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Volume 8, Issue 2 | Spring 2023
Science Feature
Patrick Brennan, graduate student in the Department of Biophysics, discusses his research and NIH fellowship award.
As a current graduate student in the Lerch lab, my research is focused on detailing the molecular mechanisms governing beta-2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) function. The β2AR is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), which is a major family of membrane proteins that responds to a variety of extracellular ligands, including photons, small molecules, neurotransmitters, and hormones. The β-adrenergic receptors are a subfamily of GPCRs that bind epinephrine and are expressed by most cell types in humans; as such, signaling through β-adrenergic receptors regulates a wide variety of physiological processes. Due to their ubiquity and key role in human health, the β-adrenergic receptors are cornerstone drug targets for a variety of pathologies.
I recently was awarded a fellowship grant from the NIH (F31HL164002). My goal in the proposed project is to determine the local and allosteric effects of an important post-translational modification, palmitoylation, on β2AR structure and dynamics, as well as the link between these effects and the functional impact of palmitoylation on receptor signaling. Post-translational modifications such as palmitoylation are key regulators of GPCR signaling and can modulate the receptor conformational energy landscape (i.e., shift conformational equilibria). A robust body of evidence supports a “multi-state” receptor hypothesis for GPCR signaling, wherein an ensemble of receptor conformations is accessible, and receptor signaling is modulated via shifts in the equilibrium populations of receptor conformations. Ligand binding at the extracellular surface of the receptor is allosterically coupled to conformational rearrangements at the cytoplasmic surface. I will utilize an array of biophysical techniques, along with cell signaling and pharmacology techniques, to uncover the molecular mechanism by which a physiologically relevant endogenous modulator, S-palmitoylation, regulates β2AR signaling. The results from these experiments will provide a novel understanding of β2AR in the context of human physiology and pharmacology, thereby equipping researchers with an enhanced capacity to design drugs targeting β2AR signaling.
Happy Retirement, Jane!
Jane Thelaner will retire on August 15, 2023, after 44 years of service to MCW.
Jane Thelaner began working for the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1979 at the age of 18 years, and has worked here ever since. When anyone told her she didn’t look old enough to have worked here as long as she has, she joked, “I started in diapers, and I’m leaving in diapers.” Though this adage is tongue-in-cheek, it is impressive to note that she has devoted the entirety of her career (44 years!) to MCW, and over half of it to the Department of Biophysics. Prior to joining our department, Jane worked as an interlibrary loan clerk at the Todd Wehr Library, a secretary in the Joint Medical Computer Center (now known as IS), and a secretary in the Neuroradiology section of Radiology.
Jane joined the Department of Biophysics in 2000 as the administrative assistant to Balaraman (Raman) Kalyanaraman, PhD, who had recently become director of the Biophysics Research Institute. Jane’s contributions to the department—though often behind the scenes—are monumental.
Jane has served as Raman’s assistant as well as the key point of contact for the department for 22 years. She has been a faithful steward of Biophysics’ resources and history, always ensuring both Raman and the department are well represented. Prior to joining Biophysics, Jane learned the rules and ropes of grant submission, and honed her skills editing and proofreading grants, manuscripts, invention disclosures, presentations, letters of support, and other announcements; these skills would serve Biophysics well! In turn, Jane has trained many administrative personnel, always impressing upon them the importance of the research being done in the department, and the necessity of taking care with one’s work.
With her careful attention to detail, Jane coordinated the Biophysics Seminar Series and numerous other meetings, events, department celebrations, and national and international scientific conferences. The smaller, interpersonal events have always been of particular importance to her and, as such, she organized the department holiday party and picnics, “coffee breaks” to celebrate achievements and new personnel, the weekly Hard Roll Club (RIP!), and the February Groundhog Brownie event.
Jane’s knowledge of the innerworkings and history of the Department of Biophysics, and MCW, is vast, and the pride she takes in her work is clearly exemplified by her conscientiousness and thoughtful consideration of the task at hand. She genuinely cares about all of her colleagues, and has done her best ensure both the people and the department thrive. And she has done all of this with an approachable nature, a keen sense of humor, and a readiness to laugh.
Jane has been a reliable colleague and close friend to many individuals within MCW and Biophysics—we will miss her! As she begins this next chapter of her life, Jane looks forward to spending more time with her family, gardening, reading, scrapbooking, hiking, and taking more trips to her “happy place” in Door County. We wish her all the best in her retirement!
Alumni Q&A
Learn about the diverse career paths our alumni have pursued after graduating from the Biophysics Graduate Program.
Candice S. Klug, PhD, James S. Hyde Professor of Biophysics, Program Director of the Biophysics Graduate Program
As a graduate student at MCW, Candice Klug studied under the mentorship of Jimmy B. Feix, PhD, professor in the Department of Biophysics. Candice received her PhD in 1998 with her dissertation titled "Structural and Stability Studies on the Ferric Enterobactin Receptor FepA Using Advanced EPR Spectroscopy Techniques." Today, Candice is the James S. Hyde Professor of Biophysics as well as program director of the Biophysics Graduate Program at MCW.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in science?
A: I was always good at science and math, even at a young age. (This may have been genetically, and environmentally, influenced by the fact that my father was a mechanical engineer and my mother was a math major and systems analyst.) I also had an especially influential high school chemistry teacher who inspired me to major in chemistry when I became an undergraduate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Taking an elective computer science course my senior year that I loved and then there being very few pharmaceutical jobs available upon college graduation nearly made me regret not going the computer science or robotics route. However, I found my passion for biomedical science and discovery was intact when I joined MCW as a research tech and then as I earned my PhD here.
Q: Since completing your PhD in Biophysics in 1998, share with us your career progression to your current role as James S. Hyde Professor of Biophysics and program director of the Biophysics Graduate Program.
A: I had the fantastic opportunity to postdoc at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute with Wayne Hubbell, a pioneer of site-directed spin labeling EPR spectroscopy, which was the focus of my dissertation work in Jimmy Feix’s lab here at the National Biomedical EPR Center. I then unexpectedly, but quite happily, returned to MCW as an assistant professor of biophysics. I rose through the ranks to associate and then full professor, and I am now incredibly honored to also be the James S. Hyde Professor of Biophysics. I have continuously taken on leadership opportunities, first through committee chair roles, and then grew from there into appointed positions such as program director for the Biophysics Graduate Program, director of the National Biomedical EPR Center, and the director of the Interdisciplinary Program (IDP) in Biomedical Sciences. I am an NIH-funded investigator with three current R01s, I serve on a vast array of MCW committees, and I also have external positions such as associate editor for the Americas for the International EPR Society (IEPRS) newsletter. One of the roles I especially enjoy is being a mentor; I have served on the IDP mentoring committee for 18 years and trained dozens of students, postdocs, and techs in my lab.
Q: What aspect of your current job do you find most rewarding, and why?
A: I enjoy teaching and sharing information and knowledge with others, whether it is one-on-one in the lab, in a classroom, mentoring students, or being a go-to resource for colleagues.
Q: What advice do you wish you had been given as a graduate student?
A: Great advice I was actually given as a graduate student was to not compare myself to others. We each have our own path and successes, so focus on and follow your own goals and abilities.
Q: How do you continue learning and growing as a professional? What are some of your habits aside from reading/listening?
A: I continually attend seminars, workshops, and full programs for professional development. For example, I have participated in the AAMC Mid-Career Women Faculty Professional Development Workshop and the MCW Leadership Academy at UWM, and this coming year I have been selected to participate in the prestigious, year-long Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program at Drexel University. I truly enjoy leadership roles and love learning about improving these skills.
Department News
Welcome
- Shannon Gustavson (Administrative Associate)
- Maggie Stebbins (Graduate Student, LaViolette lab)
- Karthika Samimuthu (Research Associate I, Marassi lab)
- Joseph (Joey) Wehrley (Engineering Technician I, Sidabras lab)
Congratulations
- Gang Cheng and Balaraman Kalyanaraman published an article in Cancers.
- Andrzej Jesmanowicz and James Hyde were awarded US Patent 11,540,740B2.
- Roger Johnson published an article in Cell Reports.
- Balaraman Kalyanaraman, Jacek Zielonka, and Gang Cheng were awarded US Patent 11,612,610B2.
- Briana Meyer published an article in Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
- Kathleen Schmainda published an article in Frontiers in Oncology and two articles (part 1 and part 2) in Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
- Kyungsoo Shin and Francesca Marassi published an article in Biophysical Journal.
- Jason Sidabras published an article in Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry.
- Karol Subczynski published three articles (one, two, and three) in Membranes.
- Jacek Zielonka published an article in CHEST.
Francesca Marassi, PhD, presenting Neil Hogg, PhD, with his Society of Teaching Scholars plaque. Neil was inducted into the society during the fall 2022 Convocation ceremony.
Biophysics Seminar Series Updates
Beginning in fall 2023, the Biophysics Seminar Series will return to an in-person format. The seminar series will be overseen by Jason Sidabras, PhD, replacing Jeannette Vasquez Vivar, PhD, who has organized it since 2019. Shannon Gustavson will replace Jane Thelaner in coordinating the series. Thank you for your service, Jeannette and Jane! And welcome aboard, Jason and Shannon!
The fall 2023 lineup is still being organized, so stay tuned for details.
Recipe
Ingredients
Cashew Cream
½ cup raw cashews
1 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
½ Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
kosher salt to taste
Noodles
2 Tbsp. black (Chinkiang) vinegar
2 Tbsp. chili crisp or chili oil
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
3 scallions, thinly sliced, divided
2–3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. oyster, shiitake, cremini, or button mushrooms, torn or cut into bite-size pieces
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
28 oz. fresh or frozen udon noodles
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Cashew Cream
- Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, then remove from heat. Add cashews and let sit until tender, 30–60 minutes.
- Drain cashews and transfer to a blender (preferably high-speed) or food processor. Add garlic, oil, salt, and ¼ cup water and purée until smooth.
Noodles and Assembly
Stir vinegar, chili crisp, soy sauce, sesame oil, and 1 scallion in a small bowl to combine; set soy-vinegar sauce aside.
Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook mushrooms, tossing every minute or so but leaving mostly undisturbed, until mostly golden and crisp, 5–8 minutes, depending on type of mushroom you use (oyster and shiitakes will cook quicker, while cremini and button mushrooms will take a bit longer). Add garlic and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt and cook, stirring often and adding another 1 Tbsp. olive oil if the mushrooms are looking dry, 1 minute.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
Add noodles and cashew cream to pan with mushrooms and cook, stirring and adding reserved cooking liquid a little at a time, until cream is loose and coats noodles. Season with salt and pepper.
To serve, divide noodles among bowls and generously drizzle each with reserved soy-vinegar sauce. Top with remaining scallions.
Biophysics News is a quarterly MCW departmental newsletter aimed at enhancing departmental engagement through information and good news sharing. Do you have information you’d like to share—news, a photo, a recipe? Send it to Lydia.
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