Biochemistry Faculty

Faculty

Stephen Dunham | Associate Professor and Chair, Chemistry; Co-chair, Biochemistry

Office location: Collier 209
Office phone: 610-625-7103
Email: dunhams2@moravian.edu

Education
B.S., Hamline University
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Montana State

Research Interests
Biochemistry, NMR spectroscopy, metal interactions with DNA

Biochemistry Courses Taught
BIOL/CHEM 327 (Biochemistry I) and BIOL/CHEM 375.2 (Senior Seminar in Biochemistry)

Shari U. Dunham, Todd S. Remaley*, Bryn L. Moore*, Debra L. Evans* and Stephen U. Dunham, “Isolation, Characterization, and DNA Binding Kinetics of Three Dirhodium(II,II) Carboxyamidate Complexes: Rh2(µ-L)(HNOCCF3)3 where L= [OOCCH3]-, [OOCCF3]-, [HNOCCF3]-“, Inorganic Chemistry 50(8), pp 3458-3463 (2011).

Christopher Jones | Professor, Biological Sciences; Co-chair, Biochemistry

Office location: Collier 306
Lab location: Collier 227
Office phone: 610-861-1614
Email: jonesc@moravian.edu

Education
B.A. in Biology and Russian, Haverford College
M.Phil. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University
Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University

Research Interests
I'm interested in many aspects of molecular genetics, but my research focuses primarily on the genetics of behavior in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, especially learning and memory as well as seizure disorders.

Biochemistry Courses Taught
BIOL 210 (Genetics) and BIOL 365 (Advanced Genetics)

Christopher Jones's Selected Publications

Lopatto D., C. Alvarez, D. Barnard, C. Chandrasekaran, H.-M. Chung, C. Du, T. Eckdahl, A.L. Goodman, C. Hauser, C.J. Jones, O.R. Kopp, G.A. Kuleck, G. McNeil, R. Morris, J.L. Myka, A. Nagengast, P.J. Overvoorde, J.L. Poet, K. Reed, G. Regisford, D. Revie, A. Rosenwald, K. Saville, M. Shaw, G.R. Skuse, C. Smith, M. Smith, M. Spratt, J. Stamm, J.S. Thompson, B.A. Wilson, C. Witkowski, J. Youngblom, W. Leung, C.D. Shaffer, J. Buhler, E. Mardis, and S.C.R. Elgin. 2008. "Genomics Education Partnership." Science 322(5902):684–685.

Joiner, M.A., Z. Asztalos, C.J. Jones, T. Tully, and C.-F. Wu. 2007. "Effects of MutantDrosophila K⁺ Channel Subunits on Habituation of the Olfactory Jump Response." Journal of Neurogenetics 21(1):45–58.

Nowotny, P., S.M. Gorski, S.W. Han, K. Philips, W.J. Ray, V. Nowotny, C.J. Jones, R.F. Clark, R.L. Cagan, and A.M. Goate. 2000. "Posttranslational Modification and Plasma Membrane Localization of the Drosophila melanogaster Presenilin." Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 15(1):88–98.

Pinto S., D.G. Quintana, P. Smith, R.M. Mihalek, Z.H. Hou, S. Boynton, C.J. Jones, M. Hendricks, K. Velinzon, J.A. Wohlschlegel, R.J. Austin, W.S. Lane, T. Tully, and A. Dutta. 1999. "latheo encodes a subunit of the origin recognition complex and disrupts neuronal proliferation and adult olfactory memory when mutant." Neuron 23(1):45–54.

Mihalek, R.*, C.J. Jones*, and T. Tully. 1997. "The Drosophila Mutation turnip has Pleiotropic Behavioral Effects and Does Not Specifically Affect Learning." Learning and Memory 3:425–444.
* Equal contributors

Kara Mosovsky | Associate Professor and Chair, Biological Sciences

Office location: Collier 311
Lab location: Sally 317
Office phone: 610-861-1428
Email: mosovskyk@moravian.edu

Education
B.S. in Animal Bioscience, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S. in Immunology and Infectious Disease, The Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D. in Microbiology, Colorado State University

Research Interests
Dr. Mosovsky studies host-pathogen interactions, particularly those between bacterial pathogens and mammalian hosts. Her research and interests include antibiotic resistance, intracellular infections, and infectious disease.

Biochemistry Courses Taught
BIOL 235 (Microbiology) and BIOL340 (Immunology)

Kara Mosovsky's Selected Publications

Pomposello M, Nemes K, Mosovsky K (2020). "Dietary Antioxidant Seleno-L-Methionine Protects Macrophages During Infection with Burkholderia thailandensis". . (Moravian student authors in italics)

Mosovsky K (2019). "The Use of a Fast-Paced, Competitive Drawing Game as a Student-Approved Review Strategy for Microbiology." Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education 19(3): 19.3.107.

Mosovsky K (2019). "Time to Branch Out." Science 364(6444): 1002.

Collins, C, Mosovsky K (2018). "." Fine Focus, 4(1): 117-129. (Moravian student author in italics)

Mosovsky K, Silva E, Troyer R, Propst-Graham K, Dow S (2014). Interaction of IFN-γ Induced Reactive Oxygen Species with Ceftazidime Leads to Synergistic Killing of Intracellular Burkholderia". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 58(10): 5954-63.

Chen Q, Mosovsky KL, Ross AC (2013). "Retinoic acid and α-galactosylceramide regulate the expression of costimulatory receptors and transcription factors responsible for B cell activation and differentiation." Immunobiology 218(12): 1477–1487.

Chen Q, Mosovsky KL, Ross AC (2011). "Retinoic acid and α-galactosylceramide differentially regulate B cell activation in vitro and augment antibody production in vivo." Clinical Vaccine Immunology 18(6): 1015-20.

Shari Uldrich Dunham | Associate Professor, Chemistry

Office location: Collier 222
Office phone: 610-625-7105
Email: sharidunham@moravian.edu

Education
B.A. in Chemistry, Drew University
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests
As a biochemistry researcher, I continue to explore the DNA interactions of novel dirhodium compounds with potential anticancer activity. As an educator I am exploring two areas that affect student learning: (1) the impact of guided-inquiry activities on student development of molecular visualization skills in Biochemistry and (2) development of quantitative skill interventions to improve student success in Introductory Chemistry. Dr.

Biochemistry Courses Taught
CHEM 113 (General Chemistry) and BIOL/CHEM 327 (Biochemistry I)

Shari Dunham's Selected Publications

Shari U. Dunham, Todd S. Remaley*, Bryn L. Moore*, Debra L. Evans* and Stephen U. Dunham, “Isolation, Characterization, and DNA Binding Kinetics of Three Dirhodium(II,II) Carboxyamidate Complexes: Rh2(µ-L)(HNOCCF3)3 where L= [OOCCH3]-, [OOCCF3]-, [HNOCCF3]-“, Inorganic Chemistry 50(8), pp 3458-3463 (2011).

Shari U. Dunham, Amity E. Burr*, Szymon Mikulski,* Helen Chifotides and Kim Dunbar, “Covalent Binding and Interstrand Cross-Linking of Duplex DNA by Dirhodium(II,II) Carboxylate Compounds”, Biochemistry 44(3), pp 996-1003 (2005).

Mark D. Finke, Shari U. Dunham and Christabel Kwabi*, “Evaluation of four dry commercial gut loading products for improving the calcium content of crickets, Acheta domesticus”, J. of Herp. Medicine and Surgery, 15(1), pp 7-12 (2005).

Mark D. Finke, Shari U. Dunham and John S. Cole III*, “Evaluation of various commercial products for improving the calcium content of crickets, Acheta domesticus”, J. of Herp. Medicine and Surgery, 14(2), pp 6-9 (2004).

Diane Winn, Shari Dunham and Szymon Mikulski*, “Food for Insects and Insects as Food: Viable Strategies for Achieving Adequate Calcium”, J. of Wildlife Rehabilitation, 26(1), 4-13 (2003).

Daniel S. Pilch, Shari U. Dunham, Elizabeth R. Jamieson, Stephen J. Lippard and Kenneth Breslauer, "DNA sequence context modulates the impact of a cisplatin 1,2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link on the conformational and thermodynamic properties of duplex DNA", J. Mol. Bio., 29, 6803-812 (2000).

Shari U. Dunham, Stephen U. Dunham, Christopher J. Turner and Stephen J. Lippard, “Solution structure of a DNA duplex containing a nitroxide spin-labeled platinum d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link refined with NMR-derived long range electron-proton distance restraints”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 120, 5395-5406 (1998).

Shari U. Dunham and Stephen J. Lippard, “DNA sequence context and protein composition modulate HMG-domain protein recognition of cisplatin-modified DNA”, Biochemistry, 36, 11428-11436 (1997).

Natasa Poklar, Daniel S. Pilch, Stephen J. Lippard, Elizabeth A. Redding, Shari U. Dunham and Kenneth J. Breslauer, “Influence of cisplatin intrastrand crosslinking on the conformation, thermal stability, and energetics of a 20-mer DNA duplex”, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., USA, 93, 7606-7611 (1996).

Carl Salter | Professor, Chemistry

Office location: Collier 221
Office phone: 610-625-7920
Email: salterc@moravian.edu

Education
M.S. in Chemistry, Vanderbilt University
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Vanderbilt University

Research Interests
Spectroscopy, electronic structure calculations, and statistical analysis of experimental data.

Biochemistry Courses Taught
CHEM 220.2 (Methods in Chemical Research) and CHEM 331 (Physical Chemistry I)

Anastasia Thévenin | Associate Professor, Biological Sciences

Office location: Collier 316
Office phone: 610-861-1607
Email: thevenina@moravian.edu

Education
B.S. in Biomedical Science, Lynchburg College
Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware

Research Interests
I am interested in understanding how phosphorylation of Gap Junction (GJ) protein, Connexin 43 (Cx43), affects its function. GJs are pores found in plasma membranes of two neighboring cells and are made up of 12 Cx43 molecules. These pores are the only means cells have for direct cell-cell communication, allowing small molecules and ions to move from cell to cell. Cell-cell communication is key for many cellular functions, such as development, proliferation and differentiation. Current projects are focused on using phosphomimetic mutants of Cx43 to study their ability to interact with other protein partners and to affect GJ function.

Biochemistry Courses Taught
BIOL/CHEM 328 (Biochemistry II)

Anastasia Thevenin's Selected Publications

Janessa Gerhart, Anastasia F. Thévenin, Kelly King and Damian Thévenin. “Inhibiting EGFR Dimerization and Signaling Through Targeted Delivery of a Juxtamembrane Domain Peptide Mimic” ACS Chemical Biology 13 (9):2623-2632, 2018.

Anastasia F. Thévenin and Matthias M. Falk. "Consecutive phosphorylation/de-phosphorylation events at three connexin43 serine residues regulate accrual and transition of 'functional, ZO-1-bound' into 'closed' gap junction channels." In Preparation.

Catherine Chen*, Byung H. Ha*, Anastasia F. Thévenin, Hua J. Lou, Rong Zhang, Kevin Y. Yip, Jeffrey R. Peterson, Mark Gerstein, Philip M. Kim, Stefan Knapp, Titus J. Boggon, and Benjamin E. Turk. "Identification of a major determinant for serine-threonine kinase phosphoacceptor specificity." Molecular Cell 53(1):140-7, 2014.
* equal author contribution

Anastasia F. Thévenin, Tia J. Kowal, John T. Fong, Rachael M. Kells, Charles G. Fisher, and Matthias M. Falk. "Proteins and Mechanisms Regulating Gap Junction Assembly, Internalization and Degradation." Physiology 28: 93-116, 2013.

Anastasia F. Thévenin, Chati L. Zony^&, Brian J. Bahnson and Roberta F. Colman. "Activation by phosphorylation and purification of human c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) isoforms in milligram amounts." Protein Expr Purif 75 :138-146, 2011.
^& undergraduate student

Anastasia F. Thévenin, Chati L. Zony^&, Brian J. Bahnson and Roberta F. Colman. "Requirements for complex formation between c-Jun N-terminal kinase and Glutathione S-Transferase in vitro." Protein Science 20 :834-848, 2011.
^& undergraduate student

Anastasia F. Thévenin*, Elizabeth S. Monillas*, Jason M. Winget, Kirk Czymmek and Brian J. Bahnson. "Trafficking of Platelet-activating Factor Acetylhydrolase type-II in response to oxidative stress." Biochemistry 50:8417-8426, 2011.
* equal author contribution

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