causally to mitochondrial lyze liver biopsies from obese patients in the electron transport chain, may failure and liver disease progression. with normal livers, fatty liver disease increase because mitochondria are and full-blown NASH. Their study working harder to deal with the excess Building lipids, not glucose was published in the Journal of Lipid energy. Research. This finding seems to support the One of the liver’s most important Some of the changes the research notion that higher mitochondrial res- roles is to regulate the level of glucose team observed were predictable. For piration compensates for having more CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 13 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 bors in a host organelle called the important link between having a per- peroxisome. Peroxisomes are involved oxisome and being able to efficiently came close enough. in innate immune signaling, a type make Zika virus,” Raught said. “We Proximity labeling is especially of early-warning alarm that goes off don’t know exactly why that is.” But useful for detecting interactions with when viruses are present. Proteins the host-virus protein interaction data proteins embedded in cell mem- from dengue and West Nile viruses, showed them where to look. branes; those molecules are notori- which are in the same family as Zika, The data set Raught’s lab has col- ously difficult to isolate. have been shown to associate with lected is full of such clues. Slightly “This is a really big asset of a prox- peroxisomes and disrupt antiviral more than half of the human proteins imity-labeling approach compared to signaling. the researchers found interacting traditional approaches,” Coyaud said. Using fluorescence microscopy, with viral proteins are known to be Because Zika, like many viruses, Raught said, “we could see that this involved in other viral infections, enters the cell in a membrane-bound one protein (NS2A) only localized to while the rest had not yet been envelope and reorganizes many of its peroxisomes.” described. host’s membrane-bound organelles Because NS2A is thought to be According to Raught, “A better in the course of infection, its interac- involved in replication of the virus’ understanding of these processes will tions with membrane proteins might genome and construction of its allow us to identify specific vulner- be key to understanding the viral life protein shell, its preference for the abilities in the virus life cycle, where cycle. peroxisome led the team to investi- antiviral drugs can be targeted.” When the researchers combined gate whether the peroxisome might DOI: 10.1074/mcp.TIR118.000800 the results of the two approaches, they be involved in replication. The team could piece together a detailed picture recruited some virologists with access of what Raught calls the “neighbor- to a biocontainment facility who Laurel Oldach (loldach@asbmb. hood” within the cell where each Zika org) is a science communicator could test whether infectious Zika for the Journal of Lipid Research protein takes up residence. virus can proliferate in cells without and Molecular & Cellular For example, the researchers found peroxisomes. Turns out, in those cells, Proteomics and a staff writer for that one Zika protein, called NS2A, the virus proliferates more slowly. ASBMB Today. Follow her on interacted with many human neigh- “There really does appear to be an Twitter at @LaurelOld.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 son absorbs a quantity of glycerol cells’ preference for making more while fasting, their liver cells have a triglycerides, rather than using a in the blood, supplying energy to choice to make about the resource. new energy source right away, to a other tissues. When glucose is low, Do they convert the molecule into a phenomenon observed in diabetic liver cells make more available by quick hit of glucose for energy; use patients called metabolic inflexibil- breaking down glycogen or convert- it for longer-term energy storage as ity. That is, the fatty liver cells were ing other molecules to glucose. When a triglyceride, which can be broken slower to change from using stored glucose is plentiful, cells in the liver back down into glycerol later; or carbohydrates to making new carbo- convert the sugar to other types of build nucleotides and amino acids? By hydrates than the healthy liver cells. molecules or break it down and store analyzing patients’ plasma over time, How the changes in metabolism of the energy as ATP. the researchers could track how cells an incoming energy source may affect In a paper in the Journal of Lipid used the labeled molecules. the progression of the disease remains Research, Eunsook Jin and colleagues Patients with fatty livers tended to be seen. at the University of Texas Southwest- to use glycerol to generate triglycer- DOI:10.1194/jlr.M085613 (Peng) ern Medical Center studied hepato- ides more quickly than patients with DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M086405 (Jin) cyte metabolism in obese individuals normal livers and were slower to use with normal or fatty livers. it for making new glucose. There Laurel Oldach (loldach@asbmb. The researchers used isotopically was no difference between groups in org) is a science communicator labeled glycerol, a versatile precursor for the Journal of Lipid Research the pentose phosphate pathway that and Molecular & Cellular of many organic molecules that can contributes to building other types of Proteomics and a staff writer for be made by breaking down glucose, molecules. ASBMB Today. Follow her on to track metabolism. After a per- The authors compared the liver Twitter at @LaurelOld.

14 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 JOURNAL NEWS Scientists fill in a piece of the copper transport puzzle By Sasha Mushegian

Researchers have identi- want to address is how the fied the protein that carries transporter distinguishes copper into mitochondria, between its different types where copper is required of cargo. for the functioning of the Previously known muta- cell’s energy conversion tions in the gene encoding machinery. The discovery, SLC25A3 are responsible published in the Journal of for poorly understood Biological Chemistry, fills genetic disorders involving in a piece of the puzzle of dysfunctional heart and how copper is distributed muscle fibers, leading to and used in the cell. enlarged hearts and low Humans acquire copper muscle tone. As these tis- in trace amounts from sues require large amounts food. Despite its low levels, of energy, it seems plau- copper is essential for the sible that these patients’ functioning of numerous symptoms could be related important enzymes, such to insufficient copper trans- as some of those involved port in mitochondria. in synthesizing collagen These symptoms “all and neurotransmitters. sound like they could be Notably, copper is required related to both ATP pro- duction and cytochrome c for building cytochrome c COURTESY OF PAUL COBINE AND XINYU ZHU/AUBURN UNIVERSITY oxidase, known as COX, Mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, need copper to produce energy. Copper oxidase,” Cobine said. enters the mitochondria through a previously identified phosphate transporter. a large protein complex in With the discovery mitochondria that forms of the copper transport pathway within mitochon- the last step of the elec- a crowded bar without touching the dria, the health effects of copper can tron transport chain, which harvests other people or getting redirected. be studied in more detail because energy for the production of ATP, the Then after finding the exit, you must researchers will be able to distinguish energy currency of the cell. make sure you go through the right the effects of copper on COX from Paul Cobine of Auburn University door.” the other pathways it’s involved in. and his collaborator Scot Leary at the The researchers used multiple “If we don’t deal with copper University of Saskatchewan have been lines of evidence to arrive at an properly throughout our life, what are working for more than 10 years on answer: Copper is transported within the metabolic diseases that come up?” understanding how copper is used to mitochondria by a protein called Cobine asks. “Now we have the abil- assemble COX. One basic question SLC25A3. This discovery was surpris- ity to look at what happens when you ing because SLC25A3 was already was, how does copper get across the lose mitochondrial copper at different known to transport phosphate, a membranes in mitochondria? (developmental) stages.” negatively charged ion, whereas cop- “To get (copper) to the correct DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA117.000265 address (in the cell) without interfer- per ions carry a positive charge. The ing with other proteins, or disrupting researchers speculate that the copper ions may need to bind to another Sasha Mushegian (amushegian@ other targets that have a high chance asbmb.org) is the scientific of binding copper, is a herculean partner, forming a negatively charged communicator for the Journal of delivery effort,” Cobine said. “This is complex, for SLC25A3 to be able to Biological Chemistry. Follow her akin to finding your way to an exit in transport it. The next question they on Twitter @sash_mu.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 15 JOURNAL NEWS What bacteria can teach us about combating atrazine contamination By Sasha Mushegian

Atrazine, a controversial herbi- cide introduced to agriculture in the 1950s, has been banned in the European Union but is used widely in the United States and Australia. In the decades that atrazine has been accu- mulating in agricultural fields, some bacteria in those soils have evolved the ability to take advantage of this nitrogen-rich compound, metaboliz- ing it and using it to grow. Researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia, or CSIRO, are interested in harnessing bacterial ability to degrade atrazine in order to remediate atrazine-polluted environ- ments. In a research paper pub- lished in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a team from CSIRO and COURTESY OF COLIN SCOTT/CSIRO the Australian National University A newly described protein complex carries out a step in bacterial breakdown of the herbicide atrazine. The two describe previously unknown proteins AtzE molecules are in blue and green, and the two AtzG molecules are in yellow and magenta. involved in atrazine degradation — and the insights these can give us into how bacteria evolve new abilities in ready-made adaptation. the existence of which had not response to chemicals synthesized by “Within 10 years from its original been predicted from the bacterium’s humans. discovery (in the 1990s), genes from genome sequence, forming a complex “Bacteria are really good at evolv- this pathway were found (in bacte- with AztE. This new protein, which ing to be able to exploit new nutrient ria) on pretty much every continent the team named AztG, seemed to be sources, and they do this by adapting except Antarctica,” Scott said. necessary to stabilize the structure of existing cellular machinery for novel In other words, as atrazine use AztE. functions,” said Colin Scott, leader of spread across the globe, so did the Together, the structure of AztE and the Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biology bacterial ability to metabolize it. AztG resembled a different bacterial Team at CSIRO, who oversaw the Whereas the enzymes involved protein complex — the transamida- work. in several of these steps have been some, which helps make bacterial Turning atrazine into a usable described thoroughly, the structure transfer RNA. Thus, it appeared nitrogen source is a multistep process of one of them, called AztE, was still that proteins involved in the basic for bacteria, involving multiple unknown. AztE is crucial for convert- functions of the bacterial cell were enzymes. Before widespread atrazine ing cyanuric acid — an intermedi- retooled for the new atrazine pathway. pollution, each of these enzymes ate step in the atrazine degradation The transamidasome “is absolutely served different functions in bacterial process — into ammonia. essential for bacteria in the way that cells. In atrazine-degrading bacteria, Lygie Esquirol, a Ph.D. student they make their tRNAs,” Scott said. the genes encoding these enzymes are in Scott’s lab, led the effort to purify “It was somewhat surprising that our grouped on a section of DNA called this protein. When the team exam- protein, which is involved in pesti- a plasmid, which can be passed eas- ined the protein, it found something cide catabolism, was (similar) to this ily between bacteria, giving them a surprising: another very small protein, protein complex that’s used in central

16 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 metabolism.” about how to do that,” Scott said. humans need it. One approach is to The promise of synthetic biology “We don’t know at the moment what use targeted application of enzymes is that humans can combine genes the design rules are for complex purified from these bacteria rather encoding different functions in an pathways in terms of their genetic than the bacteria themselves. organism in creative ways. However, architecture. What we want to do is “As a technology, we’ve gone out although it’s relatively simple to insert to use the cyanuric acid pathway as a genes into new contexts, a newly model to understand some of those to the field and proven that (the constructed pathway is not guaran- design principles.” enzymes) can work,” Scott said. “The teed to work as intended. It’s therefore Atrazine-degrading bacteria next step is working with industry instructive to examine pathways like convert atrazine into nitrogenous to try to implement some of these the atrazine degradation pathway, compounds that plants potentially solutions.” in which bacteria have successfully could use as fertilizer, but this poses DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.001996 repurposed a series of unrelated genes its own problems: Nitrogen runoff to do something new. into water causes algal blooms and Sasha Mushegian (amushegian@ “This (pathway) has come from animal die-offs. Thus, a key problem asbmb.org) is the scientific other places and been cobbled that CSIRO researchers are trying to communicator for the Journal of together, but there must be some solve is how to contain the reaction Biological Chemistry. Follow her underlying rules and constraints so that it occurs only where and how on Twitter @sash_mu.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 17 JOURNAL NEWS Award winners pen essays for JBC

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s annual awards honor scientific contributions across multiple dimensions: teaching, research in several sub-disciplines, groundbreaking discoveries and whole lifetimes of work. To celebrate the multifaceted careers of the 2018 ASBMB award winners, the editors of the Journal of Biological Chemistry invited them to submit articles on topics of their choosing, from reflecting on their paths through science to taking the bird’s-eye view of research in their fields. Here we share excerpts for these articles. To explore these topics in more depth, go to “ASBMB award winners in the spotlight” on the Virtual Issues page at jbc.org.

What I got wrong about shelterin Mechanism of premature translation By Titia de Lange termination on a sense codon Bert and Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical Science By Andrei Korostelev The ASBMB award honors our work on shelterin, a Earl and Thressa Stadtman Young Scholar Award protein complex that helps cells distin- guish the chromosome ends from sites Accurate translation termination by release factors is of DNA damage. Shelterin protects critical for the integrity of cellular pro- telomeres from all aspects of the DNA teomes. Premature termination on sense damage response, including ATM and codons, for example, results in truncated proteins, whose accumulation could be DE LANGE ATR serine/threonine kinase signaling and several forms of double-strand break detrimental to the cell. Nevertheless, repair. Today, this six-subunit protein complex could easily KOROSTELEV some sense codons are prone to trig- be identified in one single proteomics step. But it took us gering premature termination, but the more than 15 years to piece together the entire shelterin structural basis for this is unclear. To investigate prema- complex, one protein at a time. Although we did a lot of ture termination, we determined a cryo-EM structure of things right, here I tell the story of shelterin’s discovery the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome bound with RF1 in with an emphasis on the things that I got wrong along the response to a UAU sense codon. The structure reveals that way. RF1 recognizes a UAU codon similarly to a UAG stop codon, suggesting that sense codons induce premature termination because they structurally mimic a stop codon. Lessons from my undergraduate research students My winding trail while fulfilling my love By Paul A. Craig for science and family ASBMB Award for Exemplary Contributions By Kim Orth to Education ASBMB–Merck Award From very early on, my personal/pro- My winding path toward a career in science was awk- fessional life has been shaped by teachers ward, like an adolescent finding an iden- in many different settings. Teaching tity. It did not follow a classic course; it and learning form a two-way street. In had many interruptions, complications the process of teaching undergraduate and challenges. It also involved a bit of CRAIG students, particularly in the research lab, luck and extremely supportive col- I have learned some profound lessons ORTH leagues, mentors and family, including about the importance of listening to them, challenging my husband, children and in-laws. I them, giving them autonomy, and allowing them to enjoy was inspired to tell my story here because I met a young success and to risk failure. I am now working with a team woman interviewing in 2018 for graduate school who is of faculty members to implement these lessons in a course- growing up with the same complicated family expecta- based undergraduate research experience in the biochem- tions, social challenges, love for science and desire to be istry teaching laboratory. Our goal is to seek answers to a scientist as I had four decades ago. Her future is uncer- the question “How do students become scientists?” and to tain, because her chosen academic path is not encouraged implement those answers with our future students. by those around her. We, as a society, must find ways to

18 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 encourage, promote, enable, and give strength to those The ribosome: a hot spot for the who want to follow their dreams, despite facing many challenges in their lives. Here are some things I learned on identification of new types of my career path that I hope might be helpful for others. protein methyltransferases By Steven G. Clarke Visual cycle proteins: structure, function William C. Rose Award and roles in human retinal disease There are presently few systems where the full physi- ological role of protein methylation is By Andrew Tsin Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award understood. The question then arises of Genetic retinal disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa, how useful is it to discover new types Leber’s congenital amaurosis, and Star- of protein methylation reactions when gardt’s disease are linked to structural we do not fully understand the systems changes in visual cycle proteins. More- CLARKE already described. Do such discovery over, recent reports suggest that visual efforts represent mere cataloging of cycle proteins may also play a role in the modification enzymes and their substrates? The fact that the proteins are methylated by the products of genes that TSIN development of diabetic retinopathy. Basic science has laid the groundwork have often been conserved throughout the evolutionary for finding a cure for many of these blindness-causing development of organisms suggests that a full understand- afflictions, but much work remains. Some translational ing of the biology of an organism needs to include an research projects have advanced to the clinical trial stage, appreciation of these modifications and their functions. As while many others are still in progress, and more are at we learn more from each new protein methylation system the ideas stage and remain yet to be tested. Progress in our described, the range of functional roles also increases, and understanding of the visual cycle will inform intervention we are provided new targets for therapeutic intervention strategies to preserve human vision and prevent blindness. into human diseases.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 19 JOURNAL NEWS From the journals By Nathalie Gerassimov, Dawn Hayward & Sasha Mushegian

We offer a selection of recent & Cellular Proteomics. and that some variants have evolved papers on a variety of topics from the The study quantified virus-induced to function with one, rather than two, Journal of Biological Chemistry, changes in protein levels and found zinc ions. the Journal of Lipid Research, and that a majority of the changes are DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.003835 Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. cell-line specific. More specifically, they quantified the protein levels of Rods, cones Restoring balance 70 percent of the roughly 7,000 pro- teins they could detect using a mass and fatty acids in cystic fibrosis spectrometry-based isotope labeling Photoreceptors in the eye come Cystic fibrosis sometimes is char- approach known as SILAC. Influ- in two main flavors, rods and cones. acterized as a disease of protease-anti- enza infection of lung cells changed Rods are used for vision at low light protease imbalance. Apparao Kumma- the overall abundance of only a few and cones for color and bright light. proteins, mostly related to immunity, rapurugu and colleagues at Virginia Certain animals can be cone or rod but SILAC comparisons showed that Commonwealth University examined dominant. For example, the tree the virus changes the cellular loca- whether using heparin to inhibit squirrel and tree shrew have higher the protease neutrophil elastase, or tion of many proteins. In particular, levels of cone receptors and are NE, could restore this balance. They the authors detected an increase in better adapted to bright light. All found that heparins inhibited NE in viral and ribosomal proteins in the these photoreceptors use molecules the presence of dornase, a drug used autophagosome, which they linked to called polyunsaturated fatty acids, or in cystic fibrosis patients to reduce a reduction in successful autophagy, sputum viscosity. Further studies suggesting that the virus may hijack PUFAs, during retinal development, suggested that heparin bound NE autophagosomes, perhaps using and PUFA synthesis is dysregulated more potently than other NE ligands, the compartments for viral protein in the cone receptors during dis- suggesting that it can be developed translation. eases such as Startgardt-like macular further as an antiprotease therapy. The DOI: 10.1074/mcp.RA117.000364 dystrophy. To study the PUFAs’ role results were published in the Journal in cone receptors, Martin-Paul G. of Biological Chemistry. Agbaba and colleagues of the Uni- DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.002644 Stinginess with zinc versity of Oklahoma Health Sciences aids resistance Center examined PUFA levels using animals with a majority of cone Adventures in influenza Beta-lactam antibiotics like penicil- receptors either naturally occurring or lin are among the first-line drugs for Perhaps inspired by the annual 3 through genetic manipulation. Under infections, but many bacteria express million to 5 million cases of severe normal circumstances, researchers influenza worldwide, the Guin- beta-lactamase enzymes that enable found that cone-dominant animals ness World Record organization is bacteria to resist beta-lactam antibiot- have surprisingly low levels of PUFA advertising for individuals or orga- ics. A special class of these enzymes precursors and products. This suggests nizations to attempt a record for the called metallo-beta-lactamases addi- that different lipids are important most people getting a flu awareness tionally are resistant to beta-lactamase for cone receptors, as healthy rod lesson at once. Meanwhile, a smaller inhibitors used in combination receptors have higher PUFA levels yet group of people is making a more therapies. In a paper in the Journal of are unaffected in the Startgardt-like focused attempt to learn about lots Biological Chemistry, Zishuo Cheng macular dystrophy. While rods and of flu proteins. Andrea C. Becker at and colleagues at Miami University cone photoreceptors work together the University of Freiburg and her describe how they examined the to achieve vision, they are fine-tuned colleagues in Germany and Switzer- structure and function of clinical differently to allow this to occur. This land investigated the effect of the variants of metallo-beta-lactamases. study was published in the Journal of flu-causing virus influenza A on three They found that structure, stability Lipid Research. lung-derived cell lines and published and function of these enzymes were their results in the journal Molecular DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M082495 critically affected by zinc availability

20 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 Risks on risks: how genes interact to influenceT ype 2 diabetes

Researchers at Imperial College London, publishing in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, have found that the same gene can have opposite effects on Type 2 diabetes risk depending on what’s going on elsewhere in the genome. Massive genomewide association studies have shown that individuals carrying a particular variant of the gene transcription factor 7-like 2, or TCF7L2, have a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Guy Rutter’s team at Imperial College previously had shown that knocking out the TCF7L2 gene in the

pancreatic beta cells in mice caused the cells to secrete COURTESY OF WIKIMANJI/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS less insulin. But the team suspected that this was an Human beta cells and insulin granules. oversimplification compared to how Type 2 diabetes works outside the laboratory. when mice had an overproliferation of beta cells, the “There are subtypes of Type 2 diabetes, four differ- absence of TCF7L2 caused those beta cells to produce ent types, which are distinguished by the severity of the more insulin, not less. disease, when it happens in life, whether you are over- There are many conditions in humans that can lead weight or lean, and so forth,” Rutter said. “And it turns to a similar proliferation of beta cells, such as preg- out that the impact of the genetic variant in (TCF7L2) nancy, pre-diabetic conditions or the presence of certain differs when you’re in different subgroups.” genetic variants. This means that knowing what variant The team decided to investigate whether there of TCF7L2 an individual has isn’t the whole story; how were other genes that modified how much of an effect TCF7L2 affects diabetes risk also depends on other TCF7L2 would have. They produced knockout mice factors. characterized by overproliferating beta cells. Then they “This is important information if we are to use risk further knocked out TCF7L2 in these mice. genes as clinically useful predictors of who will develop To their surprise, knocking out TCF7L2 in this the disease and who won’t,” Rutter said. mouse model had the opposite effect on insulin secre- DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.003613 tion compared to its effect in standard mice. That is, — Sasha Mushegian

When synonymous differed. Thus the search for hERG lab describe an improvement to a mutations that affect heart disease tool used to study protein-protein substitutions aren’t should be expanded to include seem- interactions in a sub-cellular context. The nucleic acid code has some ingly synonymous substitutions. The Specifically, they adapt methods for redundancies built in: Multiple trinu- research was published in the Journal enzymatic biotinylation — addition cleotides, called synonymous codons, of Biological Chemistry. of a chemical group called biotin — can code for the same amino acid. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.001805 to be more useful in disease-relevant However, it’s increasingly recognized cell types. They write about this work that even if two codons encode the New tool to study in Molecular & Cellular Pro- same amino acid, there can be subtly teomics. Existing methods rely on cell different consequences for using one protein–protein interaction lines into which the enzyme used for or the other. Alexander Bertalovitz Science demands evidence to sup- labeling attached to a protein of inter- and colleagues at the University of port truth, and science is often lim- est can be introduced (transfected) South Florida examined synonymous ited by technology. Therefore techni- easily. These cells tend to be immor- nucleotide substitutions in the gene cal innovation is a major driving force talized or cancer-derived cells, which that encodes the hERG ion chan- for discovery. Payman Samavarchi- may have other proteomic changes. nel, which contributes to regulating Tehrani of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Now researchers can use primary cells heartbeats. They found that, depend- Research Institute, Canada, and her — or cells recently derived from an ing on the codons used, the levels of colleagues in Anne-Claude Gingras’ organism with a limited life span — hERG mRNA and protein expressed to perform the same types of experi-

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 21 Deadly cooperation in glioblastoma U.S. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts died exactly nine years apart, both after battling glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM. GBM is a rare and highly aggressive brain cancer that occurs mainly in older adults. Between 40 percent and 70 per- cent of patients with this disease have altered signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR. In a study published in Molecular & Cellular Pro- teomics, Dongsic Choi of McGill University in Canada and colleagues describe the effects of one frequently observed tumor-causing variant, called EGFRvIII, on the protein composition of extracellular vesicles, or EVs, secreted by GMB cells. These small bilayer vesicles containing lipids, proteins and nucleic acids are secreted from cells and can stimulate physiologic processes in the COURTESY OF CHRISTARAS A/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS surrounding environment, such as cell migration and This MRI sagittal view shows a grade IV glioblastoma in a 15-year-old boy. blood vessel formation. Cancer cells use EVs in many diverse processes. For example, EGFvIII mRNA and the cargo of the EVs and that the presence of EGFRvIII protein can be a cargo in GBM-derived EVs that are in cells promotes uptake of EV from other cells. This taken up by surrounding cells. The presence of EGFvIII makes tumor cells more migratory and aggressive, which study refines current understanding of glioblastoma contributes to cancer metastasis. mechanisms and may offer new opportunities for bio- Using quantitative proteomics, the researchers found marker development and future therapies. that expression of EGFRvIII in tumor cells significantly DOI: 10.1074/mcp.RA118.000644 increases the levels of invasion-promoting proteins in — Nathalie Gerassimov

ments. The researchers developed a a physiologically relevant range. The the Journal of Lipid Research, the set of lentiviral vectors that harbor the study was published in the Journal of researchers report that astrogliosis, biotinylation enzyme, and these can Biological Chemistry. the pro-inflammatory process in be requested by other researchers. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.003496 which neuronal astrocytes abnormally DOI: 10.1074/mcp.TIR118.000902 increase, was higher in the mice with When HDL is lowered, lowered HDL levels. In addition, Flood alarms in plants mitochondrial function was compro- the brain suffers mised in these mice, even when they In response to flooding, plants were fed a low-fat diet. Treatment upregulate genes involved in toler- Inflammation in key areas of the with HDL to restore normal levels ance of low-oxygen conditions. This brain is seen as an early step before reduced fat accumulation and allevi- response is mediated by transcrip- weight gain occurs in people who ated the inflammation. Researchers tional activators called group VII consume excess calories. To probe hope that use of HDL could reverse ethylene response factors, which are this connection, Anna Götz and degraded once oxygen conditions colleagues at the German Research the early brain damage that follows return to normal. How these factors Center for Environmental Health increased caloric intake before weight sense oxygen conditions is poorly lowered the levels of high-density gain occurs. understood. Mark D. White and lipoprotein, or HDL, known as DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M085456 colleagues at the University of Oxford “good cholesterol,” in a mouse model showed that plant cysteine oxidases, by knocking out apolipoprotein A1, CRISPR/Cas9 is right which oxidize ethylene response fac- which is critical for HDL formation. tors and lead to their degradation, They then examined whether this on target might act as these crucial oxygen change caused neuronal inflamma- Developing CRISPR/Cas9-based sensors, because their activity was tion and other metabolic dysfunc- gene editing for clinical applications rate-limited by oxygen availability in tionalities. In a paper published in requires a thorough understanding

22 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 Stopping cardiovascular disease with citrus Obesity and its associated diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and metabolic dysfunction, are a worldwide health issue. Many therapies have harm- ful side effects, result in weight regain or, in the case of gastric bypass surgery, are limited to patients with a high body mass index. Amy C. Burke and colleagues at the University of Western Ontario recently published a study in the Journal of Lipid Research using a mouse model of obesity to test how citrus flavonoids, plant compounds found in grapefruit and oranges, could intervene. COURTESY OF RAEKY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS While previous studies looked at preventing obesity Citrus flavonoids, which are found in grapefruit and oranges, were used in in mice with flavonoids, Burke and colleagues aimed mice to reverse obesity induced by a high-fat diet. to reverse obesity. They compared mice on a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet with a high-cholesterol genetic HFHC diet. background in two sets, one with normal chow meal The authors point out that such treatment in humans replacement and a second with the addition of a flavo- has mixed results due to variations in metabolism and noid, after 12 weeks. While complete diet replacement reversed much of the metabolic dysfunction, flavonoid low bioavailability, but this study demonstrates how intervention with the high-fat diet had a similar effect. intervention, even while eating an unhealthy diet, can The mice given flavonoids lost weight and had lowered reverse symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease. inflammation, enhanced insulin sensitivity and aortic DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M087387 plaque composition changes while still on the — Dawn Hayward of off-target mutations. In a paper in Ottawa examined the role of cho- the effect of physiological heat stress the Journal of Biological Chemis- line, an essential nutrient for the on mitochondrial proteins from HeLa try, Shuang Wang and colleagues at synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, in cells. They found that a mitochondrial the Kunming University of Science macrophage function. They found translation elongation factor aggre- and Technology describe how they that choline uptake and phosphati- gated and lost solubility under even studied a rhesus monkey model of dylcholine synthesis increased when mild heat stress. In a paper published Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or macrophages were stimulated with in the Journal of Biological Chemis- DMD, produced using CRISPR/ pro-inflammatory signals, and that try, the authors propose that inacti- Cas9. Whole-genome sequencing of choline uptake inhibition changed vation of the elongation factor may prevent accumulation of misfolded DMD monkeys and wild-type con- the makeup of secreted cytokines. proteins in mitochondria under stress- trols showed that, besides the one- or Thus choline metabolism may have an ful conditions. two-base-pair deletions that caused unappreciated importance in immune DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.002122 the DMD phenotype, there were no responses. The study was published in other mutations in functional genes, the Journal of Biological Chemistry. suggesting that there are no off-target DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.003180 Nathalie Gerassimov (nathalie. [email protected] is a Ph.D. effects of CRISPR/Cas9 editing in student at Johns Hopkins School this system. Mitochondrial protein of Medicine. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.AC118.004404 stress responses Dawn Hayward (dhaywar5@jhmi. edu) is a graduate student at the Immune role of In addition to having their own Johns Hopkins University School genome, mitochondria have their own of Medicine. choline metabolism protein quality control system for Sasha Mushegian (amushegian@ Phospholipid metabolism in the maintaining the function of mito- asbmb.org) is the scientific cells of the innate immune system is chondrially encoded proteins under communicator for the Journal of not well understood. Shayne Snider stress. Anne Wilkening and colleagues Biological Chemistry. Follow her and colleagues at the University of at the University of Bonn investigated on Twitter @sash_mu.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 23 FEATURE Meet Mona Nemer, Canada’s top science adviser By Angela Hopp & André Porter

ona Nemer was appointed 2008 shortly after his government Canada’s chief science adviser established the Science, Technology M by Prime Minister Justin and Innovation Council. Trudeau in the fall of 2017. For the Given that the newly formed coun- past year, she has been responsible for cil had less public visibility, critics counseling Trudeau and his cabinet, saw the office closures as part of the in particular the science minister, Harper government’s broader effort to Kirsty Duncan, on pressing scientific sideline science and muzzle scientists. matters. She also is tasked with foster- When Trudeau ran as the Liberal ing collaboration among scientists in Party candidate in 2015, he made the academia and government and serving appointment of a chief science adviser as a champion of science in the public part of his platform. He and his party sphere. won, and Nemer’s appointment ful- Like many members of the Ameri- filled that campaign promise. can Society for Biochemistry and Nemer grew up in Lebanon, the Molecular Biology, Nemer, a heart eldest of three children born to a researcher, spent most of her career schoolteacher and a mechanic for in academic science. She earned her Beirut newspapers. She attended an Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry at all-girls high school. At that time, the McGill University, worked in indus- mid-1970s, the school didn’t have a try, became a faculty member and science track, so Nemer and her peers later administrator at the University began a campaign to get one. “We of Montreal, and then moved to the had a sort of mini-revolt,” she told University of Ottawa, where she was the Toronto Star last year. The effort a professor, director of the univer- was successful, and Nemer was one sity’s Molecular Genetics and Cardiac of 17 students admitted to the new Regeneration Laboratory, and, for 11 program. years, vice president for research. Already fluent in Arabic and The last time Canada had a French, Nemer worked on her Eng- national science adviser was about a lish while at a Beirut university for decade ago. more than a year. She then transferred Prime Minister Paul Martin of the to Wichita State University in Kansas, Liberal Party appointed the first in where she had relatives. 2004. His electoral successor, Stephen The move was a culture shock. Harper of the Conservative Party, Beirut had been a bustling, multilin- eliminated the position, along with gual and multicultural metropolitan. the top technology adviser spot, in Wichita was not. Nevertheless, she

24 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONA NEMER’S OFFICE Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau (left) made appointing a chief science adviser part of his campaign platform in 2015. When he and the Liberal Party won election, Mona Nemer applied for the job. She was appointed in 2017. persisted. length and clarity. Come graduation time, Nemer had a scholarship offer from a Ph.D. Could you talk a bit about program at the University of Michi- what is expected of you on a gan. But a quick trip with friends to day-to-day basis? Montreal scuttled those plans. It’s very varied, and that’s what Attracted by the offerings of makes this job exciting. It goes from city life, Nemer decided to pass on meetings with the senior bureau- Michigan and instead go to McGill, crats or ministers to discuss specific where she later did postdoctoral work programs or scientific activities within as well. their department and ministries, to ASBMB Today’s executive edi- meeting various stakeholders from tor, Angela Hopp, and the ASBMB’s the Association of Physicists, to policy analyst, André Porter, talked to having conversations both within Nemer about her experiences on the government and with outside people job over the past year, what students on the best way forward on certain and researchers should know about major themes or initiatives — say like doing science in Canada, the role of artificial intelligence and its applica- scientists in policy-making, and how tions to various fields — to how we to make science more inclusive for would go about having a national women and underrepresented minori- strategy for personalized medicine or ties. The interview has been edited for Arctic research. It’s different activities

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 25 Before becoming Canada’s chief science adviser, Mona Nemer served as the University of Ottawa’s vice president for research and as a professor of biochemistry. Her lab focused on the molecular pathways underlying cardiac cell growth and differentiation.

— from science literacy and science functions — clearly with the expec- promotion to visiting major infra- tation that there will be enhanced structure, both nationally and inter- recognition and support for research. nationally, to representing Canada on different panels. You’ve been in it for almost a year now. How is the reality different Do you think that there are from your expectations? any misconceptions about The reality is that the position that the purpose of your role or I have — and that exists in many what you do? places around the world — is really I think, by and large, the (Cana- much needed. It’s not just political dian) public understands the impor- posturing. It’s interesting to have tance of evidence-based decision-mak- someone who’s not in a ministry or ing. The reception of my appointment a specific department taking a look was way beyond expectations. and trying to convene people from In terms of the scientific commu- all these stakeholder sectors and nity, their expectation is that I’ll serve disciplines. as a bridge between the extramural The reality is that government science community and government, actually moves really slowly. This may perhaps enhance understanding of not be the discovery of the century, what the research activity and the sci- but it’s sort of even slower than I ence are about — how the enterprise thought. I thought universities were

26 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 slow and you needed to do multiple whether they are within or outside consultations and so on. Some days, government. I think, “Well, maybe it’s, in a way, a I guess the tipping point came safeguard. It may take the ship a long when the public started hearing time to turn, but it will also take it a that, basically, scientists were being long time to sink.” Maybe it’s a sort muzzled and started to worry whether of guarantee of some stability for our legislation was being conducted with democracy. But I just wish that we evidence or simply based on ideology. could do things a bit faster. The ground there is very fertile for scientists to engage with the public Prime Minister Harper was and for the public to be receptive. known for having cut funding for certain types of research. One of the things that we’re Trudeau appears to be trying to concerned with in the U.S. is reverse that seemingly negative rhetoric deterring international view or skepticism of science. talent. What impediments are there to The U.S. is the perfect example of improving perceptions? how a nation has prospered because they were able to attract the best If I compare Canada with coun- scientists and engineers from across tries with a longer history, for the globe. U.S. dominance in terms of example in Europe, I would say that science started after World War II. I the scientist in Canada has been gen- think there is a pretty interesting link erally less involved in public policy with all the folks who fled Europe and and interactions with politicians and other places in the world since then with the public in general. I think it’s and came over to the United States. fair to say that most of the interac- The U.S. is the perfect example of tions between scientists and elected what science internationalization and officials have been around asking for openness to the world has actually more funding, so then they’re viewed done in terms of positive impact on (by elected officials) as just basically the country itself. It’s a little bit sur- another interest group. prising when governments talk about But the bigger picture is that, restricting international collaboration, because of this dynamic, science because, historically, researchers have literacy and the appreciation of sci- collaborated across borders. ence and of research more generally in Canada lag behind countries like People in the U.S. often say that France and Germany and the U.K. It they will move to Canada if some used to be that the public cared about sort of terrible political thing typical scientific issues around health. happens. But in all seriousness, But increasingly in the past several can you talk about what Canada years, the public has shown greater interest in environmental issues, has to offer students and about food safety, about water safety, researchers? in addition to health of course, and First of all, we have the same then things like data security. North American educational system. We have had here a sort of conun- If you’re in Europe or the Far East drum. On the one hand, the popu- or the Middle East and you want a lation wants to learn more; on the North American-type education and other, we haven’t had intense or even networking and exposure, Canada appropriate engagement by scientists, certainly can offer as good an environ-

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 27 ment as the U.S. Canada’s 2018 budget included Canada generally is viewed as a specific language for support for more welcoming society. Canada is early-career researchers. What viewed as perhaps more multicultural was the reasoning for carving out than other countries and also has less tension between the different cultures. those funds, and will they be in In the past year, Canada has future budgets? taken some serious steps in terms of Maybe I should just step a bit back immigration. There are, for example, and say that the present government much shortened or accelerated visa believes that the way we’re going to programs and other immigration prosper in the coming years — with changes for students, for researchers what I guess everybody’s referring to being hired at Canadian universities as the fourth Industrial Revolution — or in the private sector. In fact, some is through science, research and inno- of the tech companies from the States vation. For this, the skills training have opened branches in Canada — and capacity building are extremely both on the west coast, in Vancouver, important. The government wanted and in Toronto — because they find to make sure that we have funding it easier actually to recruit talent from and support for graduate students across the globe to Canada, where and postdocs to acquire the skills and there are more simplified immigration to contribute in their best innovative procedures than for the U.S. and creative years. Canada has also put in place The fact that we don’t have man- many programs to attract disgruntled datory retirement has meant that researchers or researchers who are the average age of researchers and feeling destabilized by geopolitical professors in academic institutions is conditions. Of course, it’s not only in increasing. Of course, many of them, the Americas, but it’s also in Europe thankfully, are still very productive with Brexit and some other European researchers. But then it just becomes countries where the economic situa- a little bit of an uneven field for the tion is not as good. young ones to compete with estab- You have, for example, the Canada lished investigators within the same 150 Research Chairs program that pot of money. was announced and actually all filled To be consistent with the fact that up last year. (Author’s note: The we’re saying, “Hey. We’re opening up Canadian government established the the country to the best researchers research chair program in 2017 “in and scientists from around the globe,” celebration of Canada’s 150th anni- we better make sure that they have versary” with an initial investment of funding to get their start. This was $117.6 million. Each awardee gets the thinking behind it. I think the a seven-year appointment and up government has made it clear that this to $1 million for research annually.) is not a one-off. There were only 25 of these chairs, and I think that we got over 10 times One of the things that the U.S. has that number of applications. These been grappling with is the lack of were from very, very highly qualified diversity in science, technology, researchers. There was an initial screen engineering and mathematics. at the university level because they knew that it was a very high level, Could you talk about diversity in so you can imagine how many more STEM in Canada? researchers actually applied. Diversity in STEM is a priority for the government, a priority for the

28 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 Women with STEM backgrounds are front and center in the Canadian government. Kirsty Duncan (left), a medical geographer, is the country’s science minister. Mona Nemer (right), an expert in the molecular mechanisms of the heart, is the chief science adviser. Julie Payette, who served as the chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency, is the governor general. minister of science and for the prime aspirational targets that they had set. minister. We call these equity, diver- They actually demanded action plans sity and inclusion policies. They’re from all institutions, and the institu- targeted at increasing the number of tions have until the end of 2019 to women and the number from under- meet their targets. If they don’t, any represented groups — so groups, for application that does not contribute example, with disabilities, people to these targets will not be reviewed who identify as indigenous, visible and funded. This is one very clear and minorities. direct sort of policy or intervention. (Author’s note: About three-fourths One has to appreciate that higher of Canadians self-identify as having education in Canada is under provin- European roots, but the number of cial jurisdiction. The federal govern- those who identify as indigenous is ment has to be careful about too on the rise. Also, the country has one much policy direction in that context. of the highest immigration rates in But nonetheless, because of the fed- the world, and its immigrant diversity eral government raising the issue and score, according to the Pew Institute, its importance, the universities have is greater than that of the United voluntarily decided that they’re going States.) to have targets for diversity and inclu- A year and a half ago, the gov- sion not only for the chair program ernment was unhappy that most but within the entire professorate and universities had not achieved the the staff within the universities.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 29 and says, “Oh, isn’t it wonderful that we have a white man who’s a leader?” In terms of the harassment on cam- puses, a year or a year and a half ago, the provincial government actually mandated that all universities have a sexual harassment policy. All universi- ties had to develop and post them. That’s to say it’s a problem on all campuses, not just in the U.S. They’re tough issues to handle, but they’re also issues that need to be faced and managed, because for too long certain behaviors have been acceptable that should not be acceptable. I think that our universities are microcosms of our society, and it’s really important that we bring up the new generation in a climate of respect for each other and respect for diversity, for all humans.

We hear often from young scientists that they feel like their principal investigators are disappointed in them when they don’t want to become PIs. What are your feelings on that?

Though Mona Nemer’s expertise is cardiac biology, as Canada’s chief science adviser, she keeps up with all manner of scientific This is a very important point. topics. In late August, she went to the Arctic. Here she’s seen on Petermann ice island, an iceberg cleaved from the Petermann The whole idea that most Ph.D.s Glacier off the northeastern tip of Newfoundland, with glaciologists from Laval University and the University of Ottawa. need to go to work at universities came when we started expanding higher education — probably in the The academic science community 1960s and ’70s. But, I can tell you, in the U.S. is dealing right now all of us in university right now, if we reflect on who we trained with who with gender bias and sexual has ended up in the academic sector, harassment on campus. it’s never been more than 20 percent I am always struck by the number or 30 percent max. of women — and they’re students, My first job was not in a university. they’re young faculty, sometimes It was actually in a biotech company people involved with the research in Washington, D.C. The best people enterprise such as communications graduating in molecular biology at people, research assistants, and those the time were not going to universi- who are part of the research landscape ties; they were going to the booming but not necessarily scientists — who biotech sector. In chemistry, if all just walk up to me and say how great the Ph.D.s in the 1960s and ’70s it is to see that there are women scien- had gone to academic positions, you tists who occupy leadership positions. would never have had any of the great I think that we will rest on the chemical companies in the U.S. that day when it’s so normal that nobody not only sell products but do great walks up to any woman in a leader- research, like DuPont, not to mention ship position and says how great it is, the pharmaceutical industry. because I don’t think any guy walks The idea that Ph.D.s have to go to up to a prime minister or a president a university and if they don’t go it’s a

30 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 Mona Nemer, right, served as director of the Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory at the University of Ottawa from 2006 until she was tapped by the Canadian prime minister to advise him and the nation’s science minister on scientific matters. waste for them and society is terrible open up our eyes to the reality of and actually goes against what we’re this world. Perhaps if we were a bit trying to do with the Googles of this more engaged with colleagues outside world that will need to have these of our institutions, we would stop Ph.D.s to innovate. Not to mention the government scientists. How are having these kinds of attitudes and we going to have government scien- approaches that are totally counter- tists doing proper science if all the productive for society. good scientists are at universities? Angela Hopp ([email protected]) It’s a shame these young people is executive editor of ASBMB Today feeling like they’re major and communications director for the ASBMB. Follow her on Twitter disappointments when in fact @angelahopp. they’re going to go off and do André Porter (aporter@asbmb. wonderful things. org) is the ASBMB’s policy analyst. Follow him on Twitter @anporter. It’s terrible. It may reflect the fact that all of us in academia need to

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 31 FEATURE The photosynthesis fix As world food needs rise, so does the need for faster, more efficient plant growth. Bypassing an error-prone enzyme is one way to do it. By Rachel Ehrenberg, Knowable Magazine

n a dimly lit basement at the lings, no bigger than your thumbnail. University of Illinois at Urbana– The bottom is layered with soda lime, I Champaign, not far from a nur- a granular, Kitty-Litter-like material. tured, sunlit plot of corn at the center It’s the same stuff they use in subma- of campus, there’s a torture chamber rines to scrub carbon dioxide from for plants. It looks pretty innocuous: the air. a plywood box the size of a small cof- For someone in a submarine, fee table, with air sifting in through a getting rid of carbon dioxide is life- tube and out from a fist-size hole in saving. For the little plants in the the lid. The box has two tiers. The top box, it is a death sentence — unless, holds tiny, nine-day-old tobacco seed- that is, they’ve inherited a protective

HALEY AHLERS/UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS University of Illinois researchers Paul South (left) and Caroline Keller (right) bag tobacco plants that have set seed in the greenhouse. They are in the process of sifting through 1,500 plants to identify those with the genetically engineered changes that the scientists seek.

32 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 LAGUNA DESIGN/SCIENCE SOURCE Molecular structure of rubisco, a pivotal enzyme in photosynthesis. It captures carbon dioxide that enters the leaf — but sometimes captures oxygen by mistake. Rubisco’s sloppiness wastes a lot of energy. genetic tweak. If a seedling can sweat size better, the extra growth might it out for 24 hours and emerge with help feed the nearly 10 billion people its chloroplasts unruffled, the UI that the United Nations estimates will scientists know they’ve got something populate the planet by 2050. And it special. could help offset other anticipated Plants need just three basic challenges: global dietary shifts ingredients — sun, water and carbon toward meat and dairy, an uptick in dioxide in the air — to create the demand for biofuels that leaves less sugars that ultimately sustain most of land available to grow food, and a life on Earth. Photosynthesis makes hotter landscape that will meddle the world go round: It provides the with many crops’ photosynthesizing oxygen we breathe, the food we eat skills. and the fuel we burn. But though “There is much uncertainty about it is a marvel, it is also stupefyingly how we will get to the yield increases inefficient. From a given amount of sunshine, most plants convert less we need in the future,” says agri- than five percent of that light energy cultural scientist Tony Fischer of into biomass, and under some envi- the Commonwealth Scientific and ronmental conditions, as little as one Industrial Research Organization in percent. Australia. “We need to be trying every And yet that very inefficiency is tool in the toolbox.” giving scientists hope, because it Part of the solution may lie with offers room for improvement and a little seedling gasping for air, right a way to provide for humankind’s now, in the box in that Illinois future. If plants could photosynthe- basement.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 33 CLAIRE BENJAMIN/UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Scientists plant tobacco in SoyFACE (Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment), an outdoor laboratory that allows them to manipulate temperature and carbon dioxide levels and see how the plants fare under different environmental conditions.

The limits of good breeding but seed, after all. Where might crop scientists turn? The inefficiencies of Traditional crop-improvement photosynthesis are an obvious choice, tools have already led to extraordinary says Don Ort, a plant biologist at leaps in yield. Starting as far back the Urbana–Champaign campus. as the 1920s, plant breeders created The Green Revolution didn’t tackle plants that not only grew faster, allow- this feature. Conventional plant ing for more plantings per season, but breeding harnesses natural variation, also produced more calories for eat- seeking out individual plants with ing. Those gains, part of a larger agri- traits of interest: slightly larger seeds cultural initiative known as the Green than their neighbors, for example, or Revolution, were partly achieved by significantly shorter stems. But that selecting for two traits: plants with strategy doesn’t work for photosyn- leaves that would intercept as much thesis, Ort says. Most plants’ photo- light as possible and plants that would synthetic machinery chugs along at funnel as much biomass as possible pretty much the same rate — there into the edible seeds. Today’s premier isn’t a spectrum of lousy to superstar varieties of soybeans capture nearly to select from. 90 percent of available sunshine and Still, research that would lay the pack as much as 60 percent of their groundwork for confronting those biomass into the bean; wheat and rice inefficiencies was underway at the also saw hefty boosts in yield. University of Illinois many decades But the gains are approaching a back. In 1965, the U. S. Department ceiling — a plant can’t be nothing of Agriculture hired William Ogren

34 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 to work at the campus and look his postdoctoral researcher George into improving soybean photosyn- Bowes discovered the culprit: the thesis. The mild-mannered chemist enzyme in charge of one of the first would end up doing groundbreaking steps of photosynthesis. Known today research that set off some fiery years as rubisco (shorthand for ribulose- in plant biology and saw more than 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxy- one academic meeting devolve into genase), this enzyme’s job is to grab shouting matches. carbon dioxide that enters the leaf Ogren — and much of the plant and tack it onto another molecule in physiology community — was the assembly line. It turned out that intrigued by what appeared to be the inept enzyme will happily grab a major glitch in photosynthesis. oxygen instead, sending it along in Under certain circumstances, plants carbon dioxide’s place. And when produced a toxic compound called rubisco passes oxygen into the pho- glycolate. Plants make it, but because tosynthesis assembly line, glycolate it’s toxic they then have to dismantle results, gumming up the works. it. Making and then cleaning up Rubisco’s mistake is costly. Esti- glycolate — a process called photores- mates suggest that photorespiration piration — is a major waste; it leads can reduce the efficiency of photo- to chemical reactions that release synthesis by more than 40 percent. valuable carbon back into the air. So “If you designed that, it would be what caused the plants to make the considered an engineering failure,” glycolate in the first place? Ogren and says biochemist Sabeeha Merchant

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 35 CLAIRE BENJAMIN/UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS An unmodified tobacco plant (left) is dwarfed by one the same age that has been genetically modified to bypass the inefficiencies of photorespiration (right).

of the University of California, Los primary production, that remarkable Angeles. process whereby biomass emerges Yet rubisco’s sloppiness today is from thin air. rooted in its ancient origins and stun- Billions of years ago, when rubisco ning past success. It is ubiquitous — began doing its job, there was barely possibly the most abundant protein any oxygen in the air. It didn’t matter on Earth. Plants, algae and light- if the enzyme picked up the occa- harvesting bacteria all depend on it sional oxygen molecule — there for turning inorganic carbon into wasn’t much of the stuff around. usable organic matter. It is responsible Rubisco’s life work, photosynthe- for more than 99 percent of global sis, changed that. Over the eons, it

36 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 BEAU BARBER/UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Aerial drone shot of tobacco during a 2017 experiment to test plants that were engineered to bypass photorespiration. pumped more and more oxygen into A genetic bypass the atmosphere. Today, atmospheric I’m in the tunnel with Cavanagh oxygen is roughly 500 times more and Paul South, a molecular biologist abundant than CO . That oxygen 2 with the U.S. Department of Agricul- is rubisco’s Achilles’s heel: Though ture, headed to the tobacco seedling precise numbers vary depending on torture chamber. The tunnel is well-lit environment, broad-brush calcula- and clean, though South gleefully tions suggest that for every five carbon points out a budding stalagmite on dioxides, rubisco grabs two oxygen the floor, the result of a slow drip molecules. And rubisco could not through a ceiling crack. Somewhere evolve later on to fix its biochemical above us, a few hundred yards of dirt promiscuity: Scientists surmise that away, is the greenhouse where Ogren its evolutionary journey had boxed it grew his soybeans decades earlier. in, such that minor mutations would Six-day-old seedlings sprout perkily knock out its function altogether. in a tray next to the torture chamber, “When we think about plants, we unaware of their future. The box is forget that they’ve been around for a crucial first test after months of so long,” says Amanda Cavanagh, genetic tinkering by South. If his a University of Illinois postdoc, as efforts are successful, some of those we descend in an elevator toward an baby tobacco plants won’t mind the underground tunnel that serves dou- dangerously low levels of carbon ble duty as a campus tornado shelter dioxide they’re being subjected to. and a quick shortcut between build- They contain a genetic workaround, a ings. “Their machinery can’t cope bypass that will compensate for rubis- with the current high-oxygen environ- co’s cursed affinity for oxygen. Their ment, the environment they shaped. photosynthesis machinery will keep It’s a problem for the plant, and it’s a humming even as neighbor seedlings problem for the food system.” without the bypass ultimately wilt

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 37 and die, their chlorophyll ravaged by Also in the years since, researchers Is more CO2 good the toxic product of rubisco’s mistake. have discovered two more proteins to for plants? Photorespiration is a convoluted play with. Their job is to ferry glyco- process, akin to trekking through late out of the chloroplast, allowing Plants need carbon dioxide to three different buildings to get waste the by-product to escape. The Illinois grow, and CO levels are rising. 2 to the curb. The glycolate is modified scientists have tools to inactivate Still, a CO -rich world won’t nec- 2 piecemeal. It is made in the chloro- these, in what’s now a full-court anti- essarily bode well for plants. The plast, then transits through two other photorespiration press. uptick in temperature that comes cellular compartments, the peroxi- The Illinois work also adds a with the uptick in atmospheric some and the mitochondrion. Some CO poses several problems: grand computational twist. Rather 2 of its carbon is recycled along the than deciding which precise genes to way and sent back to the chloroplast • Rubisco, an already sloppy modify and how, South has used com- to make sugars, but the effort still photosynthesis enzyme, gets puter programming to generate 24 adds up to loss. The idea behind the sloppier at higher tempertures. potential designs that mix and match That suggests it will make scientists’ bypass is to modify the the bypass machinery. They cover an more errors, mistakenly plant’s genetic material and so recycle array of alterations: new arrangements grabbing oxygen instead of glycolate immediately — right in of already-tested bypass genes; genes the chloroplast — recovering all the CO2, as the climate warms. snipped from different sources such carbon and saving energy. “Photores- as algae; and sundry DNA switches • Many plants close their pores in piration takes the country roads,” says to turn various genes on and off (or hotter weather to prevent water South. “The bypass is like installing a dial photorespiration back up if it freeway.” loss. This means oxygen builds turns out to be more important than The idea has a proven track record. up inside the leaves, which scientists assume). translates into lower A decade ago, for example, research- The end result of all this shuffling photosynthesis rates. ers led by plant biologist Christoph is 140 genetically distinct tobacco Peterhänsel, then at RWTH Aachen plant lines with distinct bypass • While some experiments find University in Germany, successfully designs. Each will undergo a bat- that crops grow bigger when created a photorespiration bypass tery of tests, including greenhouse exposed to higher CO in the weedy mustard Arabadopsis, 2 and field trials. Maurino, whose concentrations, those plants the plant-biology equivalent of the early bypass research helped fuel the typically don’t pack as hefty a lab rat. Their approach, reported nutritive punch. They are lower in Nature Biotechnology in 2007, current work, is confident in the in essentials such as iron borrowed genes from the bacterium approach. “Their results seem very and zinc. Escherichia coli to streamline the gly- promising,” she says. “I’m very excited — R. Ehrenberg colate cleanup. The plants responded, to hear more.” growing faster and producing more The researchers may not end up shoots and roots than their ordinary with one “best” solution — in fact, counterparts. they don’t want to, because real-world Another approach, led by plant environments vary greatly. Work- biochemist Veronica Maurino of ing with several bypass designs will Heinrich Heine University in Ger- allow them to identify versions that many, used genes from both plants would excel in, say, drought condi- and E. coli. Published in 2012 in tions, nitrogen-poor soils or very Frontiers in Plant Science, that work hot temperatures. That would be the also led to enthusiastic growth. But mark of success: ramped up photo- these past efforts didn’t use the tools synthesis in a true crop plant, grown available to today’s genetic engineers, the way a farmer might grow it. The which make it possible to insert sev- current work modifies a cigar variety eral desirable genes in a row, and to of tobacco called Petit Havana, but include bits of DNA that can dial up soybean, potato, and cowpea — a or down the activity of the staple in sub-Saharan Africa — are all inserted genes. on the horizon.

38 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 CLAIRE BENJAMIN/UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS In a 2016 field experiment, an infrared gas analyzer measures carbon dioxide intake — and thus photosynthesis rate — of plants genetically engineered to bypass photorespiration.

Green machines? you can manipulate temperature and gas concentrations in plants grown Early results are encouraging. I’m outdoors. She notes that people often taken to one of the lab greenhouses assume that the higher carbon dioxide and the bypass plants are easy to pick levels of the future will be better for out, with flowering shoots that stretch plants, but this isn’t necessarily the above the fledgling greenery of their ordinary neighbors. In field trials case (see sidebar). conducted in 2016, tobacco plants Researchers aren’t putting all their with a bypass had 18 to 20 percent seeds in one basket, though. The more biomass — the added heft in bypass project is just one prong in a leaves and stems — than ones that larger international initiative called hadn’t been tinkered with (the results RIPE (Realizing Improved Photosyn- will be published early in 2018). They thetic Efficiency), headquartered at also flowered earlier, which could the Illinois campus and with collabo- enable two plantings a year, Cavanagh rators at the University of California, explains. She is testing the plants Berkeley; Louisiana State University; to see how different versions of the and institutions in Australia, the bypass handle different environmen- United Kingdom and China. RIPE is tal conditions, taking advantage of a targeting weak links and bottlenecks unique university field station where all along the roughly 160 steps of

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 39 photosynthesis, supported by $25 in Science in 2016, upped the million from the Bill and Melinda amount of biomass in plants by 14 to Gates Foundation and $20 million 20 percent. more from the Foundation for Food Other scientists outside of RIPE and Agricultural Research and the are tackling the photosynthesis prob- UK’s Department for International lem by trying to mimic a strategy that Development. The ultimate goal is has evolved numerous times in the to increase the output of staple food natural world. Roughly three percent crops. of land plants use a different enzyme, There’s an urgent need to push this one that ignores oxygen, to snatch

work along, says University of Illinois up CO2. These “C4” plants, which crop physiologist Steve Long, director include crabgrass, sugarcane and of RIPE. Revving up the various slug- corn, have a very different anatomi- gish spots in the photosynthesis path- cal structure that keeps rubisco away way and bringing them all together from oxygen. (Rubisco still has jobs through a mix of genetic engineering, later on in the photosynthesis assem- computer modeling and conventional bly line.) Such plants have very low plant breeding will be a long, slow levels of photorespiration. Inspired process. And though it might be by this, a team led by plant develop- hard for Americans to conceive of a mental geneticist Jane Langdale at world short of calories, the forecasted the University of Oxford in England population increases, combined with are trying to engineer a C4 version of global warming and their heavy toll rice. The project, funded by the Gates on the environment may mean more foundation, is complex, but in a solid expensive food in many parts of the step toward that goal, the scientists world. “Whatever we invent today is reported this November in Current not going to be available for 20 years Biology that they’d engineered ana- or more, so we need to be looking tomical tweaks to bring rice closer to now at what are the best technologies C4 anatomy. we can put on the shelf,” Long says. Of course, science won’t be enough Dealing with rubisco’s shortcom- to feed the world of the future, ings is one major focus. In addition says Fischer of the Commonwealth to the bypass project, researchers at research organization. It’s also going RIPE and elsewhere are working on to take policy changes and basic infra- structure improvements, such as roads ways to swathe rubisco with CO so 2 and electricity, in developing parts it doesn’t encounter oxygen to begin of the world. “All of these have to be with, and scouring algae and wild fixed as farmers embrace new technol- plants for versions of rubisco that stay ogies, and that means huge changes in on task, ignoring oxygen. public and private investment and in The team is also tackling aspects of governance,” Fischer says. photosynthesis that aren’t the fault of Those are gargantuan challenges. rubisco but of inefficient use of light. But in the hopes they will be met, When sunlight gets too strong, plants researchers are doggedly torturing one shed the extra energy as heat, to avoid generation of plants at a time and see- damage. This light-quenching mode ing what bears fruit. can take minutes to hours to turn off, even after clouds have moved in — a major waste. To fix the problem, Rachel Ehrenberg covers the intersection of plants, food and Long and his RIPE colleagues added policy from Boston. Reach her at genes to tobacco plants to speed the [email protected] or on Twitter bounce-back. The strategy, reported at @Rachelwrit.

40 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 ANNUAL MEETING Scientific session snapshots

elow are brief descriptions of the scientific sessions slated for the 2019 American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual meeting scheduled for April 6–9 in Orlando. We asked session organizers for their B pithiest pitches of the science they will share.

Lipid metabolism Plant biochemistry enzymologists, chemical biologists, structural biochemists and anyone Natalia Dudareva, Purdue Brian Finck, Washington University interested in biological chemistry. University This session hits on several major Theme song: “The Future’s So Bright themes, including the regulation of This session is devoted to biochem- I Gotta Wear Shades” by Timbuk3, lipolysis, metabolites as signaling istry and evolution of plant primary because it is a great time to be an molecules and integrated control and secondary metabolites and will enzymologist. of metabolism. Attendees will learn cover recent innovations in multi- This session is powered by high- about the latest from speakers who disciplinary analysis of plant meta- affinity interactions. approach metabolism from different bolic networks from transcriptional regulation to synthetic evolution and angles and use a variety of experimen- biotechnological applications. tal systems to test hypotheses. Inflammation and disease Keywords: plant metabolic networks Keywords: lipolysis, lipogenesis, Judy Lieberman, Boston Children’s Who should attend: undergradu- intermediary metabolism Hospital, Harvard Medical School ate, graduate, and postgraduate-level Inflammation contributes to Who should attend: anyone who has students and professional scientists grown tired of the lines at Disney almost every disease. This session will of plant evolutionary biology, plant highlight new mechanistic insights Theme song: “Lipid la Vida Loca” physiology and botany, as well as into how pathogens and danger This session is powered by researchers working in the fields of signals are recognized in cells and trig- caffeine. secondary metabolites, metabolic ger the formation of large multicom- biochemistry, genetic engineering, ponent complexes (inflammasomes) Microbiome and disease molecular biology and horticulture that cause inflammatory cell death Theme song: “The Eggplant That (pyroptosis) and release of inflamma- Julie Segre, National Human Ate Chicago” by Dr. West’s Medicine tory cytokines. It will also discuss how Genome Research Institute Show and Junk Band these insights could be translated to Ever wondered about the bacteria, This session is powered by treat disease. fungi and viruses that live in and on innovations. Keywords: inflammation, inflamma- you? What do they do? How do we some, pyroptosis, gasdermin, caspase, begin to understand their biochemical Catalysis and sepsis potential and how this is mediated by Who should attend: everyone interactions with the host? enzyme action Theme song:“It’s Too Darn Hot” Keywords: bacteria, bioreactor, bioin- Pablo Sobrado, Virginia Tech This session is powered by feverish formatics The session will focus on macro- energy. Who should attend: the full range molecular structure and function, from organic chemistry to microbi- enzymatic reactions, identification DNA repair, recombination ology, molecular biology, bioinfor- of new enzymes in novel metabolic matics, sequencing, genomics and pathways and the evolution of new and replication microbiome chemistry. Anja Katrin Bielinsky, Theme song: “We are Family” by Keywords: enzymes, spliceosome, University of Minnesota Sister Sledge protein evolution, enzyme engineer- This session will feature cutting- This session is powered by ORF ing, flavin-dependent reactions edge research at the interface of DNA function unknown. Who should attend: biochemists, repair, recombination and replication.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 41 Defects in these processes are known as well as non-covalent, ATP-driven phorylation, transcriptional control, to cause human diseases, such as chromatin remodeling, and the roles sleep, disease cancer and developmental and neu- and mechanisms of action of these Who should attend: all who are rological pathologies. Our discussion modifications in cancer. interested in our daily rhythms (and will span a wide array of experimental Keywords: epigenome, chromatin in sleep) applications, including single cell/ modifications, cancer Theme song: “Day After Day” molecule technologies, genomics and Who should attend: graduate stu- because it emphasizes the rhythmic proteomics. dents, postdoctoral fellows, profes- nature of life Keywords: Genome stability, recom- sors, scientists from pharmaceutical This session is powered by light binational repair, replication stress and biotech industries and life. Theme song:“Extreme Ways” by This session is powered by infinite Moby, because the science in this field creativity. is as fast-paced as the soundtrack to Aging and longevity the Bourne trilogy. Laura Niedernhofer, This session is powered by 3R. Mitochondrial biology University of Minnesota, P. Darrell Neufer, Minneapolis East Carolina University We are facing an unprecedented Glycobiology This session explores the role mito- number of elderly in our world popu- Anne Imberty, French National chondria play in creating the continu- lation, most of whom have multiple Centre for Scientific Research ous flow of energy and electricity that chronic diseases. This has stimulated Glycobiology is the study of gly- is essential to generating and sustain- tremendous interest and progress in cans (sugar chains in oligosaccharides, ing cellular life. The session will focus discovering fundamental mechanisms polysaccharides and glycoconjugates), on providing new data on how mito- that drive aging and its concomitant biomolecules that are involved in a chondrial function is specialized in spectrum of diseases. In model organ- large range of biological processes. We different cell types, how it is regulated isms, tweaking these mechanisms will focus on glycans and receptors in in health and disease, and how it may affords greater health and longevity. infection and immunity, since viruses, be targeted therapeutically. Keywords: aging, lifespan, frailty, bacteria, fungi and parasites use pro- Keywords: bioenergetics, metabo- mitochondria, metabolism, oxida- tein–glycan interaction to attach to lism, disease tive stress, muscle, microbiome, human tissue or to fool our immune Who should attend: those interested senescence system. in the driving forces central to life Who should attend: everyone; we are Keywords: Innate immunity, micro- and, by implication, disease all afflicted by aging multiple times biome, polysaccharide Theme song: “Into The Mystic” by during our lifetimes as our grandpar- Who should attend: everyone in Van Morrison — even though “non- ents, then parents, then ourselves age chemistry, biology, or biochemistry equilibrium thermodynamics” is not Theme song:“Hope I Die Before who wants to know how “Create- in the lyrics, that’s what it’s about! I Get Old” (“My Generation”) by Read-Update-Delete” coding rules This session is powered by oxygen. Roger Daltry and the Who are applied by nature in the complex This session is powered by confi- world of glycosciences dence — that aging is modifiable. Theme song: “50 Ways to Leave Your Circadian rhythms Lover,” because there are “50 ways to Amita Sehgal, Perelman School bind your sugar” of Medicine, University of Synthetic biology This session is powered by our Pennsylvania sweet tooth. Michelle Chang, The session will cover mecha- University of California, Berkeley nisms of the circadian (~24-hour) Please join us in discussing the Epigenomics and clock across species, from the simple development of new tools and cyanobacteria model to humans, approaches for the design, study and chromatin dynamics and demonstrate how circadian engineering of macromolecular and Yang Shi, Boston Children’s Hospi- rhythms pervade virtually all aspects cell function. tal, Harvard Medical School of physiology and behavior. Health Keywords: synthetic biology, meta- This session will discuss dynamic consequences of disrupted circadian bolic engineering, bioengineering, regulation of epigenomes, including rhythms will also be discussed. directed evolution, genome-scale covalent modifications of chromatin Keywords: clock genes, protein phos- engineering, protein engineering,

42 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 biosynthesis to understanding complex human Theme song: “All I Want is You” Who should attend: biochemists, diseases. The challenge is to make sure by U2 enzymologists, protein engineers, the data are interpreted in the context All anyone and everyone doing molecular biologists, systems biolo- of the troubled waters of marginalized structural work wants is cryo-EM gists, computational biologists, stu- populations. because it’s so cool and so hot. dents, postdocs and faculty This session is powered by the This session is powered by Theme song: “Computer Love” by need for inclusion and justice. a technology breakthrough. Zapp & Roger The session may be a little different from traditional areas of biochemistry Autophagy Single-molecule and and molecular biology, but we hope and proteostasis attendees “can share that special love” single-cell studies with us, “thanks to modern technol- Beth Levine, University of Texas Xiaoliang Sunney Xie, ogy.” Southwestern Medical Center and Peking University This session is powered by Howard Hughes Medical Institute Advances in single-molecule and evolution. The turnover of proteins and single-cell studies, with new technol- organelles is essential for cellular ogy and new knowledge continuing differentiation and homeostasis. This to emerge, have changed the way life Inequities in session will highlight recent advances processes are investigated, making an related to molecular mechanisms of precision medicine selective degradation of organelles by impact in biology. Sonia C. Flores, University autophagy, cross-talk between autoph- Keywords: single-molecule enzymol- of Colorado Anschutz Medical agy and other metabolic pathways, ogy, single-cell genomics, single-cell Campus and the role of ubiquitinating factors transcriptomics, single-cell imaging The future of American medicine in remodeling proteomes during cel- Who should attend: enzymologists, depends on the integration of com- lular differentiation. biochemists, molecular biologists, cell plex data and will require extensive Keywords: autophagy, mitophagy, biologists, systems biologists, genome expertise in the utilization of -omics ER-phagy, proteostasis, ubiquitin biologists technologies and precision medicine, Who should attend: all people inter- Theme song: “When Stochasticity and the relevant interpretation of data ested in understanding how cellular Meets Precision” generated using these technologies. degradation and recycling pathways However, disparities in the applica- keep our cells healthy tion and interpretation of genomic Theme song:“Circle of Life” by RNA structural dynamics data to populations with African or Elton John Hashim Al-Hashimi, other ancestries have been identified. Duke University These issues present challenges with Cryo-EM RNA is increasingly recognized as implementation, interpretation and a key player in biology. RNA dynam- cost-effectiveness of precision medi- Yifan Cheng, University of ics play essential roles in the assembly cine initiatives when treating minority California, San Francisco and function of machines such as the populations. Our session will focus on With recent technological break- ribosome. RNAs exchange between strategies to address these issues. throughs, single-particle cryo-EM the nucleus and cytoplasm, and their Keywords: ancestry, precision, has become a major tool and a functions are modified by post-tran- genomics game-changer for structural biology. scriptional modifications. This session Who should attend: anybody Speakers in this session will highlight will examine the dynamic complexity interested in using big data analytics both recent technological advances in (genomics, proteomics, pharmacoge- single-particle cryo-EM and its appli- of RNAs. nomics) to make inferences about cations in various biological systems, Keywords: RNA biology, ribonu- susceptibility to diseases or responses such as membrane proteins. cleoprotein complexes, RNA post- to pharmacological agents in popula- Keywords: single-particle cryo-EM, transcriptional modifications tions of different ancestries structural biology Who should attend: everyone Theme song:“Bridge Over Troubled Who should attend: anyone inter- Theme song: “Dancing Queen” Water.” This clearly betrays my age, ested in how protein or protein You’ll have the dance of your life! but is perfect to describe how the machinery works This session is powered by power of big data has built bridges dynamics.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 43 ANNUAL MEETING Abstract advice

t’s abstract season at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. We want you to share your exciting science at our 2019 annual meeting, and the first step to doing that is submitting your abstract. I Abstract writing is hard. To get you motivated, seven members of the ASBMB Meetings Committee offer some advice on how to get your abstract noticed — and also what NOT to do when writing an abstract. The deadline for abstract submissions is Nov. 14. For details on submitting your abstract (and more advice), go to the Meetings page at asbmb.org.

Daniel M. Raben, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine How to get your abstract noticed (in a good way): Things that help are: (a) a “catchy” title that gives the reader a reason to want to read more — what is this abstract about and why is it exciting? (b) making sure the abstract is clear to a uninitiated reader; (c) clearly stating what was being tested/examined and the experimental approach focusing on KEY points; (d) explaining con- clusions clearly, and finally (e) implications of the study in two to three sentences. Remember, there are a lot of abstracts, attracting attention, and making the abstract easy to understand will go a long way. What to AVOID when writing your abstract: Avoid jar- gon that only those in the field would know. Avoid overly

complicated/detailed explanations/descriptions. Avoid PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASBMB parenthetical comments that detract from your point. At the undergraduate poster competition at the 2017 ASBMB Annual Meeting in Chicago, Julia McCartney of North Central College presents her research on bacterial species that can be found on frog egg masses and inhibit pathogenic Sonia Flores, University of Colorado water molds.

Anschutz Medical Campus Avoid being over technical in the description of your work, How to get your abstract noticed (in a good way): as you would like your abstract to be understood by a You want to have a title that tells the story and a compel- broad audience. Also check for grammatical and typo- ling conclusion. graphical errors. What to AVOID when writing your abstract: Avoid repetition and descriptive sentences. Y. Jessie Zhang, University of Texas, Austin How to your abstract noticed (in a good way): Patrick Grant, University of Virginia You want your audience to understand the significance How to get your abstract noticed (in a good way): right away. In the first two sentences, set the stage for the Clearly demonstrate the scientific problem, providing a field and the key question in the field you are trying to hypothesis or objective up front. Finish with the impact address. Also, summarize in the last sentence how your that your work has on your field. Provide an overview of research impacts the field. the approach and key results in a summary form, but also What to AVOID when writing your abstract: highlight what is distinctive about your methods and/or Use a minimalist strategy to describe the results of your results. research. This is only supposed to be a movie preview, so What to AVOID when writing your abstract: no experimental details.

44 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 Young scientists present their research at the undergraduate poster competition at the 2017 ASBMB Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Evette Radisky, Mayo Clinic and/or paper, so communicate general behaviors, observa- tions, etc. How to get your abstract noticed (in a good way): Lay the foundation: start with a clear, concise sentence or two that lays out background (only the most essential) and Kelly G. Ten Hagen, conveys your problem/question and its significance to a broad audience. Then include some specifics about general National Institutes of Health methodology/approach and your results so far. Conclude How to get your abstract noticed (in a good way): with a summary sentence that may extrapolate to the Clearly convey why your study is relevant/noteworthy by broader implications or future directions of your main tailoring background information to your audience (more finding. general for more diverse groups and a bit more detailed for What to AVOID when writing your abstract: specialized groups). Clearly state the question being asked/ Avoid undefined acronyms. Avoid too many numbers; problem being investigated. After stating the results and even if your study is very quantitative in nature, your conclusions, circle back to a bigger picture perspective. abstract may appeal to a broader audience by describing your key findings in a more qualitative fashion. What to AVOID when writing your abstract: Avoid jargon and unnecessary details. Enrique M. De La Cruz, Yale University Lan Huang, University of California, Irvine How to get your abstract noticed (in a good way): Try to have a title with a conclusion (e.g. "Membrane How to get your abstract noticed (in a good way): Protein X is a voltage-gated water channel" rather than 1. Make a concise and eye-catching title. 2. Emphasize "Characterization of...."). Readers will walk away learning the significance and novelty of the work. 3. Describe main something, even if they read only the title. discovery clearly that is important to the field. What to AVOID when writing your abstract: What to AVOID when writing your abstract: Avoid too much detail. This can be found on the poster Try not to just have research background in the abstract.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 45 ANNUAL MEETING Abstract topics

2000 ASBMB Genome Dynamics: 2042 ASBMB Proteasomes: Structure 2084 ASBMB Protein Kinases 2134 ASBMB Lipids and Inflammation DNA Replication, Repair and and Regulation Recombination 2085 ASBMB Phosphatases 2135 ASBMB Lipid Storage and 2043 ASBMB Proteolytic Enzymes and Trafficking 2001 ASBMB DNA Recombination, Inhibitors 2086 ASBMB Ion Channels Structure and Topology 2087 ASBMB Cyclic Nucleotides 2136 ASBMB Membrane Proteins and Lipid Interactions 2002 ASBMB CRISPR/genome engineering 2050 ASBMB Enzyme Chemistry and 2088 ASBMB Inositol Phosphates Catalysis 2137 ASBMB Lipid Domains and Lipid 2003 ASBMB DNA Polymerases, 2089 ASBMB Calcium, Nitric Oxide and Rafts 2051 ASBMB Biomolecular Catalysis other Chemical Regulators Telomerase, Replicases and 2138 ASBMB Membrane Transport and Replisomes 2052 ASBMB Enzyme Mechanisms, 2090 ASBMB Redox Signaling Channels Kinetics and Energetics 2004 ASBMB DNA Damage and Repair 2091 ASBMB Apoptosis and Cell Death 2053 ASBMB Structural Dynamics of Enzymes and Multienzyme Complexes 2092 ASBMB Cell Stress and 2140 ASBMB Biochemistry of 2010 ASBMB Chromatin Structure, Xenobiotics Organelles and Organelle Trafficking Remodeling and Gene Expression 2054 ASBMB Enzyme Regulation and Allosterism 2093 ASBMB Allosteric Control of 2141 ASBMB Organelle Structure and 2011 ASBMB Chromosomes Structure/ Signaling Pathways 2055 ASBMB Cytochromes P450 Biogenesis and Disease Association Dynamics 2094 ASBMB Spatiotemporal Control 2142 ASBMB Vesicle Trafficking and 2012 ASBMB Epigenetic Modifications 2056 ASBMB Enzyme Inhibitors and of Signaling of DNA and RNA Drug Design Cargo 2095 ASBMB Cell Motility and 2013 ASBMB Histone Modifications Migration 2143 ASBMB Mitochondria in Health and Disease 2014 ASBMB Transcriptional 2060 ASBMB Chemical Biology, Drug 2096 ASBMB Tumor Suppressors and Mechanisms, Regulation and RNA Discovery and Bioanalytical Methods Tumor Drivers 2144 ASBMB Organelle Dynamics and Polymerases Dysfunctions 2061 ASBMB Drug Screening and 2097 ASBMB Cancer Signaling and 2015 ASBMB Transcriptomics Development Therapeutics 2062 ASBMB Chemical Biology of 2098 ASBMB Neurobiology and 2150 ASBMB Glycans and Natural Products, Nucleic Acids and Neuronal Signaling Glycobiology 2020 ASBMB RNA: Processing, Small Molecules Transport, and Regulatory 2099 ASBMB Immune Signaling 2151 ASBMB Glycosyltransferases and Mechanisms 2063 ASBMB Chemical Probes, Biosensors and Biomarkers 2100 ASBMB Targeted Therapies and Hydrolases 2021 ASBMB RNA Polymerases 2064 ASBMB Protein and Peptide New Targets for Drug Discovery 2152 ASBMB Protein-Glycan 2022 ASBMB RNA Binding Proteins Chemistry Interactions 2023 ASBMB RNA Structure, Folding 2065 ASBMB Protein Engineering and 2110 ASBMB Bacteria and Parasites: 2153 ASBMB Glycan Biotechnology and Dynamics Design From Microbiome to Antibiotics and Drug Development 2024 ASBMB Non-coding RNAs 2066 ASBMB Protein–Small Molecule 2111 ASBMB Microbe/Parasite-Host Interactions 2025 ASBMB CRISPR: Methods and Interactions 2160 ASBMB Interdisciplinary/ Applications 2067 ASBMB Bioanalytical and 2112 ASBMB Antibiotic Resistance Translational Science (SEBM) 2026 ASBMB RNA Processing and Biophysical Methods Editing 2113 ASBMB Antibacterial Targets and 2161 ASBMB Mitochondria Dysfunction 2068 ASBMB Nanotechnology Drug Discovery & Disease (SEBM) 2114 ASBMB Microbiomes 2162 ASBMB Free Radical Biology 2030 ASBMB Protein Synthesis, 2070 ASBMB Genomics, Proteomics (SEBM) Structure, Modifications and and Metabolomics Interactions 2120 ASBMB Metabolism and 2163 ASBMB Structural Biology 2071 ASBMB Next-generation (SEBM) 2031 ASBMB Ribosomes sequencing Bioenergetics 2164 ASBMB Sirtuins in Cancer 2032 ASBMB Mechanisms and 2072 ASBMB Genomics 2121 ASBMB Plant Metabolism and Regulation of Protein Synthesis and Biosynthetic Pathways Biology (SEBM) Dynamics 2073 ASBMB Lipidomics, 2165 ASBMB Biotherapies & Pharmacogenomics and 2122 ASBMB Energy Metabolism, 2033 ASBMB tRNA and tRNA Toxicogenomics Oxidative Phosphorylation Immunotherapies (SEBM) Synthetases 2074 ASBMB Proteomics 2123 ASBMB Oxidative Stress and 2166 ASBMB Molecular Medicine 2034 ASBMB Protein Interactions and Reactive Oxygen (SEBM) Binding 2075 ASBMB Metabolomics 2124 ASBMB Mechanisms and 2035 ASBMB Protein Modifications 2076 ASBMB Glycomics Metabolism of Aging 2170 ASBMB BMB Education and 2036 ASBMB Protein Structure and 2077 ASBMB Systems Biology and 2125 ASBMB Metabolism and Cancer Professional Development Biophysics Regulatory Networks 2126 ASBMB Metabolism and Nutrition 2171 ASBMB Active Learning in the 2037 ASBMB Protein Folding and 2078 ASBMB Computational Biology Chaperones and Bioinformatics 2127 ASBMB Diabetes, Obesity and Molecular Life Sciences Metabolic Syndrome 2038 ASBMB Protein Dynamics and 2172 ASBMB Big data in Molecular Fluctuations, Turnover and Quality Life Sciences, student projects, labs Control 2080 ASBMB Signal Transduction and and the classroom Cellular Regulation 2130 ASBMB Lipids and Membranes 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46 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 47 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Policy is your BFF Navigating difficult situations as an early-career faculty member By Cheryl Bailey & Marvin Payne

ou have finally landed that first You feel some anxiety. You know performed well. It is easy to jump faculty appointment. You start this wasn’t your best effort, but you to conclusions that may be biased Y to build a lab, take on stu- really tried to foster learning and and should not be asserted, even if dent researchers, build your classes compensate with generous grading. you have evidence for them. We are and find out where you fit in your You make a couple of attempts to re- not here to judge the student but to institution’s cultural landscape. But explain how you graded their work, evaluate their academic performance suddenly, all the things you haven’t but this student seems unable to fairly. been trained for start happening. accept any personal responsibility for At first glance, (2) seems like a Part and parcel of your career as a not passing. simple way to make the problem go faculty member who assigns grades, Here are four possible responses: away and help the student move on. manages a laboratory and works with (1) “Look, you are the only one However, giving selective advantage colleagues is navigating contentious who didn’t pass, and if you had spent to one student over others is problem- situations that can consume your any reasonable amount of time study- atic, because it degrades the integrity time and energy and cause consider- ing, you would have made it.” of the academic process associated able stress. (2) “OK, I’m going to raise with grades and is not equitable. In this article we provide some your grade, but promise not to tell It’s legitimate to re-evaluate how advice to reduce the stress of every- anyone.” you graded and act accordingly. If one involved. This is where policy is (3) “I’m sorry. We are unable to this student deserves some adjust- your friend. From our experiences as resolve your grade issue. We have ment, so does everyone else. One faculty and administrators, we have an appeal process, and you should of the authors actually turned in a learned, sometimes the hard way, that contact (the appropriate person) for large stack of grade change forms following a policy and corresponding further discussion. I’ll send you the for a whole class once after a student structured process can minimize stress appeal process by email.” pointed out an error. and contribute to a better outcome. (4) “All the students in this class Another big problem with (2) is were graded with the same metric. thinking the student will keep your The scenario Please submit a written argument confidence; it is inappropriate to for the change in grade you are ask that of them. Anything you say, You have just taught Introduction requesting.” even casually in the hallway, may be to Biochemistry for the first time, Scenarios like this are quite com- repeated. One of the authors once and you made several adjustments to mon. Sometimes we just want to was hurrying down a hall to go some- grading schemes during the semester. make the problem go away. where and said, “I’ve got to get out of To compensate for your inexperience, here.” Within days, the rumor was all you were extra generous with your over campus that they were angry and grading. The response leaving the institution. This required Now that the course is over, a The problem with (1) is that you a lot of damage control. student emails a request for a meeting are personally judging the student The best response is either (3) or during which they tell you that the and escalating the problem that will (4), depending on your institution’s failing grade you assigned them is not ensue if they push the matter further. policies. Many universities prefer that fair. They assert that if you had fol- If you’re not careful, this could a faculty member attempt to resolve lowed your syllabus grading scheme go beyond a grade discussion into a problem with a student before it — and taught better, by the way — charges of microaggression. We have goes to the appeal stage. Even then, a they would have a much better grade; found that it is better to listen sym- conversation with your chair is a good you have now negatively affected their pathetically to a student; there are a idea, especially the first time. career. thousand reasons they might not have If the appeal process is needed,

48 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 it should preserve your appeals and administrative academic and personal reviews built in. It is OK integrity and honor the stu- to be overruled if you have dent’s desire for closure. Let a rational explanation of the system work for both of your decision. Throughout you. Document your inter- the process, ask yourself actions with the student what a reasonable person and your rationale for the would do in this situation. grade. An appeal process Acting reasonably should will evaluate whether you minimize any long-term followed your syllabus. consequences. You likely will do a better Let it go. Learn from job next time you teach your experience, reflect Introduction to Biochemis- on best practices moving try, and you will see why it’s forward and let it go. Every important to have a stable member, start by asking your depart- concern is unique. Emo- tions from one concern can create grading scheme. ment chair what policy covers the bias in future concerns, and you want issue you are facing. Different policies to avoid this. Even with the best are housed in different university Practical advice intentions, everyone is likely to be departments for different concerns. Take a deep breath. Control your involved in a formal process at some For example, grade appeals com- emotions. Remain professional no point. This does not mean you are monly are housed in academics, while matter what horrible characteristics a bad person. The process allows all are attributed to you or another per- harassment concerns may be housed perspectives to be heard. With reflec- son. Staying calm always will promote in student affairs. You need a clear tion, the process can lead to positive a better outcome. Be purposeful at understanding of both the policy and changes in everyone involved. The stress control, using techniques such where it is housed in the university next time you are involved in a formal as exercise or meditation. structure. process will be easier, and the value of Educate yourself. Become familiar Keep a record. Make sure you the process will become apparent. with governing documents, such as have an easily accessible written Make it better. Sometimes, after faculty and student handbooks, and record of all interactions. Choose being involved in a process, you will look for guidance. Ideally, you will both spoken and written words very want to suggest changes to improve be familiar with these policies before carefully. Follow up on in-person and the policy. All the previous advice you need them. You may have to phone conversations with an email also applies if you decide to go on a search a bit, since different policies summarizing the conversation so that quest to change institutional policy. apply to different situations: academic both you and the other person in the Institutions have a lot of inertia, and integrity, integrity in research, griev- conversation can view and respond working through a legislative process ance, etc. Most internal policies are to the summary. Even if a concern is can be frustrating and time consum- derivatives of larger mandates. Two resolved amicably early in a process, it ing, so be prepared. You may want to important examples for academics are might be revisited later. run your ideas by some of your senior the Federal Right to Privacy Act and Know your deadlines. Make sure colleagues and let someone else be the Title IX of the Educational Amend- your responses and formal actions are standard bearer while you put more ments of 1972. Both are complex, but completed in a timely fashion and time into your research and moving more knowledge is better. include everyone who needs to be toward rank and tenure. Whether you realize it or not, included. Be aware that many issues when someone brings a concern to should be shared only with individu- Cheryl Bailey (baileyc@mtmary. you, a policy and corresponding pro- als who have a need to know. Avoid edu) is dean of the School of cedure has been set in motion, even sharing with large groups, such as Natural and Health Sciences and Education, Mount Mary University, if you are not yet familiar with that your department faculty, unless there Milwaukee, Wisconsin. policy and procedure. The concern is a clear reason to include them. Marvin Payne (mpayne@lasierra. may end with an informal conver- Be thoughtful. Many decisions edu) is chair of the department sation, but it also may progress to involve making a judgement call of chemistry and biochemistry, formal steps. about a complex issue without a clear La Sierra University, Riverside, Get good advice. As a faculty right or wrong. Most policies have California.

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 49 AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN IN THE MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES Managing underrepresentation By Suzanne E. Barbour

n the first article in this series, administration contributed to this five African-American men in the stability early.” Imposter syndrome

I molecular biosciences discussed The Obama administration’s Originally defined in a 1978 mentoring and other factors that led focus on STEM increased aware- paper, imposter syndrome is to their career decisions and con- ness, Barnes said, and programs such the self-perceived notion that tributed to their persistence in the as the National Cancer Institute’s one is not worthy, a fraud or science, technology, engineering and Cancer Moonshot and the National an imposter. Although many math career pipeline. This article will Institutes of Health’s Brain Initiative high-achieving people suffer focus on challenges and impediments provided more funds to the scientific from imposter syndrome, studies that may be unique to this demo- community. show the incidence is particularly graphic group and the strategies these Hubbard wondered if certain high in women and minorities in five men have developed to overcome priorities would continue. “With STEM disciplines. those challenges. Obama, there was an increasing African-American men are highly initiative for diversity in STEM with stages (or any stage, for that matter).” underrepresented in the sciences. a focus on progressing science in soci- Barbour, the oldest in the group, According to the Survey of Earned ety,” he said. “We are about halfway had similar concerns. “The most Doctorates, African-American men through Trump’s term, so we will have earned only 214 of the 12,520 doc- challenging part of (my) career has to see if he is going to quell that or torates awarded in the life sciences been managing my perceptions of the in 2015. Although this represents a keep the needle where it is in terms of stereotypes applied to African-Amer- nearly 1.5-fold increase over the 2006 the diversity initiatives.” ican men,” he said. “It was reinforced number, it is still only 1.7 percent of Chaney summarized the senti- early in my career that some supervi- earned doctorates in our field (and ments of all five participants. “While sors and colleagues would judge my far below the percentage of African- the Obama presidency solidified for performance based on my race and American men in the U.S. popula- me and my colleagues that nothing not my productivity.” tion, approximately 6.5 percent). was impossible for a person of color, The men were generally optimistic, I cannot say that there were any however, and emphasized the impor- concrete changes in my experience as Politics, science and race tance of supportive relationships and an African-American biochemist,” he programs. The men surveyed for this article said. “The truth is that there are still Joseph Chaney explained, “My (see box) provide insights from the real obstacles out there, particularly ethnicity has never been a hindrance era before Barack Obama was elected for underrepresented persons, and we in my career because I have been president (when Carleton Barbour all must do our part to help the next fortunate to be surrounded by people and Craig Cameron trained) ver- generation of scientists realize their sus the years after the first Obama dreams.” who challenged me to aim for high election (when Nisan Hubbard and Hubbard, the youngest participant, goals and to not be afraid to have Christopher Barnes have been in described his challenges. “There are unique interests. I have had to get training). Though none perceived not many people who look like me in used to being the only minority in the a change in his experience as an this field, so it feels sometimes that room often at dinners, meetings and African-American man related to there is a certain stigma that I am conferences.” Obama’s election, each commented fighting against while trying to excel Cameron expressed similar senti- on the impact of politics on science. and achieve within my work and in ments: “Without positive people and “My status quo has been remark- the community,” he said. “There is positive environments, my minority ably steady over the past 21 years,” also the ‘imposter syndrome’ that status could have easily disincentiv- Cameron said. “The doubling of is prevalent among people of color ized my pursuit of science and being the NIH budget during the Clinton within higher education at these a scientist.”

50 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018 AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN IN THE MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES — A THREE-PART SERIES

This is the second of three articles exploring the experiences of African-American men in the molecular biosci- ences through interviews with five African-American men at various stages in their careers, including two students, two faculty members and a researcher in the biotechnology industry.

The careers of these five men span nearly four decades when taken together and include experiences in academia, industry and consulting. Although each has had unique experiences, the commonalities in their stories provide insight into the challenges and opportunities facing African-American men in the molecular biosciences. This series is an exploration of their lived experiences, hopes for the future and advice to the next generation of African-Ameri- can men who aspire to careers in the molecular biosciences.

NISAN HUBBARD, a doctoral CRAIG CAMERON holds the Eberly candidate at Northwestern University, family endowed chair in biochemistry is completing a Ph.D. in reproductive and molecular biology at the Pennsyl- biology. vania State University, and his labora- tory focuses on genetic replication in HUBBARD CAMERON positive-strand RNA viruses.

CHRISTOPHER BARNES is a CARLETON BARBOUR is lead Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientist in process and analytical Hannah Gray postdoctoral fellow in development at Emergent BioSolutions, Pamela Bjorkman’s laboratory at the a biotechnology company focused on California Institute of Technology. developing medical countermeasures for BARNES BARBOUR biological and chemical threats. He is also the author’s brother. JOSEPH CHANEY is an assistant professor of biochemistry at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he studies molecular nanomotors.

CHANEY

Managing the impact unnecessary helping hand that gives African-American men. women and minorities an unfair Hubbard was an assistant coordi- Each man said that support was advantage, I believe that if the playing nator for Northwestern University’s instrumental in his persistence and field was fair, such programs wouldn’t Summer Research Opportunities success. Sources of support included need to exist,” he said. “By embrac- Program, helping to develop pro- the federal Minority Access to Research Careers and Alliances for ing these programs throughout my gramming to train summer scholars. Graduate Education and the Professo- career as a scientist, I have provided “This role provided a way to help riate programs; institutional fellow- myself opportunities to discuss my refine and prepare the next genera- ships and assistantships; and private work at numerous scientific meet- tion of researchers and peers to help sources including the Burroughs ings, obtained my own funding and advance knowledge and foundations Wellcome Fund. expanded my scientific network in of learning,” he said, “while encour- Barnes said his ethnicity has ways that I could not have done.” aging students of a wide variety of provided opportunities that benefited The participants also commented backgrounds to pursue a Ph.D. in his career. “While some may view on the unique opportunities to “give their fields.” programs to increase diversity as an back” that were afforded to them as Opportunities to give back were

OCTOBER 2018 ASBMB TODAY 51 not limited to academics. Through leagues and using the shared experi- learned that there are many responsi- his work with chemical manufacturer ence to solve problems. While only bilities, and all of them are important, Rohm and Haas, Barbour became a a few of my projects have reached but not all of them are important at campus recruiter and participated in approval and commercialization, the the same time. So, finding that bal- the National Organization of Black product development journey contin- ance is what I am constantly working Chemists and Chemical Engineers. “I ues to fan my passion for science.” on improving.” believe Rohm and Haas encouraged Barnes, a generation younger, Cameron echoed this theme, “Sci- me to take on the recruiter role to expressed similar sentiments. “I think ence is indeed my hobby, so it is easy increase the diversity of their campus the most challenging part about this to be completely consumed by science recruiters,” he said. “It showed my career is that you will inevitably fail and being a scientist,” he said. “My employer trusted my judgement to more times than you will succeed, no greatest challenge therefore is manag- find and attract future generations of matter how hard you work or try to ing my time to give equal time to the company employers. My involvement solve a problem,” he said. “Working many other activities and people that provided opportunities to demon- on a project for months to years at a I enjoy.” strate job skills my science job did not time and not seeing progress is very Barbour took this topic a step require.” challenging and will oftentimes make further, reflecting on the direct rela- Although they emphasized the you question your own abilities. So, tionship between self-care and career importance of seizing opportunities, learning to persevere despite these success. “Throughout my early career, the participants also recognized the challenges and setbacks is a skill I focused on avoiding failure at work, challenge of doing so — especially that is essential to becoming a good not achieving success,” he said. “This when one is the only African-Ameri- scientist.” perspective resulted in stress and can man in the room. In a comment that will likely reso- little time away from the job to rest, To this day, Cameron is often nate with most molecular bioscientists recharge and enjoy family life.” the only black male scientist, or one no matter their race, ethnicity, age or These comments illustrate some of of a few, at meetings or serving on subfield specialty, Barnes said, “The the challenges that African-American boards, he said. “For an adult, this most rewarding part of this career men face and provide insight into can be an intimidating situation. So, is the realization of data that help as a trainee, this circumstance was support your hypotheses. Knowing the strategies these five individuals absolutely terrifying. I was blessed that science is mostly failures, those have used to face those challenges to have welcoming and nurturing moments are truly exhilarating, espe- and succeed in their careers. In next people around me in most of these cially when the data leads to scientific month’s article, they will offer advice situations.” breakthroughs or opens up a new for aspiring scientists in hopes that These challenges offer potential for path in your field.” the next generation of molecular personal growth, Hubbard said. “I bioscientists will be more diverse and have had a lot of advice and opportu- Career–life balance closely aligned with the demographics nities that don’t necessarily get offered of the U.S. population. normally, and I had to learn to place Most researchers appreciate that myself in these situations even if it breakthrough moments can be few made me uncomfortable.” and far between. While it is challeng- About part one ing for any molecular bioscientist to remain optimistic and focused The first article in this three- Love of science between breakthroughs, this can be part series focused on the impor- tance of mentoring, particularly Another convergent theme was the particularly true for African-American for African-American men in the participants’ love of science and its men, who sometimes lack the nurtur- biosciences. Read the first article impact on their persistence in their ing support systems that others take at asbmb.org/asbmbtoday. career paths. for granted. Our participants empha- “I am passionate about applying sized the importance of keeping scientific principles to solve practi- things in perspective and maintaining Suzanne E. Barbour (sbarbour@ cal problems,” Barbour said. “I love appropriate career-life balance. uga.edu) is the dean of the it when a plan comes together. The “The most challenging part of my University of Georgia Graduate most rewarding part of my career has job is time management,” Chaney School. been sharing knowledge with col- said. “As a new professor, I have

52 ASBMB TODAY OCTOBER 2018