Member of the Technical Staff
Biomass Science and Conversion Technologies Department
(925) 294-1580 / rsapra@sandia.gov
Current research projects are focused on the identification of pre-symptomatic proteomic biomarkers in host-pathogen relationships using Bacillus anthracis toxins and mouse macrophages as host; and validating these biomarkers for clinical use.We use differential proteomics, defined as the identification of differential regulation of the cellular proteome in response to an external stimulus, to identify and catalogue the proteins that are regulated in response to the host invasion.This is accomplished by using the gel based proteomic techniques like difference in-gel electrophoresis (DIGE) followed by mass spectrometric identification of proteins and purely mass spectrometry-based techniques like isotope coded affinity tags (ICAT).
Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) represent a class of organisms that generate energy through electron transfer-coupled phosphorylation using sulfate as the terminal electron acceptor. The ability of these SRB to reduce metals like Uranium and Chromium has the potential for bioremediation of toxic metals. Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) is one such model SRB that is the subject of a multi-lab Genomes-to-Life (GTL) research project. We are using proteomics to understand the ability of DvH to respond to and survive external stresses. The project focuses on the identification of the proteome of DvH in the wild-type cells and comparing the response of the cells to external stresses (e.g., oxygen, heavy metal exposure (U, Co, Hg, Ni, and Cr), reductant limitation, phosphate restriction, and pH).
The efficient conversion of biomass resources to fuels is a key component for the cheap production of alternative fuels.Naturally occurring enzymes can be used to covert biomass into the desired end-products. However, enzymes used by nature to accomplish this conversion are a part of a complex consortium of metabolic pathways, optimized to a specific operating environment through evolutionary forces. We utilize protein and metabolic engineering to adapt these enzymes and pathways to increase conversion efficiency of biomass to bioenergy. Our efforts involve a parallel approach that includes both numerical modeling to determine preferred mutant gene sequences, followed by site-directed mutagenesis of the native enzyme. A high-throughput enzyme screening strategy is used for rapid, reliable identification of desired enzymatic characteristics.
| 1996 – 2003 | PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA NSF Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Research; Research Fellow Center for Metalloenzyme Studies |
| 1992 – 1996 | BS, Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA |