_Dr. Marina Dang
Science curricula editor/developer, Ergopedia, 2011-
Teaching and inspiring
Why I enjoyed teaching...
Posse Foundation: www.possefoundation.org |
_Selected students' comments from anonymous course evaluations (Spring 2010)
"Dr. Dang not only clearly conveyed the course material but promoted a strong learning environment." "This class was extremely difficult for me but Dr. Dang’s openness and optimism only encouraged me to work harder." "Dr. Dang thank you very much for this semester... I believe that you will change the life of many of your students with your kind heart and optimistic encouragement." "The professor Dr. Marina Dang was the true strength of the course [...] I think that Dr. Marina Dang is a phenomenal professor who truly made an effort to stay personally involved with all of her students." |
Toward modeling substrate specificity
Part of my research work at Brandeis University was focused using high resolution solution NMR to identify residue-specific perturbations in cytochrome P450cam when exposed to various substrates.
Cytochrome P450 enzymes
Cytochrome P450s constitute a large family of heme-thiolate monooxygenases (over 1,200 individual P450 genes are known) capable of metabolizing over 200,000 different chemicals, from simple alkanes to hormones [1-3]. Some P450s are highly substrate-specific; others like the human CYP3A4 can metabolize up to half of all drugs in use [4]. P450cam from Pseudomonas putida, also known as CYP101, is the first P450 enzyme for which a crystal structure was solved [5]. |
_Engineering through mutagenesis
Because different substrates affect the position of active site residues, many researchers have used site-directed mutagenesis to regulate the enzyme's substrate selectivity. This mutations were mainly focused on residues neighboring the active site [6]. Using high-resolution solution NMR, I found that replacing camphor with other terpenes caused marked perturbations in residues spacially remote from the active site. |
References:
[1] Dunn, A.R., et al., Probing the open state of cytochrome P450cam with ruthenium-linker substrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001. 98(22): p. 12420-12425.
[2] Poulos, T.L. and E.F. Johnson, Structures of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes, in Cytochrome P450: Structure, Mechanism, and Biochemistry, P.R. Ortiz de Montellano, Editor. 2005, Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers: New York.
[3] Wong, L.L., C.G. Westlake, and D.P. Nickerson, Protein engineering of cytochrome P450(cam), in Metal Sites in Proteins and Models. 1997. p. 175-207.
[4] Guengerich, F.P., Cytochrome P-450 3A4: Regulation and Role in Drug Metabolism. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 1999. 39(1): p. 1-17.
[5] Raag, R. and T.L. Poulos, Crystal-structure of the carbon-monoxide substrate cytochrome-P-450cam ternary complex. Biochemistry, 1989. 28(19): p. 7586-7592.
[6] Dang, M. Toward modeling substrate specificity, Ph.D. Thesis, Chapter 7. Brandeis University, 2010: p. 127-164.
[7] Gelb, M.H., et al., Stereochemistry and deuterium-isotope effects in camphor hydroxylation by the cytochrome P450cam monoxygenase system. Biochemistry, 1982. 21(2): p. 370-377.
[8] DeLano, W.L. The PyMol Molecular Graphics System. 2002; Available from: http://www.pymol.org.
[1] Dunn, A.R., et al., Probing the open state of cytochrome P450cam with ruthenium-linker substrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2001. 98(22): p. 12420-12425.
[2] Poulos, T.L. and E.F. Johnson, Structures of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes, in Cytochrome P450: Structure, Mechanism, and Biochemistry, P.R. Ortiz de Montellano, Editor. 2005, Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers: New York.
[3] Wong, L.L., C.G. Westlake, and D.P. Nickerson, Protein engineering of cytochrome P450(cam), in Metal Sites in Proteins and Models. 1997. p. 175-207.
[4] Guengerich, F.P., Cytochrome P-450 3A4: Regulation and Role in Drug Metabolism. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 1999. 39(1): p. 1-17.
[5] Raag, R. and T.L. Poulos, Crystal-structure of the carbon-monoxide substrate cytochrome-P-450cam ternary complex. Biochemistry, 1989. 28(19): p. 7586-7592.
[6] Dang, M. Toward modeling substrate specificity, Ph.D. Thesis, Chapter 7. Brandeis University, 2010: p. 127-164.
[7] Gelb, M.H., et al., Stereochemistry and deuterium-isotope effects in camphor hydroxylation by the cytochrome P450cam monoxygenase system. Biochemistry, 1982. 21(2): p. 370-377.
[8] DeLano, W.L. The PyMol Molecular Graphics System. 2002; Available from: http://www.pymol.org.
Self-taught pencil drawing
_I've had many teachers in my life, and I guess I was one of them.
When I was in second grade, I discovered that no one else in my class could draw in perspective. I remember thinking this was odd, but I did not discuss it with anyone. I continued drawing over the years, attempting anything from cartoon characters to landscapes. I did not have access to books or art teachers, so I mostly taught myself from trying out different techniques. It wasn't untill I was in high school that I started doing portraits.
I considered majoring in Art and Biology in college. Maybe I could become an illustrator for medical textbooks! However, I switched from Art to Chemistry when the Art Department required me to drastically change my drawing style. Thankfully, Chemistry wasn't a bad fit. I continued drawing on the side and allowed my style to evolve at its own pace.
More can be found on my website: www.portraits-by-marina.com
When I was in second grade, I discovered that no one else in my class could draw in perspective. I remember thinking this was odd, but I did not discuss it with anyone. I continued drawing over the years, attempting anything from cartoon characters to landscapes. I did not have access to books or art teachers, so I mostly taught myself from trying out different techniques. It wasn't untill I was in high school that I started doing portraits.
I considered majoring in Art and Biology in college. Maybe I could become an illustrator for medical textbooks! However, I switched from Art to Chemistry when the Art Department required me to drastically change my drawing style. Thankfully, Chemistry wasn't a bad fit. I continued drawing on the side and allowed my style to evolve at its own pace.
More can be found on my website: www.portraits-by-marina.com