Volume 6, Issue 1 | Winter 2021

Science Feature

Jason W. Sidabras, PhD, assistant professor of biophysics, discusses his research interests.

After a brief journey to Germany to obtain my doctorate at Technical University Dortmund, I am excited to have returned to the Department of Biophysics as an assistant professor. My research interests are primarily focused on the design and implementation of magnetic resonance methods and instrumentation to difficult applications or combining it with other biophysical methods. Once assembled, my research team and I will push a translational mindset at every step, with the intent of more rapidly disseminating new technology and obtaining new applications.

Currently, the cornerstone of my work involves a miniaturized resonant probe for performing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) on samples of limited volumes, such as protein single crystals. Single-crystal EPR gives a unique view of the electronic structure and provides the full (both magnitude and orientation) g-tensor and hyperfine-tensor interactions at the active site of an enzyme. These data, combined with quantum chemical calculations, help determine the function of an enzyme and characterize the catalytic cycle.

While working with Prof. Wolfgang Lubitz at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, I developed a passion to learn about the intricate spin physics that nature has provided us in enzymatic function. There is no better way to study these systems, which may have intermediate paramagnetic states, than through single-crystal EPR. This application, combined with magnetic resonance and microwave instrumentation, my love for which was instilled in me by Dr. James S. Hyde, provides a unique focus within the Department of Biophysics.

Over time, I wish to grow my research team into a multidisciplinary group of engineers, physicists, and biochemists to work closely with the current Biophysics faculty to advance the state-of-the-art in magnetic resonance technology. I welcome collaborations with regard to the study of interesting samples or challenging new applications.

Seminar Series

Our Spring 2021 Graduate Seminar Series takes place virtually most Fridays throughout the semester, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. For details on joining these virtual events, please visit the Biophysics Events page.

Jan 15 | Tobias Dick, PhD (German Cancer Research Center)
Thiol-based redox signaling

Jan 22 | Kevin Koch, PhD (MCW)
MRI metal artifact reduction for advanced quantitative analysis of the post-surgical degenerative and injured spinal cord

Jan 29 | Andrew Nencka, PhD (MCW)
Optimizing traditional and deep learning-based accelerated MR imaging

Feb 5 | Natalia Stein, PhD (MCW)
Physical properties of complex biological membranes as revealed by saturation recovery EPR spin labeling with stretched exponential function analysis

Feb 12 | Tracey Rouault, MD (NIH)
Iron-sulfur proteins are a critical unrecognized source of reducing power in many mammalian metabolic pathways

Feb 19 | Adam Greenberg, PhD (MCW & Marquette)
Uncovering the computations mediating attentional control in posterior parietal cortex

Mar 5 | Candice Klug, PhD (MCW)
Insights into the mechanism of LPS transport in E. coli

Mar 12 | Brent Nannenga, PhD (ASU)
High-resolution structure determination by the cryo-EM method MicroED

Mar 19 |Jenny Yang, PhD (GSU)
Precision diagnostics by protein design

Mar 26 | El-Sayed Ibrahim, PhD (MCW)
Cardiac MRI: Techniques and applications

Apr 16 | Jacek Zielonka, PhD, DSc (MCW)
Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of novel agents targeting cancer cell bioenergetics and redox status

Apr 23 | Michael Lerch, PhD (MCW)
The role of conformational selection in β2 adrenergic receptor signaling

Apr 30| Balaraman Kalyanaraman, PhD (MCW)
Cancer, COVID-19, and the immune system: Mitochondria targeting as a therapeutic strategy?

Department News

Welcome

John Sherman (graduate student, LaViolette lab)
Jason Sidabras, PhD (assistant professor)

Farewell

Christopher Chitambar, MD (secondary appointment in Biophysics), has retired after nearly 37 years of service to MCW.
Gang (Jeff) Chen, PhD (research scientist II, Li lab)
Christine Jennings (research technologist, Lerch lab)

Congratulations

Jimmy Feix, PhD, published a paper in Scientific Reports.
Neil Hogg, PhD, published a paper in mBio.
Balaraman Kalyanaraman, PhD, published a paper in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Balaraman Kalyanaraman, PhD; Gang Cheng, PhD; & Jacek Zielonka, PhD, DSc, were awarded a US patent.
Candice Klug, PhD, published a paper in Journal of Molecular Biology.
Candice Klug, PhD, & Michael Lerch, PhD, were awarded a four-year, $1.56M new R01 from the NIGMS.
Michael Lerch, PhD, published a paper in PNAS.
Jiaqing (Tony) Tong received a 2020 Graduate Student Travel Award.
Jeannette Vasquez Vivar, PhD, published a paper in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

Years of Service

Congratulations to these five Biophysics employees who will be honored for their service to MCW at the upcoming 2021 Employee Service Award Ceremony. Your commitment and hard work are appreciated! The ceremony will take place on Tues., Feb. 9, at 4:00 p.m. and can be accessed on the MCW YouTube Channel.

Mona Al-Gizawiy, PhD (10 years)
Kathryn Schultz, PhD (15 years)
Linda Skeris (30 years)
Timothy Thelaner (20 years)
Lydia Washechek (5 years)

Dissertation Defense Announcement

Ethan Duwell (advisor: Edgar A. DeYoe, PhD) will defend his dissertation, titled "Effects of Retino-cortical Miswiring on Visual Cortex Organization and Function in Albinism," on Wed., Feb. 24, 2021, at 1 p.m. Live public viewing is available online.

Dr. Balaraman Kalyanaraman Stepping Down as Chair

After 20 years of leadership service to our department, Balaraman Kalyanaraman, PhD, has announced his decision to step down from his role as chair of Biophysics, target date October 1, 2021. A search committee is being formed for his successor.

Over the last 40 years, Raman has worked tirelessly to support MCW’s missions, beginning as a postdoctoral fellow and moving through the ranks to professor. In 2000, Dr. Hyde stepped down as director of what was then the Biophysics Research Institute. Raman became its director, and in 2003, the institute was converted to departmental status, a change which gave Biophysics administrative and academic parity with other basic science departments; Raman became its first chair.

Under his leadership, Biophysics’s three major research areas (EPR structural biology and protein dynamics, MR/fMRI physics/statistics, and redox bioenergetics) have been strengthened by the recruitment of assistant professor faculty who have developed into well-funded and internationally recognized investigators.

His legacy includes service on numerous committees and mentorship to dozens of research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students, leaving far-reaching impacts both on MCW and the scientific community.

Almost as important as these contributions, Raman’s leadership style has helped to make Biophysics an enjoyable place to work. He dutifully carried on the tradition begun many years ago, that whenever a PI received NIH funding, a champagne break must be held in order “to satisfy the NIH gods.” On the Fridays before championship and Super Bowl games, our conference room was the venue for some very animated Packer parties. And on many a Monday morning, his voice could be heard analyzing the previous weekend’s games with other Biophysics football aficionados. His expertise in free radicals and antioxidants (especially resveratrol) has converted many to become red wine enthusiasts! Having supported him for 20 years, Jane Thelaner has observed Raman’s knack for matchmaking people with diverse expertise, which has resulted in unique collaborations and funding success. Throughout his tenure, Raman maintained an open-door policy, selflessly making himself available to any faculty, postdoc, or student who sought his help, career advice, or scientific expertise.

Although he’ll no longer serve as chair, Raman’s involvement on several committees, as well as some thriving research projects, will keep him busy into the foreseeable future. He plans to reduce his work schedule to three days/week. Outside of work, Raman looks forward to spending more time with his (soon to be 2-year-old) granddaughter, Marley.

Raman’s many contributions to the Department of Biophysics are deeply appreciated. Please join us in wishing him continued success in his endeavors, both inside and outside of Biophysics!

Redox Biology Program to Host Symposium

In partnership with the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SfRBM), the Redox Biology Program will host the 3rd MCW Redox Biology Symposium on May 13-14, 2021, on a virtual platform. This two-day symposium will focus on new frontiers in immunology and inflammation, metabolomics and metabolism, epigenetics, and redox systems. The program will consist of featured presentations by well-recognized speakers in the field and poster presentations.

Neil Hogg, PhD, and Jeannette Vasquez Vivar, PhD, will chair the symposium, and the organizing committee includes Brian Smith, PhD; Jennifer Stancill, PhD; and Jacek Zielonka, PhD, DSc.

Additional information will be available soon on the SfRBM website.

Recipe

Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 small butternut squash (1 ½ pounds or less), peeled and chopped into ½-inch cubes
4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
½ tablespoon chopped chipotle pepper in adobo (start with ½ tablespoon and add more to taste)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 bay leaf

2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained, or 3 cups cooked black beans
1 small can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes, including the liquid
2 cups (14 ounces) vegetable broth
Optional garnishes: diced avocados, crispy tortilla strips, chopped fresh cilantro and/or red pepper flakes

Directions

In a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onion, bell pepper, and butternut squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent.
Turn the heat down to medium-low and add the garlic, chili powder, ½ tablespoon chopped chipotle peppers, cumin, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the bay leaf, black beans, tomatoes and their juices, and vegetable broth. Stir to combine and cover for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Taste about halfway through cooking and add more chopped chipotle peppers if you’d like.
You’ll know your chili is done when the butternut squash is nice and tender and the liquid has reduced a bit, producing the hearty chili consistency we all know and love. Remove the bay leaf and add salt to taste.
To make the crispy tortilla strips: stack the corn tortillas and slice them into thin little strips, about 2 inches long by ¼ inch wide. Warm a drizzle of olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat until shimmering. Toss in the tortilla slices, sprinkle with salt and stir. Cook until the strips are crispy and turning golden, stirring occasionally, about 4 to 7 minutes. Remove tortilla strips from skillet and drain on a plate covered with a piece of paper towel.
Serve the chili with any optional toppings: crispy tortilla strips, diced avocado, sprinkle of red pepper flakes, cilantro, and/or chipotle hot sauce (e.g., Tabasco).

Recipe obtained from Cookie + Kate.

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.

Medical College of Wisconsin | 8701 Watertown Plank Road | Milwaukee, WI 53226
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to Biophysics News.
© 2021 Medical College of Wisconsin. All rights reserved.

MCW.EDU | INFOSCOPE | CONTACT US