April 2015 News Publications

Chen, L., Z. Li, N. Ahmad, and X. Liu. 2015. Plk1 phosphorylation of IRS2 prevents premature mitotic exit via AKT inactivation. Bio-

chemistry 54, 2473-2480.

Sanyal, A., A.J. Chen, E.S. Nakayasu, C.S. Lazar, E.A. Zbornik, C.A. Worby, A. Koller, and S. Mattoo. 2015. A novel link between Fic

(Filamentation Induced by cAMP)-mediated Adenylylation/AMPylation and the unfolded protein response. J. Biol. Chem. 290,

8482-8499.

Lang, Z., M. Lei, X. Wang, K. Tang, D. Miki, H. Zhang, S.K. Mangrauthia, W. Liu, W. Nie, G. Ma, J. Yan, C.G. Duan, C.C. Hsu, C. Wang,

W.A Tao, Z. Gong, J.K. Zhu. 2015. The methyl-CpG-binding protein MBD7 facilitates active DNA demethylation to limit DNA hyper

-methylation and transcriptional gene silencing. Mol Cell. 57:971-983.

Iiuk, A., K. Jayasundera, W.-H. Wang, R. Schluttenhofer, R.L. Geahlen, W.A. Tao. 2015. In-depth analyses of B cell signaling

through tandem mass spectrometry of phosphopeptides enriched by PolyMAC. Intl. J. Mass Spec. 377:744-753.

Beth Tran was promoted to Associate Professor of Biochemistry. Dean Jay Akridge

surprised her with her letter of promotion on April 10.

Tian Shao (Liu lab) received a 2015 Purdue Postdoc Challenge award for his project “Plk1in inflammation-induced prostate can-

cer.” The $5,000 award is in the form of an expense account with funding to be used in the Bioscience Imaging Facility.

Aamir Mir (Golden lab) was awarded travel grants from both the RNA Society and the Purdue Graduate Student Organization. He

will use both to attend the RNA Society meeting in Madison, WI in late May.

Undergraduate Jacob Crosser (Kirchmaier lab) received the 2015 Carroll County Cancer Association PCCR Summer Undergraduate

Award ($3,000) and an ASBMB UAN Summer Undergraduate Award ($1,000).

Undergraduate Kaelan Brennan (Weake lab) received an ASBMB UAN Summer Undergraduate Award ($1,000).

Awards & Recognition

Seema Mattoo and grad student Anwesha Sanyal were featured in Purdue Today on

April 1 for their research that discovered a new protein involved in the process that

determines the fate of cells under stress.

Biochemistry Spring Awards Convocation

Josh Widhalm (Dudareva lab) is the 2015 recipient of the Don Carl-

son Award. This award is given annually to recognize a postdoctoral

fellow, research associate or staff scientist for outstanding research

accomplishments in the lab. Josh is a postdoc and is being recog-

nized for his contributions as a writer of high-profile publications, as

an instructor and mentor, an overall model departmental citizen,

and, of course, for his research contributions.

Zhiguo Li (Liu lab), Brendan Powers (Hall lab) and Laura Henry (Dudareva lab) received the Weiner and Beach Travel Awards. Each

award provides $1,000 to help defray the costs to attend a scientific meeting. Zhiguo is a postdoc and recently attended the AACR

Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. Brendan is a 5th-year student and plans to present a poster at the Cell Biology of Yeast confer-

ence in Cold Spring Harbor, NY in November. Laura is a 3rd-year student and plans to give a talk and present a poster at the Plan

Metabolic Engineering Gordon Research Conference in Waterville Valley, NH in July.

Michael Melesse (Hall lab) was named the 2015 Outstanding TA in Bio-

chemistry (formerly the Hickory Stick Award). He was recognized for his

work in BCHM 100 for 3 consecutive semesters.

Long Chen (Liu lab) and Jesse Murphy (Kappock lab) were named as 2015 recipients of one-year Purdue Research

Foundation (PRF) Research Grants. These grants are provided by the College of Agriculture in conjunction with the

Office of the Vice President for Research. Long’s research project is titled: Targeting chaperone system to enhance

chemotherapy efficiency in cancer treatment. Jesse’s research project is titled: Proton exchange without condensation

in Acetobacter aceti citrate synthase.

Kit Ma (Tran lab) is the 2015 recipient of the AK Balls Award for out-

standing graduate student. This award is given annually to one of

our graduate students who has demonstrated outstanding research

potential, scholarliness and intellectual curiosity.

Karyn Rodkey received the 2015 Linda Siersema Staff Excellence

Award. This award was established in 2013 and is given annually to a

staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance and

service to the department. Karyn is currently the Manager of Re-

search Services and has been with the Biochemistry Department for

25 years.

Chen Shao (Liu lab) is the 2015 recipient of Henry A. Moses Award,

established in 2008 by Biochemistry alumnus Dr. Bradley Sheares to

honor fellow alumnus Dr. Henry Moses for his contributions to re-

search, education and service. The goal of this award is to recognize

a graduate student for an early publication. Chen is recognized for

his 1st authorship on a paper featured in The Journal of Biological

Chemistry and co-author of a paper featured in Cancer Research and

Purdue Today.

We are fortunate to have many generous alumni who donate funds to make our departmental scholarships possible. We are excit-

ed to be awarding three new scholarships this year: the Donald and Rita Weeks Scholarship, the Dr. Stephen P. and Charlotte A.

Coburn Scholarship and the Zhao-Herrmann Scholarship in Biochemistry.

Dr. Donald Weeks earned his B.S. from Purdue University in 1963, and his Ph.D. from University of Illinois in 1967. Dr. Weeks is the

Maxcy Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

He is internationally known for developing a novel approach to engineering herbicide-resistant crops. Weeks holds 10 U.S. patents

and 22 international patents. Weeks was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow in 2009 and Na-

tional Academy of Inventors Fellow in 2013. Dr. Weeks and his wife Rita reside in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The inaugural recipient of the Donald and Rita Weeks Scholarship is Amy Cox, a freshman from Lexington, OH. Amy recently joined

the biochemistry department after starting her Purdue career in engineering. She is involved with Team Tech, the Society of Wom-

en Engineers, and Phi Sigma Rho.

Dr. Stephen Coburn earned his B.S. from Rutgers University in 1958, his M.S. in Biochemistry from Purdue University in 1961,

and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Purdue University in 1963. Dr. Coburn is a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and past director

of the Biochemistry Department and Clinical Laboratory at the Fort Wayne State Developmental Center at Indiana University-

Purdue University at Fort Wayne. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. His research has focused on the

use of stable and radioactive tracers to evaluate the routes, rates, and regulation of vitamin B-6 metabolism. Dr. Coburn and

his wife Charlotte reside in Churubusco, Indiana.

The inaugural recipients of the Dr. Stephen P. and Charlotte A. Coburn Scholarship are:

Matthew Nordland, a freshman from Lafayette, IN. Matt is a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, Alpha Lambda Delta Phi Eta

Sigma Honorary, Caduceus Pre-Med Club, and Purdue Filipino Association. He has volunteered extensively in the local commu-

nity including with the Arc of Tippecanoe Country, Best Buddies, Food Finders Food Bank and First Methodist Furniture Bank.

Obadiah Rodriguez, a freshman from Greeley, CO. Obadiah joined the biochemistry department last fall and has been working

in the Chapple lab this semester. He is involved in the Biochemistry Club and Timmy Global Health.

The third new scholarship we are awarding this year is the Zhao-Herrmann Scholarship in Biochemistry. This scholarship was es-

tablished by Dr. Jian-Min Zhao in honor of retired Purdue Biochemistry professor Klauss Herrmann. Dr. Zhao received his PhD in

biochemistry from Purdue in 1992 and works for Monsanto in St. Louis, MO.

The inaugural recipient is Arryn Harris, a sophomore from Fishers, IN. Arryn started working in the lab of Dr. Vikki Weake this

spring. She has been involved in Helping Paws, Higher Ground Dance Company, and was a Boiler Gold Rush team leader.

Kwok Yip Tso Scholarship — Dr. J Yun Tso received his Ph.D.

degree in biochemistry from Purdue University, and was a co-

founder and managing partner of JN Biosciences. Dr. Tso estab-

lished the scholarship in honor of his father.

This year’s recipient is Lauren Werner, a junior from Winamac,

IN. Lauren has been working in Jeremy Lohman’s lab since Janu-

ary. She is active in the Biochemistry Club, the Pre-Dental Club,

Medlife and is an Air Force Reserve Dental Assistant.

David and Mary Scheible Scholarship in Biochemistry — David

Scheible received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and mas-

ter’s in industrial administration from Purdue. He is President and

CEO of Graphic Packaging Corporation in Marietta, Georgia.

This year’s recipient is Peyton Spreacker, a junior from Indianapo-

lis, IN. Peyton has been involved in research in Vikki Weake’s lab

since her first semester at Purdue. Her extracurricular activities

include Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary, Biochemis-

try Club and Ignite Bible Study.

Ray W. Fuller Memorial Scholarship — Ray W. Fuller received his

PhD from the Department of Biochemistry at Purdue in 1961. In

2007, Dr. David Schroeder established this scholarship to honor

Dr. Fuller for his contributions to science and education.

This year’s recipient is Kaelan Brennan – Kaelan is a sophomore

from Seymour, IN. He has been working in Vikki Weake’s lab since

last fall. He is involved in Purdue Wind Ensemble, College of Agri-

culture Ambassadors, Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honor-

ary, and Biochemistry Club.

Patrick C. Matchette Scholarship – Patrick C. Matchette received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Purdue in 1958 and a

DVM in 1966. He is a retired manager of Abbott Laboratories Agricultural Research and Development. He established this scholar-

ship in 2000.

This year’s recipient is Emma Lendy, a junior from Wheaton, IL. Emma has been involved in undergraduate research in the Golden

lab since fall 2013 and also works in the Toxicology section of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab. She has been involved in the Emily

Mauzy Vogel Sophomore Leadership Retreat as a participant and as a leader, and been a Boiler Gold Rush team leader.

Edwin T. Mertz Memorial Scholarship — Edwin T. Mertz was a professor of Biochemistry at Purdue from 1946-1976. In 2001,

Ronald (BS 1956, PhD 1962) and Carolyn Chance provided a substantial gift to launch a campaign to establish this scholarship.

This year’s recipients are:

Lucas Banter, a junior from Fishers, IN. Lucas is involved in undergraduate research in the Ogas Lab. He is active in club volleyball,

the Old Masters Program, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and has served as a team leader and supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush.

Michael Busche, a junior from St. Charles, MO, is studying abroad in Germany this semester. He is a dual major with plant breeding

and genetics and biochemistry. Michael has been involved in research projects with Dr. Cliff Weil and Dr. Maureen McCann, as well

as an internship with AgReliant Genetics. He is involved in Purdue Student Government, the Student Supreme Court, and Latin and

Ballroom Dance team.

Jacob Crosser, a sophomore from West Lafayette, IN. Jacob has been working in the Kirchmaier lab since the summer of 2014. He

is a member of the Biochemistry Club and has been serving this year as one of the outreach coordinators.

Madeline Powell, a junior from Cromwell, IN. Madeline has worked in the Tao lab since May 2014. She is a member of Alpha Lamb-

da Delta Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and has volunteered at the West Noble Food Pantry.

Brooke Wamsley, a junior from Indianapolis, IN. Brooke has been involved in undergraduate research in the Animal Disease Diag-

nostic Laboratory. She is active in Helping Paws, pre-vet club, Spanish club and also works at the Purdue Memorial Union.

Yi Wen, a senior from Shenzhen, China, pursuing a dual degree with biochemistry and biological engineering. He has been working

in the Chapple lab since August 2013. He has been active in the Purdue Student Soybean Product Innovation Competition, Habitat

for Humanity, Purdue Latin and Ballroom Dance Club, and Alpha Epsilon honorary.

Emory York, a junior from Beaver, PA. Emory has been working in the Weake lab since spring 2014. She serves as first violin with

the Purdue Philharmonic Orchestra, is a member of the Philharmonic board and teaches violin to a middle school student. She is

active in many projects with the Lafayette Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Zygmunt Family Scholarship in Biochemistry, was endowed by Dr. Deb Zygmunt and her mother in memory of Deb’s father, Wal-

ter A. Zygmunt. Deb Zygmunt received her B.S. in biochemistry from Purdue in 1977 and her M.D. from Indiana University.

This year’s recipients are:

Elizabeth Amundson, a freshman from Floyds Knobs, IN. Elizabeth is a member of the Biochemistry Club and the Caduceus Pre-Med

Club.

Logan Colwell, a freshman from Greentown, IN. Logan is a member of the Biochemistry Club, Alpha Lambda Delta Phi Eta Sigma

Honorary, and Purdue Bass Fishing Club. He has been an intern at Greentown Animal Hospital and is planning to earn a Doctor of

Veterinary Medicine after his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.

Breanna Frailey, a junior from Noblesville, IN. Breanna has been working in the Kirchmaier lab this year. She has been involved in

the Biochemistry Club, Forensic Science Club, Food Rescue and serves as a Wolf Park volunteer.

Sarah Gutman, a sophomore from Moores Hill, IN. Sarah works in the virology department in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Labora-

tory. She is involved in the Purdue Goat Club, Helping Paws, Alpha Lambda Delta Phi Eta Sigma Honorary.

Kate Harris, a freshman from Indianapolis. Kate is participating in Biochemistry Club, the American Medical Student Association,

several Purdue bands and volunteering at Therapeion Riding Center in Brookston.

Kevin Lin, a freshman from Zionsville, IN. Kevin has been working since January in the Weake Lab. He is a volunteer at IU Health

Arnett and a member of the American Medical Student Association at Purdue.

Jacqueline Phipps, a freshman from Fort Wayne, IN. Jackie has been working in the Ogas Lab since last fall. She is a member of the

Biochemistry Club and the Caduceus Pre-Med Club.

Logan Richards, a freshman from Plymouth, IN. Logan participates in the Biochemistry Club and works part-time off-campus.

John Whitney, a freshman from Portage, IN. John’s extracurricular activities include the Biochemistry Club, Lifeguard Club and

working at the Recreational Sports Center. He is planning to start undergraduate research in the fall.

Mary Witucki, a freshman from West Lafayette, IN. Mary has been working in the Ogas lab since May 2014. She is active in the Bio-

chemistry Club and will be a Boiler Gold Rush team leader this fall.

Undergraduate News

Experimental Biology Conference

Senior Ryan Louer attended the Experimental Biology 2015 Conference in

Boston, MA as a student member of the American Society for Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). At this meeting of 14,000 scientists, of

which 400 were undergraduates, Ryan presented research that he has

been conducting with Dr. James Forney. Ryan also applied for and received

a competitive travel grant in the amount of $400. Ryan says, “The meeting

was an incredible experience; I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about

biochemistry. I got to see an Academy of Science member speak, attended

education and research presentations and met a lot of new people ranging

from faculty researchers to postdocs to undergraduate students.” At the

conference, Ryan was also inducted into Chi Omega Lambda, the Biochem-

istry Honor society. Ryan hopes that his attending the conference and

sharing his experience will excite future Purdue Biochemistry students to

take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Cordova Leadership Award

On April 9, senior Emily Erickson was recognized as one of two recipients

of the 2015 France A. Cordova Leadership Award. The award, established

in 2012, honors graduating students who have demonstrated exceptional

leadership during their Purdue careers. The students must have held suc-

cessful leadership roles at Purdue, working in partnership with staff and

faculty to move the university forward while maintaining a minimum 3.0

grade-point average.

Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship

Biochemistry senior Courtney Orme has received a Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship. This program seeks to attract

talented, committed individuals with backgrounds in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—into

teaching in high-need Indiana high schools.

Funded through a $10 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, the Fellowship offers rigorous disciplinary and pedagogical prepara-

tion, extensive clinical experience, and ongoing mentoring. Eligible applicants include current undergraduates, recent college grad-

uates, midcareer professionals, and retirees who have majored in, or had careers in, STEM fields. Courtney will attend Purdue Uni-

versity for a master’s degree in Biology Teaching next year to prepare to teach in a rural Indiana school district.

Graduate Student News

Kelly Sullivan (Kappock lab) passed her Ph.D. defense on April 17.

Yi Li (Chapple lab) passed her Ph.D. defense on April 23.

Permanent lab placements: Lee Stunkard (Lohman lab) and Yu-Huan (Karen) Lai (Tran lab)

Spring Fest and Ag Week

The Biochemistry Club had a great Spring Fest this year! Through-

out the event on April 18 & 19 over 700 community youth came

through the lab to make lava lamps, learn about extracting and

building DNA, design their own UV bead jewelry, squeeze out

gummy worms, create gooey slime, and have a blast playing with

Hollywood snow! The students and parents alike really enjoyed

the periodic demonstrations of Mentos and Diet Coke explosions,

hot ice, and a cool Boilermaker clock reaction. This successful

event was made possible by the incredibly hard work put forward

by many members of the Biochemistry Club, including Jacob

Crosser, Lauren Werner, Elizabeth Amundson, Mary Witucki, Ryan

Louer, Kyle Robinson, Obadiah Rodriguez, Sam Kim, Logan Rich-

ards, and Jackie Phipps.

Ag week was also successful with explanations of science as it re-

lates agriculture to the Purdue undergraduate community on the

Hello Walk on April 15. This was possible through the efforts of

Biochemistry Club members including Ryan Louer, Kyle Robinson,

Elizabeth Amundson and John Whitney.

Biochemistry Club Selects New Officer Team

On April 22, the Biochemistry Club held its annual cookout with

faculty and announced the new officer team for 2015-16.

President: Christina Smith

Vice President: Lauren Werner

Secretary: John Whitney

Treasurer: Elizabeth Amundson

Outreach co-chairs: Jacob Crosser and Obadiah Rodriguez

Ag Council Liaison: Austin Dixon

BCHM 490 Poster Session

25 undergraduates presented their research to faculty and students

during this year’s BCHM 490 Senior Poster Session on April 28. This

is part of their capstone project, required for graduation from the

College of Agriculture, which consists of three credits of BCHM 498

or 499 undergraduate research plus the semester-long BCHM 490

senior seminar, in which they learn how research is presented.

Biochemistry Outstanding Students

Each year, the department selects one student as the outstanding student from each class on the basis of excellence in academics,

research and service. These students are then nominated for the college-level awards. Our outstanding students this year are:

Freshman – Obadiah Rodriguez: Obadiah joined the biochemistry department last fall as a first-year student after serving more

than 5 years in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He grew up in Colorado and is planning to attend medical school

after completing his bachelor’s degree. He has been working in the Chapple lab this semester, and has become involved in campus

activities, including Biochemistry Club and Timmy Global Health.

Sophomore – Kaelan Brennan: Kaelan started research in the Botany Department and has been working in Dr. Vikki Weake’s lab

since last fall. His extracurricular activities include being the principal oboist for the Purdue Wind Ensemble, a College of Agricul-

ture Ambassador, and membership in Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary, and Biochemistry Club. He has participated in

two study abroad experiences, last May in Italy and Switzerland, and this Spring Break in Spain with the Purdue Orchestra. He

plans to pursue either a MD or PhD after completing his bachelor’s degree.

Junior – Quinton Nannet: Quinton has been involved in research in the Ogas Lab since 2013. He spent last summer studying public

health and Spanish in the Dominican Republic. Quinton is involved in many campus activities including Agricultural Ambassadors,

the Old Masters Program, Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity, Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa. He is a founding member of the MED-

LIFE chapter at Purdue, and has served as a team leader and supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush. He will be a resident assistant in

Wiley Hall next year. Quinton plans to attend medical school after completing his bachelor’s degree.

Senior – Emily Erickson: Emily has been working in the lab of Dr. Karen Plaut since 2013. She has participated in summer research

at the NIH in Bethesda, MD, and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She has been involved in many campus and community organi-

zations including Mortar Board, Dairy Club, Phi Beta Kappa, and Serenity Hospice. She has served as Principal Violist for the Purdue

Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012. Emily was a founding member and president of the Purdue Goat Club. She studied abroad last

spring in Ireland, and spent a week in Spain this spring with the Purdue Orchestra. Emily has been awarded several prestigious

national scholarships including the Goldwater, the Astronaut and most recently, the Churchill Scholarship, through which she will

complete a master’s degree at Churchill College at the University of Cambridge next year.

We’re pleased that Obadiah was selected as Outstanding Freshman and Emily as Outstanding Senior for the College of Agriculture.

Safety Corner by Karyn Rodkey

It is that time of year when the weather outside is getting warmer and we all want to wear shorts to work. Please remember, for

lab safety, one must always be covered to ankle and wrist and to be wearing closed toed shoes when working with hazardous

chemicals in the lab. Be smart and protect yourself when you are working with something potentially dangerous. This includes pull-

ing hot liquids out of the autoclave. We have had incidents of scalding liquid vs. flip flops. Guess which one wins. The lab coat is a

great way to be covered to wrist when you need it, but can be taken off when you don’t need to be covered to wrist. One can also

bring shoes and leave them in the desk for when they are needed. Don’t leave the safety of your person up to someone else.

Jie Li (Liu lab) and his wife, Miki, are the proud parents of a beautiful, healthy baby

girl! Elina Fujiwara Li was born on April 19.

Birthdays

Uma Aryal Yueping Zhang

Beth Tran ran her first full marathon on April 18 in Carmel, IN. At the same time, her husband Daniel and daughter Kendall completed the Stay Healthy Hamilton County 5k.

Strictly Personal