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Research ProgramStructural Biology
Research Interests
(Chemistry, Ophthalmology): Phospholipid biogenesis/metabolism and cancer: Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry
In our quest to understand the biological implications of the unusual composition of human lens membranes, our recent studies demonstrated strong correlations between the relative levels of unsaturated glycerophospholipids and high mitotic activity and elongation rates in mammalian lens epithelial cells. Conversely, elevated levels of sphingolipids are observed in lenticular cells with decreased mitotic activity, or those undergoing terminal differentiation and senescence. In collaboration with cell biologists, we are beginning to probe the possible pathways in which these phospholipids and their metabolites can act as lipid second messengers. Our main tools for biophysical characterization include FTIR and NMR spectroscopies as well as MALDI-TOF/MS.
Education
Education/Training
B.S., Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentine, Chemistry, 1978
Ph.D., Oregon State University, Corvallis, Chemistry, 1975
Postdoc, Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, Chemistry, 1985-1986
Research and Professional Experience
1981-1984
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University
1985-1986
Post-doctoral fellow, Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University
1986-1992
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville
1989-present
Associate Appointment, Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville
1992-1999
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville
1999-present
Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville
Selected Awards and Professional Honors
1981-1982
Iota Sigma Pi, Honorary Society of Women in Chemistry, Niobium Chapter President, and delegate to the Nation Convention
1984
Milton Harris Award for Excellence in Teaching, Oregon State University
1980-present
Member, American Chemical Society
1988-present
Member, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
1989-1991
Dean's Professional Initiative Award, Arts & Sciences, University of Louisville
1990
President's Research initiative Award, University of Louisville
1999-present
Director of Graduate Studies in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville
2000-present
Member, Biophysical Society
PublicationsFerguson-Yankey S, Borchman D, Taylor KG, DuPr¨¦ DB, Yappert MC. Conformational studies of sphingolipids by NMR Spectroscopy. I: Dihydrosphingomyelin. Bioch Bioph Acta 1467:307-325, 2000
Talbott CM, Vorobyov I, Borchman D, Taylor KG, DuPr¨¦ DB, Yappert MC. Conformational studies of sphingolipids by NMR Spectroscopy. II: Sphingomyelin. Bioch Biophys Acta 1467:326-337, 2000
Borchman D, Giblin FJ, Leverenz VR, Reddy VN, Lin LR, Yappert MC, Li L, Tang D. Impact of hyperbaric oxygen in vivo on guinea pig lens lipids and nuclear light scattering. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:3061-3073, 2000
DuPr¨¦ DB, Vorobyov I, Yappert MC. Orbital interactions in stable and metastable conformations of the dimethylphosphate anion. J Molec Struct Theochem 544:91-109, 2001
DuPr¨¦ DB, Yappert MC. Cooperative Hydrogen- and ¦ÐH-bonded interactions involving water and the ethylenic double bond. J Phys Chem Part A 106:567-574, 2002
Vorobyov I, Yappert MC, DuPr¨¦ DB. Hydrogen bonding in monomers and dimers of 2-amino ethanol. J Phys Chem, Part A, 106:668-679, 2002
Li L, Tang X, Taylor KG, DuPr¨¦ DB, Yappert MC. Conformational studies of ceramides by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Biophys J 82:2067-2080, 2002
Rujoi M, Borchman D, DuPr¨¦ DB, Yappert MC. Ca2+ interactions with sphingomyelin and dihydrosphingomyelin Biophys J 82:3096-3104, 2002
Vorobyov I, Yappert MC, DuPr¨¦ DB. Energetic and topological analyses of cooperative sigma H- and pi H-bonding interactions. J Phys Chem Part A 106:10691-10699, 2002
Oborina E, Yappert MC. Effect of sphingomyelin versus dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine on the extent of lipid oxidation. Chem Phys Lip 123:223-232, 2003
Rujoi M, Jin J, Borchman D, Tang D, Yappert MC. Isolation and lipid characterization of cholesterol-enriched fractions in cortical and nuclear human lens fibers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 44:1634-1642, 2003
Tang D, Borchman D, Yappert MC, Vrensen GFJM, Rassi V. Influence of age, diabetes, and cataract on calcium, lipid-calcium and protein-calcium relationships in human lenses. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 44:2059-2066, 2003
Yappert MC, Rujoi M, Borchman D, Vorobyov I, Estrada R. Glycero- vs sphingophospholipids: correlations with human and non-human mammalian lens growth. Exp Eye Res 725-734, 2003
Estrada R, Yappert MC. Alternative approaches for the detection of various phospholipid classes by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom 39:412-422, 2004
Yappert MC, Borchman D. Sphingolipids in human lens membranes: an update on their composition and possible biological implications. Chem Phys Lipids 129:1-20, 2004
Rujoi M, Estrada R, Yappert MC. In situ MALDI-TOF MS regional analysis of neutral phospholipids in lens tissue. Anal Chem 76:1657-1663, 2004
Borchman D, Yappert MC, Afzal M. Lens lipids and maximum lifespan. Exp Eye Res 79(6):761-8, 2004
Estrada R, Yappert MC. Regional phospholipid analysis of porcine lens membranes by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom 39(12):1531-40, 2004
Grami V, Marrero Y, Huang L, Tang D, Yappert MC, Borchman D. alpha-Crystallin binding in vitro to lipids from clear human lenses. Exp Eye Res 2005 Jun 17; [Epub ahead of print]
Huang L, Grami V, Marrero Y, Tang D, Yappert MC, Rasi V, Borchman D. Human lens phospholipid changes with age and cataract. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46(5):1682-9, 2005
Phone: Coming soon.
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