CURRICULUM VITAE
DAVID ANDREW JOHNSON
Department of Biomedical Science
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
J. H. Quillen College of Medicine
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN 37614-0581
Phone (423) 439-2027
FAX (423) 439-2030
E-mail: davidj@ETSU.edu
EDUCATION:
1967
1973
B.S. in Chemistry, ACS approved, University of Memphis
Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Memphis
EXPERIENCE:
1990-Present Professor of Biochemistry, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State
University, Johnson City, Tennessee
1993-95
1995
Interim Chair of Biochemistry, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State
University, Johnson City, Tennessee (7/1/93-9/30/95)
Adjunct Professor of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, ETSU
1984-1990
Associate Professor of Biochemistry, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East
Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
1978-1984
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, East Tennessee
State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
1976-1978
Assistant Biochemist, Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
1974-1976
National Heart and Lung Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry,
University of Georgia, Dr. James Travis - Mentor
1973-1974
Research Associate, Biochemistry, University of Georgia, Dr. James Travis
1972 & 1973 Instructor of Biochemistry, Chemistry Department, University of Memphis,
(Summers)
Memphis, Tennessee
1967-1973
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Chemistry Department, University of Memphis, Memphis,
Tennessee
1967 & 1968 Chemist, Antigen Preparation Laboratory, TB Branch,
(Summers) National Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia
HONORS:
1989
1987
Visiting Professor, University of British Columbia, Vancouver,Canada.
East Tennessee State University Foundation Research Award for study of "The Biochemical
Aspects of Pulmonary Diseases in Man". This is the highest recognition given for research each
1
year. Selection is made by a committee of peers.
1974
2008
2010
NIH Post-doctoral Fellowship to study the structure and function of human alpha-1 proteinase
inhibitor at the University of Georgia with Dr. J. Travis -July 1, 1974 - June 30, 1976.
J. H. Quillen V. A. Medical center biomedical research corporation board of directors
J.H. Quillen Dean’s Teaching Award for Basic Science
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SABBATICALS:
2000
Visiting Professor in Immunopharmacology at the University of Southampton for three months,
August - October, in the laboratory of Dr. Andrew Walls.
1997
Methods in Molecular Biology Workshop - ETSU COM July 14-25, 1997
1991
Wellcome visiting professor in the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics with Dr. Geoffrey Barton,
University of Oxford, England, May and June, "Molecular Modeling of Mast Cell Tryptases",
supported by a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Research Travel Grant - May 1 -June 30, 1991.
1990
Course on computer based multiple sequence alignment of DNA and proteins, Pittsburgh Super
Computer Center - Aug 5-8; all expenses paid by the PSCC.
1985
Wellcome visiting scientist at Strangeways Research Laboratory with Dr. Alan Barrett, Cambridge,
England, April 15 through July 15; "Human Mast Cell Tryptase", supported by a Burroughs
Wellcome Fund Research Travel Grant
RESEARCH:
Research deals with proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors, including protein purification,
characterization, sequencing, structure function relationships, kinetics, and regulation. Particular emphasis
is placed on the roles of proteases and inhibitors in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Work on the
structure of human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor led to the discovery of its active site and we showed that
oxidation of a methionine residue in the inhibitory site of α1-PI caused the loss of elastase inhibitory
activity. This finding resulted in the hypothesis that oxidants can lead to a lung-localized inhibitor
deficiency. A deficiency of α1-PI, which normally inhibits neutrophil elastase, is known to cause
emphysema. This led to studies of the reactions of ozone and nitrogen dioxide on the function of human
α1-PI and the secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor found in human bronchial mucus, which also inhibits
neutrophil elastase. Another long-standing project focuses on the structure and function of human mast cell
tryptase, an unusual serine protease that is the most abundant protein in mast cells. Recently, tryptase has
been shown to activate protease zymogens, suggesting a critical role in tumor growth and the pathogenesis
of arthritis. Pichia pastoris has been used to expression of recombinant human mast cell and neutrophil
serine proteases, as well as human enterokinase and C-reactive protein.
Current Committee Service:
Medical Student Admissions Committee
Medical Student Education Committee
M1/M2 Medical Student Curriculum Review - Chair
2
PUBLICATIONS:
1. J. Travis, D. A. Johnson, and R. Pannell. Properties of Human Alpha-1-Antitrypsin. Bayer
Symposium V, "Proteinase Inhibitors" (1974)
2. D. Johnson, R. Pannell, and J. Travis. The Molecular Stoichiometry of Trypsin Inhibition by Human
Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 57. 584-589 (1974)
3. R. Pannell, D. Johnson, and J. Travis. Purification and Properties of Human Alpha-1-Proteinase
Inhibitor. Biochemistry 13, 5439 (1974)
4. D. Johnson and J. Travis. Mechanism and Structure of Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor. XXIIIrd
Colloquium, "Protides of the Biological Fluids", ed. H. Peters, Vol. 23, 35-38, Pergamon Oxford
(1975)
5. D. Johnson and J. Travis. Rapid Purification of Human Trypsin and Chymotrypsin I. Analytical
Biochem. 72, 573-576 (1976)
6. R. Baugh, D. Garner, D. Johnson, and J. Travis. Regulation of the Leukocyte Proteinases by the
Human Plasma Proteinase Inhibitors: Proteolysis and Physiological Regulation. Miami Winter
Symposium, Vol. 11, ed. D. W. Ribbons and K. Brew, Academic Press, N.Y. 393 (1976)
7. J. Travis, J. Bowen, D. Tewksbury, D. Johnson, and R. Pannell. Whole Human Plasma: Isolation of
Albumin and Fractionation of Albumin Depleted Plasma. Biochem. Journal 157, 301-306 (1976)
8. D. A. Johnson. Purification and Properties of Rabbit Trypsin. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 452, 482-487
(1976)
9. D. A. Johnson and J. Travis. Human Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor Mechanism of Action: Evidence for
Activation by Limited Proteolysis. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 72, 33-39 (1976)
10. D. A. Johnson and J. Travis. Inactivation of Human Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor by Thiol
Proteinases. Biochem. Journal 163, 639-641 (1977)
11. J. Travis, N. Matheson, and D. A. Johnson. The Interaction of Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor with
Serine Proteinases. Chemistry and Biology of Thrombin, eds. R. Lundblad, J. Fenton, and K. Mann, p.
431-440, Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Ann Arbor, Mich. (1977)
12. A. B. Dudkiewicz, W. F. Lehnhardt, D. A. Johnson, J. Travis, and W. L. Williams. Rabbit Acrosin:
Immunological Dissimilarity to Rabbit Trypsin. J. Exp. Zool. 203, 277-286 (1978)
13. J. Travis and D. Johnson. The Carboxy Terminal Sequence of Human Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor.
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 84, 219-224 (1978)
14. D. Johnson and J. Travis. Structural Evidence for Methionine at the reactive Site of Human Alpha-1Proteinase Inhibitor. J. Biol. Chem. 253. 7142-7144 (1978)
15. J. Travis, R. Baugh, P. Giles, D. Johnson, J. Bowen, and C. Reilly. Human Leukocyte Elastase and
Cathepsin G: Isolation, Characterization and Interaction with Plasma Proteinase Inhibitors. Neutral
Proteases and Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes, eds. K. Havemann and A. Janoff. Urban and
Schwarzenberg, Munich (1978)
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16. D. Johnson and J. Travis. The Oxidative Inactivation of Human Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor: Further
Evidence for Methionine at the Reactive Center. J. Biol. Chem. 254, 4022-4026 (1979)
17. J. Travis, N. Matheson, D. Johnson, and K. Beatty. Human Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor and Human
Alpha-1-Antichymotrypsin: Properties and Mechanism Studies. The Chemistry and Physiology of the
Human Plasma Proteins, ed. D. H. Bing, Pergamon Press Inc., N.Y., p. 343-352 (1979)
18. D. A. Johnson. Ozone Inactivation of Human Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.
121, 1031-1038 (1980)
19. J. Travis and D. Johnson. Human Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor. Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 80, ed.
L. Lorand. Academic Press, N.Y. p. 754-765 (1981)
20. D. A. Johnson, B. Carter-Hamm, and W. Dralle. Inactivation of Human Bronchial Mucosal Proteinase
Inhibitor by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Elastase. Amer. Rev. Respir. Dis. 126, 1070-1083 (1982)
21. D. A. Johnson. A Procedure for the Separation and Quantitation of Tryptophan and Amino Sugars on
the Amino Acid Analyzer. Analytical Biochemistry, 130 475-480 (1983)
22. T. Tanaka, B. J. McRae, K. Cho, R. Cook, J. E. Fraki, D. A. Johnson, and J. C. Powers. Mammalian
Trypsin-Like Enzymes. Comparative Reactivities of Human Skin Tryptase, Human Lung Tryptase
and Bovine Trypsin with Peptide 4-Nitroanilide and Thioester Substrates. J. Biol. Chem. 258, 1355213557 (1983)
23. M. C. McDaniel, M. A. Tucker, and D. A. Johnson. Production of Macrophage Activation Factors by
Tryptic Cleavage of Calf Serum Proteins. Inflammation, 1, 339-345 (1983)
24. T. Smith, M. Hougland, and D. A. Johnson. Human Lung Tryptase: Purification and Characterization.
J. Biol. Chem. 259, 11046-11051 (1984)
25. C. E. Smith and D. A. Johnson. Human Bronchial Leucocyte Proteinase Inhibitor: Rapid Isolation and
Kinetic Analysis with Human Leucocyte Proteinases. Biochem. J. 225, 463-472 (1985)
26. D. A. Johnson and T. E. Cawston. Human Lung Mast Cell Tryptase Fails to Activate Procollagenase
or Degrade Proteoglycan. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 132, 453-459 (1985)
27. J. Travis and D. Johnson. Inhibitors of Proteolytic Enzymes that Function in the Lung. In
Mechanisms of Lung Injury. A Symposium Held at The Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Oct. 1 & 2, 1984. (T. P. Stein and G. Weinbaum, editors). George F. Stickely, Co. pp.
1-11 (1986)
28. R. W. Mason, D. A. Johnson, A. J. Barrett, and H. A. Chapman. Elastinolytic Activity of Human
Cathepsin L. Biochem. 233, 925-927 (1986)
29. D. A. Johnson, R. S. Winters, T. Wooley, D. Graham, and F. W. Henderson. Ozone Effects on Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor In Vivo: Blood Plasma Inhibitory Activity is unchanged. Exp. Lung Res. 11,
95-103 (1986)
30. D. A. Johnson, A. J. Barrett, and R. W. Mason. Cathepsin L. Inactivates α1-Proteinase Inhibitor by
Cleavage in the Reactive Site Region. J. Biol. Chem. 261, 14748-14751 (1986)
4
31. C. E. Smith, M. S. Stack, and D. A. Johnson. Ozone Effects on Inhibitors of Human Neutrophil
Proteinases. Archives Biochem. Biophys. 253, 146-155 (1987)
32. J. A. Cromlish, N. G. Seidah, M. Marcinkiewicz, J. Hamelin, D. A. Johnson, and M. Chretien. Human
Pituitary Tryptase: Molecular Forms, NH2-terminal Sequence, Immunochemical Localization, and
Specificity with Prohormone and Fluorogenic Substrates. J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1363-1373 (1987)
33. D. A. Johnson, G. Salvesen, M. A. Brown, and A. J. Barrett. Rapid Isolation of Human Kininogens.
Thrombosis Res. 48, 187-193 (1987)
34. D. A. Johnson. Effects of Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide on Human Lung Proteinase Inhibitors, Health
Effects Institute Research Report No. 11, August 1987.
35. M. S. Stack, C. E. Smith, W. L. Dean, and D. A. Johnson. Bronchial Leukocyte Proteinase Inhibitor:
Hydrodynamic Properties and Interaction with Alpha2-Macroglobulin-Bound Elastase. Archives
Biochem. Biophys. 260, 400-407 (1988)
36. J. J. Ochino, R. T. Abboud, S. Lam, S. S. Johal, C. E. Smith, and D. A. Johnson. Bronchial Leukocyte
Proteinase Inhibitor Levels in Bronchial Washings in Asthma Patients. Chest. 93, 1008-1013 (1988)
37. W. Müller-Esterl, D. Johnson, G. Salvesen, and A. J. Barrett. Human Kininogens, Purification,
Fragmentation, and Isolation of the Major Fragments. In: Methods in Enzymology pp. 240-256, Vol.
163, DiSabato, G., ed. Academic Press, New York (1988)
38. C. E. Smith, P. R. Musich, and D. A. Johnson. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Enhancement of Quantitative
Immunoenzyme Dot-Blot Assays on Nitrocellulose. Analytical Biochemistry 177, 212-219 (1989)
39. D. A. Johnson, M. W. Frampton, R. S. Winters, P. E. Morrow, and M. J. Utell. Inhalation of Nitrogen
Dioxide Fails to Reduce the Activity of Human Lung Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor. Am. Rev. Respir.
Dis. 142:758-762 (1990)
40. D. A. Johnson, R. S. Winters, K. R. Lee, and C. E. Smith. Oxidant Effects on Rat and Human Lung
Proteinase Inhibitors. Research Report (#37) to be published by the Health Effects Institute Project
No. 85-4 (reviewed internally and externally by HEI). Library of Congress Cat. #WA 754 R432
(1990)
41. D.A. Johnson and G. J. Barton. Mast Cell Tryptases: Examination of Unusual Characteristics by
Multiple Sequence Alignment and Molecular Modeling. Protein Science 1, 370-377 (1992)
42. W. Chu, D. A. Johnson, and P. R. Musich. Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Mouse Mast
Cell Chymases. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1121, 83-87 (1992)
43. C. E. Smith, H. S. Koren, D. E. Graham, and D. A. Johnson. Mast Cell Tryptase is Increased in the
Nasal and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids of Humans after Ozone Exposure. Inhalation Toxicology 5,
117-127 (1993)
44. C. P. Ebenbichler, Westervelt, C. Carillo, T. Henkel, D. Johnson, and L. Ratner. Structure-function
Relationships of the HIV-1 Envelope V3 Loop Tropism Determinant: Evidence for Two Distinct
5
Conformations. AIDS 7, 639-646 (1993)
45. D. B. Hood, Gettins, P. and D. A. Johnson. Reaction of Nitrogen Dioxide with Proteins; Effects on
Activity and Immunoreactivity with Alpha-Proteinase Inhibitor and Implications for NO2 Mediated
Polypeptide Degradation. Arch. Bioch. Biophys. 304, 17-26 (1993)
46. M. S. Stack and D.A. Johnson. Human Mast Cell Tryptase Activates Single Chain Urinary-Type
Plasminogen Activator (Prourokinase). J. Biol. Chem. 269, 9416-9419 (1994)
47. R. S. Winters, B. Burnette-Vick, and D. A. Johnson. Ozone, but Not Nitrogen Dioxide, Fragments
Elastin and Increases Its Susceptibility to Proteolysis Amer. J. Respir. Dis. Crit. Care Med. 150, 102631 (1994).
48. S. S. Little. and D. A. Johnson. Human Mast Cell Tryptase Isozymes: Separation and Examination of
Substrate Specificity Differences. Biochem. J. 307, 341-346 (1995)
49. A. K. Addington and D. A. Johnson, Inactivation of Human Lung Tryptase: Evidence for a Reactivatable Tetrameric Intermediate and Active Monomers. Biochemistry 35, 13511-13518 (1996).
50. D.A. Johnson Tryptase. In Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes. (In book form and as a searchable CD
ROM) (A.J. Barrett, F. Woessner, and N. Rawlings, eds.) Academic Press (1998).
51. V.A. Thomas, C. J. Wheeless, M. S. Stack and David A. Johnson Human Mast Cell Tryptase
Fibrinogenolysis: Kinetics, Anticoagulation Mechanism and Cell Adhesion Disruption. Biochemistry
37, 2291-2298 (1998).
52. Andrew L. Niles, Mark Maffit, Mary Haak-Frendscho, Christine J. Wheeless, and David A. Johnson,
Recombinant Human Mast Cell Tryptase Beta: Stable Expression in Pichia pastoris and Purification
of Fully Active Enzyme. Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 28:125-131 (1998).
53. D.S. Jackson, S.A. Fraser, L-M. Ni, C-M. Kam, U. Winkler, D.A. Johnson, C.J. Froelich, D Hudig,
and J.C. Powers. Synthesis and Evaluation of Diphenyl Phosphonate Esters as Inhibitors of the
Trypsin-like Granzymes A and K and Mast Cell Tryptase. J. Med. Chem.18:2289-2301 (1998).
54. Fusun Kilic, David A. Johnson and Michael Sinensky Subcellular localization and partial
purification of prelamin A endoprotease: an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of
farnesylated prelamin A to mature lamin A. FEBS Letters 450:61-65 (1999).
55. Rosealee Smith, Alison Jenkins, Afrodite Lourbakos, Philip Thompson, Vanitha Ramakrishnan,
Jim Tomlinson, Usha Deshpande, David A. Johnson, Roy Jones, Eleanor J. Mackie and Robert
N. Pike Evidence for the activation of PAR-2 by the sperm protease, acrosin: expression of the
receptor on oocytes. FEBS Letters 484; 285-290 (2000).
56. Krishnaswamy G, Kelley J, Johnson D, Youngberg G, Stone W, Huang SK, Bieber J, Chi DS. The
human mast cell: functions in physiology and disease. Front Biosci 2001 Sep 1; 6:D1109-D1127.
57. Krishnaswamy G, Hall, K., Youngberg, G., Hossler, F., Johnson D, Block, W.A., Huang, S-K.,
Kelley, J., and Chi D.S. Regulation of eosinophil-active cytokine production from human cord
blood-derived mast cells. Journal Interferon and Cytokine Research 22:379-388 (2002).
58. Lockhart BE, Vencill JR, Felix CM and Johnson DA. Recombinant Human Mast Cell Chymase:
6
Improved Expression in Pichia pastoris and Purification of Highly Active Enzyme Biotechnology
and Applied Biochemistry 41, 89–95 (2005).
59. Johnson DA Human Mast Cell Proteases: Activity Assays Using Thiobenzyl Ester Substrates
chapter in “Protocols in Molecular Biology: The Human Mast Cells.” G. Krishnaswamy and D.
Chi eds. Clifton, NJ 315, 193-202, 2006.
60. Burrows, DL, Nicolaides, A, Rice, PJ, Dufforc, M, Johnson, DA and Ferslew, KE. Papain: A
Novel Urine Adulterant. Journal of Analytical Toxicology 29:275-295 (2005).
61. Coffman, Lan; Brown, Julie; Johnson, David; Parthasarathy, Narayanan; D'Agostino Jr., Ralph;
Lively, Mark; Hua, Xiaoyang; Tilley, Stephen; Muller-Esterl, Werner; Willingham, Mark; Torti,
Frank; Torti, Suzy. Cleavage of High Molecular Weight Kininogen by Elastase and Tryptase is
Inhibited by Ferritin. American Journal of Physiology 294, L505-515, 2008.
62. Smita Negi, Ahmad Halawa, David S. Chi, Christopher Miller, Fred Hossler, George Youngberg,
David A. Johnson and Guha Krishnaswamy MAST CELL REGULATION OF
CARDIOVASCULAR INFLAMMATION I: COGNATE AND NON-COGNATE
INTERACTIONS In: Mast Cells and Cardiovascular Disease. Ed. Joseph J, Nova Science
Publishers, Hauppauge, NY 2009 accepted 3/10/2010
63. Sanjay K. Singh, Avinash Thirumalai, David J. Hammond, Jr., Michael K. Pangburn, Vinod K.
Mishra, David A. Johnson, Antonio E. Rusiñol, and Alok Agrawal Exposing a hidden functional
site of C-reactive protein by site-directed mutagenesis J.Biol.Chem. 287, 3550–3558, 2012.
64. Eliot T. Smith and David A. Johnson, Human Enteropeptidase Light Chain: Bioengineering of
Recombinants and Kinetic Investigations of Structure and Function Protein Science 22, 577-585,
2013.
65. Expression of recombinant human mast cell chymase with Asn-linked glycans in glycoengineered
Pichia pastoris. Smith ET, Perry ET, Sears MB, Johnson DA. Protein Expr Purif. 2014
Oct;102:69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2014.08.005. Epub 2014 Aug 12.
TEACHING:
1967-1973
University of Memphis, undergraduate and graduate laboratories; as an instructor I
taught the entire biochemistry course (lectures and labs) for senior undergraduates and
biology graduate students for two summer terms (1972 & 1973).
1973-1978
University of Georgia, direction and supervision of graduate students, occasional
lectures in biochemistry classes
1978-present Medical Biochemistry, East Tennessee State University, Protein structure and function
and amino acid metabolism.
1979-1995
Protein Structure and Function a graduate course (formerly called Enzymology) taught
in odd numbered years with Dr. M.L. Ernst-Fonberg
7
1998
Structure and Dynamics of Biological Macromolecules a new graduate course taught
with Drs. Robinson, Ernst-Fonberg and Sinensky, responsible for ~1/3 of the course.
1985-1993
Course Director, Medical and Graduate Biochemistry, ETSU, responsible for
curriculum design and implementation
2001
Course Director, Biomedical Sciences 4 Graduate Course; BIOM 5040/6040
Fundamentals of Biomedical Research IV Cell and Organ Interactions Credit: 3
semester hours Spring semester, last 7 weeks (6 ‘hours' per week)
2003-5
Course director of Proteins and Proteomics a graduate course on proteins and their
structure and function
2007
Course Director for inaugural Pharmacy Biochemistry; taught 25% of first 2 courses
Ph.D. Dissertation Director: Students and their current positions.
Timothy J. Smith (Ph.D. 1985); Chief Executive Officer, BioSignia, 100 Europa Dr., Chapel Hill, NC
27514 (919) 933-2021. BioSignia markets a proprietary biomarker based technology
for the prediction of chronic degenerative diseases and related crisis events.
Craig E. Smith (M.S. 1986 & Ph.D. 1991) VP for Research ThermoFisher.
Darryl B. Hood (Ph.D. 1991); Assoc. Professor, Vice Chair Pharmacology, 1005 D.B. Todd Blvd.,
Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, (615) 327-6358. PI of an NIH grant to
study the reaction of NO2 with proteins, a continuation of his PhD dissertation research.
He was our first minority Ph.D. graduate.
Susan S. Little (Ph.D. 1993); Following graduation she took a Post-doctoral position with Dr. Louis
Hersh, Chair of Biochemistry, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY After two years with
Hersh she moved to Physiology with Dr. Getchell for two years, worked in Atlanta 2
years, Nuclear Fuels in Erwin, TN 1 year, moved back to Knoxville in 2007.
Brent Lockhart (Ph.D. May 2008) Expression, Purification and Characterization of the Mast Cell
Proteases Chymase and Cathepsin G; a faculty member at Northeast State and cofounder of Proteogenesis biotech company in JC.
M.S. Thesis Director: Students and their current positions
M. Sharon Stack, Ph.D. (M.S. 1986); Prof. and Vice Chair of Pathology, University of Missouri
Medical School, Columbia, MO.
David Brown (M.S. 1987); Armed Services Medical School, Bethesda, (MD 1994), Army Medical.
Alison Babelay (2006-07) MS student from Furman home in Oak Ridge, went to U. South Carolina
medical school in Columbia, SC 2007; worked on CatG expression in Pichia.
Eliot Smith (2007-present) MS student from UT Knoxville working on the expression of codon
optimized neutrophil Cathepsin G and elastase in Pichia pastoris; also expressed human
enterokinase and CRP.
Medical and Undergraduate Students Receiving Research Experience in My Laboratory:
Ricky A. Thompson, M.D. (1986-87 summers) Medical Student went to a Residency in Pathology at
Duke Univ., Current position unknown
Kathryn Kalbfleisch (1992 and 1993, summers), (1997 M.D. Graduate) (Resident position unknown)
Tara Miller (1995-96) Medical Student M.D. 2000, Resident position unknown
8
Vanessa Thomas (Fitsanakis) (1997-1998) Milligan College undergraduate, Ph.D. in molecular
pathology at Vanderbilt.
Sarina Brown (Summer 1998) McNair Scholar Program
Andrenette Fleming (Spring 1998) Six week Senior Rotation in Biochemistry Research working on the
production of Tryptase site-directed mutants in Pichia, went on to an Ob/Gyn Residency
at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ.
Christopher Trabue (1999) Summer Research on tryptase in atherosclerotic plaques supported by the
ETSU Cardiovascular Research Institute.
Andrew Hull (Spring 2001) Milligan College Undergraduate; now a practicing Physician’s Assistant.
Susannah Johnson (Summer 2001) Converse College Undergraduate joint project with Dr. G.
Krishnaswamy, IM. (2010 M. D. Graduate).
Jessica Vencill Hankins (2003-4) Undergraduate Biology major at ETSU; first place in 2004 Southern
Appalachian Research Forum
Melody McVey (2006-2008) ETSU Chemistry Major and Honors College worked on Cathepsin G
codon optimization and Western blotting.
Jessica Pugh (2007-present) Pre-Med Med Honors College working on expression of neutrophil
elastase in E. coli.
Haley Klimecki (2008-2009) Pre-Med Med Honors Chemistry working on expression of human
neutrophil elastase in K. lactis: Received a Student Faculty Collaborative Grant in 2009.
Michael Bradfield (2008-2009) Former Peace Corp taking pre-med fast track course at ETSU;
Pepperdine grad., work study student helped with making reagents and media.
Karie Hodges (2009-2012) First Place in the Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate Division at the 2011
Southern Appalachian Research Forum and second place in 2012
Mallory McGhee (2010-2011)
Branson Mauck (2011-2012)
Evan Perry – undergraduate (2011-Present)
Dustin Wood – undergraduate (2011-Present)
Meagan Sears – undergraduate (2012-present)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
1975-present American Association for the Advancement of Science
1978-1997
American Thoracic Society
1980-2010
Sigma Xi
1982-present American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1991-present The Protein Society
1994-present American Chemical Society
EXTRAMURAL GRANTS RECEIVED AS P.I.:
1976-1978
Proteinase Inhibitors of Human Lung and Leukocytes. National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute Young Investigator Award, Univ. of Georgia - $29,555/2 years.
1979-1981
Endogenous Proteolytic Enzymes and Inhibitors of the Lung. The Council for Tobacco
Research U.S.A. Inc. - $101,000
1983-1986
Effects of O3, NO2, and SO2 on Human Lung Proteinase Inhibitors. The Health
Effects Institute - $173,206
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1985
Human Lung Mast Cell Tryptase. Travel Grant for 3 months work at Strangeways
Research Laboratory, Cambridge, England, Burroughs Wellcome Fund - $4,800
1985-1988
Oxidant Effects on Rat Lung Proteinase Inhibitors. The Health Effects Institute $224,709
1987-1988
Roche Biomedical Laboratories, Allergy Test Development - $3,000
1987
Sponsor of Mr. Ricky Thompson's Southern Medical Association Grant - $1,350
1987-1990
Sponsor for Mr. Darryl B. Hood's NIH MARC Predoctoral Fellowship - $28,269
1989-1992
Human Lung Mast Cell Tryptase - NIH Area Grant R15 HL42623 - $97,819
1990
Sick Building Syndrome - Environment Protection Agency - $4,000
1990-1993
Effects of O3 and NO2 on Human Lung Proteins - NIH R01 ES04999 $388,704/3 years
1991
Molecular Modeling of Mouse Mast Cell Tryptases travel grant for 2 months work at
the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, University of Oxford (May and June),
Burroughs Wellcome Fund, $6,500
1992
Grant of "Hyperchem" software for molecular modeling from Autodesk Inc.- $3,000
1993
Burroughs Wellcome International Visiting Professorship - Brought Prof. John Kay,
Cardiff, Wales to ETSU - $3,053
1993
Sponsor of Ms. Kathryn Kalbfleisch’s Southern Medical Association Grant - $2,500
1994-96
“The tetrameric structure of human lung tryptase and the role of heparin.” (To study the
kinetics of tryptase inactivation and structural changes.) ARRIS Pharmaceuticals postdoctoral salary and supplies. This positioned was filled by Dr. Adele Mountz Addington
a graduate of Virginia Tech - $46,667/16 months.
1995-97
“Human Lung Mast Cell Tryptase: Heparin Binding and Fibrinogen Cleavage”
American Heart Association, Tennessee Affiliate $25,000/year
1996-97
“Thrombolysis by Human Mast Cell Tryptase” ETSU Cardiovascular Research
Institute $5,000.
1997-1998
“Expression and Purification of Human Mast Cell Tryptase.” ETSU Research
Development Committee Grant $5,200.
1997-1999
“Expression and Purification of Recombinant Human Mast Cell Tryptase” Promega
Corp. Support of supplies - $4,000
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2000 “A Cyclodiene-induced Binding Protein” NIEHS R15ES08817; Dr. Larry Curtis,
Environmental Health was the original PI; ($96,833 for 1997-2000) and I took over
when he moved to Oregon State University in July of 2000 until the grant ended in
December of 2000.
2001
2001-2004
“Recombinant Human Mast Cell Tryptases”, NIAID, NIH R15 AI45549, $126,954.
2007-2011
“Human Cathepsin G: Expression, C-Terminal Processing and Dual Specificity”
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute 1R15HL091770 $210,230.
2011
Patent disclosures on the expression of recombinant human C-Reactive Protein in
Pichia pastoris
Patent disclosures on the expression of recombinant human neutrophil elastase in Pichia
pastoris
2011
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