Elliot Altman, Ph.D.
Director, Interdisciplinary Molecular Biosciences Ph.D. Program
Professor, Department of Biology
Box 60, Davis Science Building
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
ealtman@mtsu.edu
615-494-8681
Education:
Ph.D. in Biology, June 1991, California Institute of Technology
B.S. in Chemistry, June 1980, Texas A&M University (Magna Cum Laude)
B.S. in Zoology, December 1979, Texas A&M University (Magna Cum Laude)
Positions:
Director, Interdisciplinary Molecular Biosciences Ph.D. Program, Middle Tennessee
State University, 2010-present
Director, Center for Molecular BioEngineering, University of Georgia, 1999-2010
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 1995-1999
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biology, University of Utah, 1990-1994
Graduate Student, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, 1982-1990
Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, 1980-1982
Academic Honors:
McCallum Fellowship, California Institute of Technology, 1986-1990
National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award Fellowship, California
Institute of Technology, 1982-1986
Achievement of Excellence Award in Chemistry, Texas A&M University, 1979
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1978
George E. Bauer Memorial Scholarship, Texas A&M University, 1978-1979
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Robert A. Welch Fellowship, Texas A&M University, 1976-1980
Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, 1975
Primary Research Interests:
Metabolic Engineering - augmentation of biochemical pathways via the overproduction
and/or removal of key metabolic enzymes to produce biochemical products
Peptide Therapeutics - creating peptide drugs by the improvement of naturally
occurring peptides and the discovery of new peptides via combinatorial libraries
Teaching:
BIOL 4450/6450 Molecular Genetics. Undergraduate/graduate split-level course. Four credits.
Six hours lecture/laboratory.
Basic techniques of microbial genetics and gene manipulation with emphasis on the application
of molecular genetics in basic and applied research.
This course covers both classical and molecular genetics and utilizes Escherichia coli as a model
system. Experiments include, phenotyping and genotyping, isolation and characterization of
mutants, Hfr and P1 mapping of genes, determining gene order by three factor crosses, the lac
operon and the use of lacZ as a gene marker, bacteriophage lambda biology and the use of
lambda in molecular genetics, cloning genes using recombinant DNA technology including the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Publications:
Zhu, Y., Eiteman, M. A., Lee, S. A., and Altman, E. 2010. Conversion of glycerol to
pyruvate by Escherichia coli using an acetate- and glucose-limited fed-batch process.
Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 37:307-312.
Lu, S., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2010. Effect of flue gas components on succinate
production and CO2 fixation by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. World Journal
of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 26:429-435.
Lu, S., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2009. Effect of CO2 on succinate production in
dual-phase Escherichia coli fermentations. Journal of Biotechnology. 143:213-223.
Lu, S., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2009. pH and base counterion affect succinate
production in dual-phase Escherichia coli fermentations. Journal of Industrial
Microbiology and Biotechnology. 36:1101-1109.
Eiteman, M. A., Lee, S. A., Altman, R., and Altman, E. 2009. A substrate-selective co-
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fermentation with Escherichia coli produces lactate by simultaneously consuming xylose
and glucose. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 102: 822-827.
Singer, A., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2009. DNA plasmid production in different
host strains of Escherichia coli. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology.
36:521-530.
Altman, E. and Eiteman, M. A. 2009. The potential for using Escherichia coli and other
organisms to produce recombinant ingredients for the cosmetic industry. In
Microorgansims and Cosmetics, Anthony O’Lenick Jr.(ed.)., Allured Books, Carol Stream,
IL., pp. 385-394.
Zhu, Y., Eiteman, M. A., Altman, R., and Altman, E. 2008. High glycolytic flux
improves pyruvate production by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. Applied
and Environmental Microbiology. 74:6649-6655.
Zhu, Y., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2008. Indirect monitoring of acetate
exhaustion and cell recycle improve lactate production by non-growing Escherichia coli.
Biotechnology Letters. 11:1943-1946.
Eiteman, M. A., Lee, S. A., and Altman, E. 2008. A co-fermentation strategy to consume
sugar mixtures effectively. Journal of Biological Engineering. 2:1-8.
Zhu, Y., Eiteman, M. A., DeWitt, K. and Altman, E. 2007. Homolactate fermentation by
metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
73:456-464.
Eiteman, M. A. and Altman, E. 2006. Overcoming acetate in Escherichia coli
recombinant protein fermentations. Trends in Biotechnology. 24: 530-536.
Smith, G. M., Lee, S. A., Reilly, K. C., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2006. Fed-batch
two-phase production of alanine by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli.
Biotechnology Letters. 28:1695-1700.
Vemuri, G. N., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2006. Increased recombinant protein
production in Escherichia coli strains with overexpressed water-forming NADH oxidase
and a deleted ArcA regulatory protein. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 94: 538-542.
Vemuri, G. N., Altman, E., Sangurdekar, D. P., Khodursky, A. B ., and Eiteman, M. A.
2006. Overflow metabolism in Escherichia coli during steady-state growth:
transcriptional regulation and the effect of redox. Applied and Environmental
Microbiology. 72: 3652-3661.
Vemuri, G. N., Minning, T. A., Altman, E., and Eiteman, M. A. 2005. Physiological
response of central metabolism in Escherichia coli to deletion of pyruvate oxidase and
introduction of heterologous pyruvate carboxylase. Biotechnology and Bioengineering.
90:64-76.
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Walker, J. R. and Altman, E. 2005. Biotinylation facilitates the uptake of large peptides
by Escherichia coli and other Gram-negative bacteria. Applied and Environmental
Microbiology. 71:1850-1855.
Lee, M., Smith, G. M., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2004. Aerobic production of
alanine by Escherichia coli aceF ldhA mutants expressing the Bacillus sphaericus alaD gene.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 65:56-60.
Tomar, A. C., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2003. The effects of acetate pathway
mutants on the production of pyruvate in Escherichia coli. Applied Microbiology and
Biotechnology. 62:76-82.
Walker, J. R., Altman, R. K., Warren, J., and Altman, E. 2003. Using protein-based
motifs to stabilize peptides. Journal of Peptide Research. 62:214-226.
Xie, L., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2003. Production of aminolevulinic acid by an
Escherichia coli aminolevulinate dehydratase mutant strain that overproduces
Rhodobacter sphaeroides aminolevulinate synthase. Biotechnology Letters. 25:1751-1755.
Xie, L., Hall, D., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2003. Optimization of aminolevulinate
synthase production in Escherichia coli using factorial design. Applied Microbiology
and Biotechnology. 63:267-273.
March, J. C., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2002. Expression of anaplerotic enzyme
pyruvate carboxylase improves recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 68:5620-5624.
Vemuri, G. N., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2002. Succinate production in dualphase Escherichia coli fermentations depends on the time of transition from aerobic to
anaerobic conditions. J. Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 28:325-332.
Vemuri, G. N., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2002. Effects of growth mode and
pyruvate carboxylase on succinic acid production by metabolically engineered strains of
Escherichia coli. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 68:1715-1727.
Gokarn, R. R., Evans, J. D., Walker, J. R., Martin, S. A., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E.
2001. The physiological effects and metabolic alterations caused by the expression of
Rhizobium etli pyruvate carboxylase in Escherichia coli. Applied Microbiology and
Biotechnology. 56:188-195.
Walker, J. R., Roth, J. R., and Altman, E. 2001. An in vivo study of novel bioactive
peptides that inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli. Journal of Peptide Research. 58:380388.
Xie, L., Lee, S. A., Hanel, B. M., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 2001. Anaerobic
fermentation of Salmonella typhimurium with and without pyruvate carboxylase.
Biotechnology Letters. 23:111-117.
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Gokarn, R. R., Eiteman, M. A. and Altman, E. 2000. Metabolic Analysis of Escherichia
coli in the Presence and Absence of Carboxylating Enzymes: Phosphoenolpyruvate
Carboxylase and Pyruvate Carboxylase. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
66:1844-1850.
Walker, J. R., Warren, J. and Altman, E. 2000. An intracellular approach for generating
stable synthetic peptides and its potential applications. In Peptides for the New Milenium;
Proceedings of the 16th American Peptide Symposium, G.B. Fields, J.P. Tam, and G. Barany,
(eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, pp. 262-263.
Warren, J., Walker, J. R., Roth, J. R., and Altman, E. 2000. Construction and
characterization of a highly regulable expression vector, pLAC11, and its multipurpose
derivatives, pLAC22 and pLAC33. Plasmid. 44:138-151.
Eiteman, M. A., Gokarn, R. R., and Altman, E. 1998. Metabolic engineering of E. coli to
alter distribution of fermentation products. Proceedings of the Institute of Biological
Engineering, 1:96-101.
Gokarn, R. R., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. 1998. Expression of pyruvate
carboxylase enhances succinate production in Escherichia coli without affecting glucose
uptake. Biotechnology Letters. 20:795-798.
Altman, E., Roth, J. R., Hessel, A., and Sanderson, K. E. 1996. Transposons currently in
use in genetic analysis of Salmonella. In Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium:
Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2nd edition, Neidhardt, F.C.(ed.), American Society for
Microbiology, Washington, D.C., pp. 2613-2626.
Wild, J., Walter, W., Gross, C. A., and Altman, E. 1993. Accumulation of secretory
protein precursors in Escherichia coli induces the heat shock response. Journal of
Bacteriology. 175:3992-3997.
Wild, J., Altman, E., Yura, T., and Gross, C. A. 1992. DnaK and DnaJ heat shock
proteins participate in protein export in Escherichia coli. Genes and Development.
6:1165-1172.
Altman, E., Kumamoto, C. A., and Emr, S. D. 1991. Heat-shock proteins can substitute
for SecB function during protein export in Esherichia coli. European Molecular Biology
Organization Journal. 10:239-245.
Altman, E., Bankaitis, V. A., and Emr. S. D. 1990. Characterization of a region in
mature LamB protein that interacts with a component of the export machinery of
Esherichia coli. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 265:18148-18153.
Altman, E., Emr, S. D., and Kumamoto, C. A. 1990. The presence of both the signal
sequence and a region of mature LamB protein are required for the interaction of LamB
with the export factor SecB. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 265:18154-18160.
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Bankaitis, V. A., Altman, E., and Emr, S. D. 1986. Export and localization of Escherichia
coli envelope proteins. In: Bacterial Outer Membranes As Model Systems, Inouye, M. (ed.),
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, pp. 75-116.
Altman, E., Young, K., Garrett, J., Altman, R., and Young, R. 1985. Subcellular
localization of lethal lysis proteins of bacteriophages  and X174. Journal of Virology.
53:1008-1011.
Altman, E., Altman, R. K., Garrett, J. M., Grimaila, R. J., and Young, R. 1983. S gene
product: Identification and membrane localization of a lysis control protein. Journal of
Bacteriology. 155:1130-1137.
Patents:
Bodie, N. M. and Altman, E. Methods for inhibiting immune complex formation in a subject.
US Patent 7,786,258, issued August 31, 2010.
Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. Microbial production of pyruvate and pyruvate derivatives. US
Patent 7,749,740, , issued July 6, 2010.
Bodie, N. M. and Altman, E. Methods for inhibiting immune complex formation in a
subject. US Patent 7,714,104, issued May 11, 2010.
Altman, E. and Walker, J. R. Biotin-facilitated transport in gram negative bacteria. US
Patent 7,601,511, issued October 13, 2009.
Bodie, N. M. and Altman, E. Inhibition of immune complex formation. US Patent
7,584,059, issued September 1, 2009.
Altman, E. Stabilized bioactive peptides and methods of identification, synthesis and
use. US Patent 7,365,162, issued April 29, 2008.
Altman, E. Stabilized bioactive peptides and methods of identification, synthesis and
use. US Patent 7,122,516, issued October 17, 2006.
Bodie, N. M. and Altman, E. Inhibition of immune complex formation. US Patent
6,916,904, issued July 12, 2005.
Altman, E. Stabilized bioactive peptides and methods of identification, synthesis and
use. US Patent 6,818,611, issued November 16, 2004.
Gokarn, R. R., Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E. Metabolically engineered E. coli for
enhanced production of oxaloacetate-derived biochemicals. US Patent 6,455,284, issued
September 24,2002.
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Patents Pending:
Bodie, N. M., Bodie, R., and Altman, E. Methods for treating immune mediated neurological
diseases. US Patent Application 20090105138, published by the US Patent and Trademark
Office on April 23, 2009.
Altman, E. Stabilized bioactive peptides and methods of identification, synthesis, and use. US
Patent Application 20090004696, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on January
1, 2009.
Bodie, N. M., Bodie, R., and Altman, E. Methods for treating Alzheimer's Disease. US Patent
Application 20080207498, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on August 28,
2008.
Bodie, N. M., Bodie, R., and Altman, E. Methods for treating Parkinson's Disease. US Patent
Application 20080200392, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on August 21,
2008.
Bodie, N. M., Bodie, R., and Altman, E. Methods for treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
US Patent Application 20080187490, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on
August 7, 2008.
Vemuri, G., Eiteman, M. A. and Altman, E. Reduced overflow metabolism and methods of use.
US Patent Application 20070249018, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on
October 25, 2007.
Bodie, N. M. and Altman, E. Methods for inhibiting immune complex formation in a subject.
US Patent Application 20070225231, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on
September 27, 2007.
Altman, E. Stabilized bioactive peptides and methods of identification, synthesis, and use. US
Patent Application 20030190740, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on October
9, 2003.
Gokarn, R. R., Eiteman, M. A. and Altman, E. Metabolically engineered organisms for
enhanced production of oxaloacetate-derived biochemicals. US Patent Application
20030087381, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on May 8, 2003.
Grants: $4,324,829
Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E., “Engineered microbial systems for conversion of
biomass hydrolysates”, National Science Foundation, $397,397 (September 2009 –
August 2012).
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Altman, E., and Eiteman, M.A., “Production of acrylic acid by bacterial fermentation”,
Procter & Gamble, $220,100 (June 2009 – June 2011).
Altman, E., and Eiteman, M.A., “Improved ethanol yields from lignocellulosic
biomass”, Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, $145,000 (January 2009 –
December 2011).
Altman, E., “Development of animal models for autoimmune diseases”, Trinity
Therapeutics $50,000, July 2008 – December 2009).
Altman, E., “Developing cloning vectors for Actinobacillus succinogenes”, MBI
International, $15,000, January 2008 – December 2009).
Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E., “An improved strategy for the utilization of mixed
sugars from lignocellulosic hydrolysates”, Synergy Parametrics / Georgia Centers of
Innovation, $115,998 (March 2008 – June 2009).
Altman, E., and Eiteman, M.A., “Producing ethanol from the sugar in expired
beverages, US Ethanol / Georgia Centers of Innovation, $47,956 (March 2008 – June
2008).
Eiteman, M.A., and Altman, E. “Sweet sorghum strains for ethanol production,
AgStrong / Georgia Centers of Innovation, $10,000 (March 2008 – June 2008).
Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E., “ Microbial production of succinate from glycerol”,
Altra Biofuels, $139,914 (September 2007 – September 2008).
Adams, T., Altman, E., and Eiteman, M. A., “Producing fuel ethanol from bakery
waste”, Georgia Food Processing Advisory Council (FoodPAC), $89,978 (July 2007 –
June 2007).
Eiteman, M. A., and Altman, E., “Improving ethanol production from trees and grass –
development of a co-fermentation strategy to remove the key inhibitor acetic acid and
more efficiently utilize mixed sugars”, Georgia Research Alliance, $121,712 (June 2006June 2008).
Eiteman, M. A., Kastner, J. R. and Altman, E., A metabolic engineering approach to
improve protein production, Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, $197,500
(June 2005 – May 2007).
Eiteman, M. A., Kastner, J. R., and Altman, E., Process design for the biocatalysis of
value-added chemicals from CO2, United States Department of Energy, $384,275
(August 2004 – August 2007).
Altman, E., Novel peptide antibiotics, Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research,
$212,000 (July 2004 – December 2009).
Altman, E., Pharmacological evaluation of new stable peptide drug derivatives, Zolaris
BioSciences, $150,000 (July 2004 – June 2006).
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Eiteman, M. A. and Altman, E., Engineering Escherichia coli for the production of C3
biochemicals pyruvate and alanine, United States Department of Agriculture, $214,000
(September 2003 – December 2005).
Adams, T. and Altman, E., University of Georgia Research Award, Merial, $171,431
(January 2004 – January 2005).
Altman, E., Center for Molecular BioEngineering Research Award, Zolaris BioSciences,
$441,954 (April 2001 – June 2004)
Eiteman, M. A., Altman, E., Kastner, J. R., and Das, K. C., Multidisciplinary graduate
education in bioprocess engineering, United States Department of Energy, $226,391
(June 2000 – May 2004).
Altman, E., Development of new methods to engineer novel peptide antibiotics, Zolaris
BioSciences, $232,034 (October 2001 – October 2003).
Altman, E., Development of novel cloning vectors, Zolaris BioSciences, $40,000 (October
2001 – October 2002).
Altman, E. and Eiteman, M. A., Metabolic engineering strategies to improve amino acid
fermentations, Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, $40,000 (March 2001 February 2003).
Altman, E. and Emeh, C. O., Savannah State University, Isolation of novel antibiotics,
Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, $60,000 (March 2001 - February 2003).
Altman, E., Center for Molecular BioEngineering Equipment Infrastructure Grant,
Gerogia Research Alliance, $66,557 (November 1999 – November 2000).
Altman, E. and Eiteman, M. A., A metabolic engineering approach for increasing the
yields of overproduced recombinant proteins, Applied CarboChemicals, Inc., $29,000
(September 1999 - August 2000).
Altman, E. and Eiteman, M. A., A family of three vectors designed to facilitate the
overproduction of proteins in Lactobacillus species, National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, $58,868 (August 1999 - July 2000).
Altman, E. and Eiteman, M. A., Metabolic engineering to divert carbon flow towards
oxaloacetate in order to more efficiently produce amino acids, Applied
CarboChemicals, Inc., $300,000 (January 1999 - December 2001).
Altman, E., Metabolic engineering to divert carbon flow towards oxaloacetate in order
to more efficiently produce oxaloacetate-derived biochemicals, Consortium for Plant
Biotechnology Research, $19,000 (January 1999 - December 1999).
Altman, E. and Eiteman, M. A., Metabolic engineering to divert carbon flow towards
oxaloacetate in order to more efficiently produce succinate, Applied CarboChemicals,
Inc., $128,764 (August 1998 - August 2000).
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