Byron Scott DeLaBarre, M.Sc., Ph.D.
byron.delabarre@gmail.com
650 468 5677 (cell) / 781 646 2814 (home)
I am a research scientist with strong skills in applying x-ray crystallography and other biophysical
techniques to elucidating protein structure. I have successfully used these skills to understand protein
conformational changes, protein:ligand interactions and to drive structure-based drug design. I am
primarily a structural biologist, but my skills in molecular biology, protein chemistry, biochemistry,
enzymology and organic chemistry enable effective interdisciplinary interactions and/or management of
groups undertaking these activities. I have multiple years of experience with the drug design process in an
industrial setting, most recently in the field of oncology. My postdoctoral work involved the study of large
multi-protein membrane associated complexes and my graduate studies centered on solving the de novo
structure of an antibiotic drug target. I am seeking a position that will allow me to apply these skills and
grow into a management role supervising a group focused on making biomedical advances.
Skills
Molecular biology

DNA construct design

PCR

cloning

protein expression

fermentor growth

protein purification

protein chemistry

protein crystallization
Biophysics / Biochemistry
 X-ray diffraction
 enzyme kinetics
 CD
 SEC-MALLS
 fluorimetry
 UV/visible spectroscopy
 mass spectroscopy
 ITC/DSC
Computational

Unix/Linux administration

python and shell scripting

bioinformatics

x-ray crystallography data
processing

protein structure refinement

protein structure analysis

homology modeling
Experience
Harvard Medical School, Dept of Cell Biology
Scientist
 Structural studies of membrane channels involved in protein translocation
 Structural studies of activated and inhibited protein chaperones
2008-
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Structural Biology Group in Department of Chemistry
2006-2008
Scientist I
 Provided structural information to oncology chemistry for multiple protein targets complexed with
small molecule inhibitors from medicinal chemistry group
 Performed primary literature research on new protein targets, designed expression constructs, purified
and crystallized protein, solved structures with novel small molecule compounds and communicated
results to project groups
 Consulted with biochemistry and cellular biology groups on protein homeostasis research in academia
through active participation in working and literature review groups
 Hosted external speakers from academic research institutions as part of novel therapeutic target
identification efforts
Resume of Byron DeLaBarre / byron.delabarre@gmail.com / 650 468 5677
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Experience (continued)
Stanford University/HHMI, Depts. Mol. & Cell Phys., Neurobiology & Neuroscience
2001-2006
Yale University/HHMI, Dept. Molecular Biology & Biophysics
2000-2001
Postdoctoral Research Associate with Dr. Axel T. Brunger
 Cloned, expressed and purified full length mammalian p97/VCP, a 540 kDa membrane associated
ATPase that interacts with misfolded proteins in the secretory pathway
 Determined first complete structure of p97/VCP by X-ray crystallography and three-dimensional
reconstruction from cryo-electron microscopy images in multiple nucleotide states.
 Implemented steady state kinetics assay for ATP hydrolysis by p97/VCP and then successfully used
the enzymatic conditions to identify protein substrates of p97/VCP
 Designed and oversaw implementation of a cell based assay for examining protein misfolding to
study p97/VCP mutants based upon the structural findings.
 Created new methods and refined existing approaches for working with low resolution X-ray
diffraction data and the molecular dynamics of models resulting from these studies.
 Published work in upper tier journals and presented at scientific meetings
Bio-Mega Pharmaceuticals, Synthetic Chemistry Department
Student Researcher
 Examined new methods of chiral selectivity in organic synthetic chemistry
 Synthesized a small fragment of a complex natural product, ionomycin
1990-1991
Notre Dame Radiation Research Lab (DOE)
Student Researcher
 Employed picosecond laser spectroscopy to characterize novel dye molecules
1990
Education
Ph.D. Biochemistry McMaster University
1996-2000
Advisor: Dr. A. M. Berghuis
Thesis title: The Structure of Homoserine Dehydrogenase from S. cerevisae
M.Sc. Inorganic Chemistry McMaster University
1993-1996
Advisor: Dr. C. J. L. Lock (deceased)
Thesis title: Chemical Modeling of Zinc Enzymes
B.Sc. Honors Applied Chemistry University of Waterloo
1988-1993
Advisor: Dr. L. F. Nazar
Senior thesis topic: Characterization of Battery Materials by Powder X-ray Diffraction
Honors
2000: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship (Research Associate)
2000: Best Senior Graduate Student Seminar – McMaster Dept. of Biochemistry
1999: Ludo Frevel Award – International Centre for Diffraction Data Graduate Scholarship
1998: Pauling Award, 1998 American Crystallographic Association Annual Meeting
1994: Tuition Scholarship for American Crystallographic Association Summer School
1993: Centennial Scholarship, McMaster University
1990: National Science and Engineering Research Council Industrial Research Award
1988-93: Dean’s List, University of Waterloo
1988: Finished in top 1.5 Percentile for Canadian High School Chemistry Contest (Chem13 News).
Resume of Byron DeLaBarre / byron.delabarre@gmail.com / 650 468 5677
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Peer Reviewed Publications
Anderson M.J., DeLaBarre B., Raghunathan A., Palsson B.O., Brunger A.T., Quake S.R. (2007). Crystal
structure of a hyperactive Escherichia coli glycerol kinase mutant Gly230 --> Asp obtained using
microfluidic crystallization devices. Biochemistry. 46(19), 5722-31.
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2006). Considerations for the refinement of low-resolution crystal structures.
Acta(D) Biol. Cryst. 62(8), 923-32.
DeLaBarre, B., Christianson, J.C., Kopito, R.R., Brunger, A.T. (2006). Central Pore Residues Mediate the
p97/VCP Activity Required for ERAD. Mol. Cell 22(44), 451-62.
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2005). Nucleotide dependent motion and mechanism of action of p97/VCP. J.
Mol. Bio. 347(2), 437-452.
Brill, L.M., Dechongkit, S., DeLaBarre, B., Stroebel, J., Beachy, R.N., Yeager, M., (2004) Dimerization of
Recombinant TMV Movement Protein. J. Virol 78(7), 3372-7.
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2003). Complete Structure of p97/VCP Reveals Communication between
Nucleotide Domains. Nature Structural Biology, 10(10), 856-63.
Rouiller, I., DeLaBarre, B., May, A.P., Weiss, W., Brunger, A.T., Milligan, R., Wilson-Kubalek, E (2002)
Conformational Changes of the Multifunction p97 AAA ATPase during its ATPase Cycle. Nature Structural
Biology, 9(12), 950-7.
DeLaBarre, B., Thompson, P.R., Wright, G.D., Berghuis, A.M. (2000) The Structure of Homoserine
Dehydrogenase Suggests a Novel Mechanism for Oxidoreductases. Nature Structural Biology, 7(3), 238-44.
DeLaBarre, B., Jacques, S.L., Pratt, C.E., Ruth, D. Wight, G.D., Berghuis, A.M. (1998) Crystallization and
Preliminary X-ray Diffraction Studies of Homoserine Dehydrogenase from S. cerevisae. Acta Cryst. D., 54,
413-415.
Das, S., Kamat, P.V., DeLaBarre, B., Thomas, K.G., Ajayaghosh, A., George, M.V. (1992) Photophysics and
Photochemistry of Squaraine Dyes. J. Phys. Chem., 96, 10327-30.
Other Publications and Presentations
DeLaBarre, B., Christianson, J.C., Kopito, R.R., Brunger, A.T. (2007). Central Pore Residues Mediate the
p97/VCP Activity Required for ERAD. 7th International Meeting on AAA Proteins. (Cirencester, UK).
[Invited Talk]
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2005). The AAA Protein VCP/p97. 6th International Meeting on AAA
Proteins. (Styria, Austria). [Invited Talk]
DeLaBarre, B., Christianson, J. C., Kopito, R.R., Brunger, A.T. (2005). ATP Dependant Motions in
VCP/p97 and its Relation to the 19S Regulatory Component of the Proteosome. Keystone Symposium on
Ubiquitin and Signaling. (Taos, NM). [Poster]
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2004). Structure and Function of VCP/p97. FASEB Conference on
Ubiquitination & Cellular Regulation. (Saxtons River, VT). [Poster]
Resume of Byron DeLaBarre / byron.delabarre@gmail.com / 650 468 5677
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Other Publications and Presentations (continued)
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2004). The Structure of Full Length VCP/p97: A Success Story with Low
Resolution Crystal Data. 29th Lorne Conference on Protein Structure & Function. (Lorne, Australia) [Talk]
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2003). The X-Ray Structure of Full Length VCP/p97. Conformational
Diseases of the Secretory Pathway Keystone Symposium. (Taos, NM). [Invited Talk]
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2003). The Crystal Structure of VCP: How Much Information is There in a
Structure of Moderate Resolution? 16th West Coast Protein Crystallography Workshop. (Monterey, CA).
[Talk]
Brunger, A.T., DeLaBarre, B. (2003). NSF and p97/VCP: Similar at First, Different at Last. FEBS Letters,
555(1), 126-33. [Invited review for 2003 Nobel Committee Membrane Protein Meeting]
DeLaBarre, B., Brunger, A.T. (2003). The Crystal Structure of Full Length VCP/p97: Two AAA Domains
are Better than One. 5th International Meeting on AAA Proteins. (Warrenton, VA) [Invited Talk]
Rouiller I, DeLaBarre B, May AP, Weiss WI, Brunger AT, Milligan RA, Wilson-Kubalek EM (2002).
Conformational changes of the multifunction VCP/p97 AAA ATPase during the ATPase cycle. Mol. Bio.
Cell 13: 263A-263A,1480 ASCB Meeting [Poster]
DeLaBarre, B., Thompson, P.R., Wright, G.D., Berghuis, A.M. (1999). The Structure of Homoserine
Dehydrogenase from S. cerevisae Reveals a Novel Catalytic Fold. Protein Science, vol. 8, Suppl. 1 (Boston,
MA) [Poster].
DeLaBarre, B., Berghuis, A.M. (1999). The Structure of Homoserine Dehydrogenase: A Story of
Economical Phasing. Abstracts of the American Crystallographic Society, 26 ed. (Buffalo, NY) [Poster]
DeLaBarre, B., Berghuis, A.M. (1998). Facing the Phasing Problems of Homoserine Dehydrogenase.
Abstracts of the American Crystallographic Society, 25 ed. (Washington, DC) [Poster – winner best graduate
student poster].
DeLaBarre, B., Wright, G.D. Berghuis, A.M. (1996). Crystallographic Studies of Homoserine
Dehydrogenase for the Design of Novel Antifungal Agents. Abstracts of the 17th IUCR Congress (Seattle,
WA) [Poster].
DeLaBarre, B., Lock, C. J. L. (1995). A Small Molecule Model of a Zinc Enyzme Active Site. Abstracts of
the 78th Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference and Exhibition. (Guelph, Canada) [Poster].