Brittani Schnable
Research Interests:
Research interests: The Van Houten lab uses a single molecule approach to study DNA repair proteins. I will use a combination of biochemistry, single molecule fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, STED, and single particle tracking. I will study UV-DDB, glycosylases and their interactions with other repair proteins at 3 different levels: purified proteins, nuclear extracts and whole cells.
Education:
B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Physics, Ursinus College, 2019
PhD Advisor: Ben Van Houten
Lab Address:
Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion Lab 2.1
5117 Centre Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
email:
Publications:
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Schwarz, Casey; Kang, Myungkoo; Altemose, Quentin; Raichle, Katrina; Schnable, Brittani; Grabill, Christopher; Rice, Jarrett; Truman, Mia; Pantano, Carlo; Mingareev, Ilya; Sisken, Laura; Baleine, Clara; Richardson, Kathleen; Kuebler, Stephen. (2019). Processing and properties of novel ZnO–Bi2O3–B2O3 glass-ceramic nanocomposites. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 820. 153173. 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.153173.
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Altemose, Quentin; Raichle, Katrina; Schnable, Brittani; Schwarz, Casey; Kang, Myungkoo; Pantano, Carlo; Richardson, Kathleen; Baleine, Clara. (2018). In Situ X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Crystallization Growth Behavior in ZnO-Bi2O3-B2O3 Glass as a Route to Functional Optical Devices. MRS Advances. 3. 1-5. 10.1557/adv.2017.640.
Darian Yang
Research Interests:
I am interested in integrating experimental and computational methods to study HIV-1 capsid assembly. Specifically, I plan on studying the capsid protein (CA) using weighted ensemble simulations and NMR spectroscopy.
Education:
B.S. Chemistry (Biochemistry), University of Delaware, 2018
PhD Advisor: Lillian T. Chong and Angela M. Gronenborn
Lab Address:
email:
Publications:
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AT Bogetti, HE Piston, JMG Leung, CC Cabalteja, DT Yang, AJ DeGrave, KT Debiec, DS Cerutti, DA Case, WS Horne, and LT Chong. “A twist in the road less traveled: The AMBER ff15ipq-m force field for protein mimetics.” J. Chem. Phys. 2020, 153, 064101
Kasia Thomas
Research Interests:
The Smithgall Lab studies the role of Src family kinases and HIV-1 accessory protein Nef in HIV infection and pathogenesis. Nef is a relatively small protein that has an essential role in enhancing viral infectivity, viral replication, and evasion of host cell immunity. Nef has been found to activate members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, which play a vital role in immune cell signaling. Previous X-ray crystallographic studies have suggested that Nef dimerization is essential for kinase activation and that several hydrophobic interactions between Nef αB helices are responsible for dimerization. I intend to probe the dimer interface of the Nef homodimer to better understand the inter- and intramolecular forces at play and examine the role homodimer formation plays in Nef function. In my work, I aim to use a variety of biochemical and biophysical methods, including X-ray crystallography, hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), and cell-based fluorescence complementation assays, to understand the molecular and atomic underpinnings of HIV-1 accessory protein Nef as they relate to HIV-1 latency.
Education:
B.S. Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 2015
PhD Advisor: Dr. Thomas E. Smithgall
Lab Address:
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
533 Bridgeside Point II
450 Technology Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
email: kasia.thomas@pitt.edu
Publications:
Jacob Wolfe
Research Interests:
Education:
B.A. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, History Minor, Franklin & Marshall College, Class of 2019
PhD Advisor: Dr. Seth Horne
Lab Address:
14th Floor, Chevron Science Center
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Chemistry
219 Parkman Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
email: jaw315@pitt.edu
Publications:
Giancarlo Gonzalez
Research Interests:
Education:
B.S. in Chemistry at The University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez - 06/2018
PhD Advisor: Thomas E. Smithgall
Lab Address:
533 Bridgeside Point II
450 Technology Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
email: gig18@pitt.edu
Publications:
