Chemistry Researach

Research Experiences

SECTION 3
Cell Culture
In vivo Studies
Polymorphisms

Section 1. My experience with research was in the form of directed research at Arkansas Tech University (ATU). The first research that I was a part of dealt specifically with the corrosion in the form of iron oxides. This research was directed by Dr. Frank Hardcastle and funded by a NASA Space Grant. Our goal was to prove that a relationship developed by Dr. Hardcastle between valancy and Raman spectra appearance. We used several methods to try to prove this relationship. I synthesized several forms of iron oxide and then Dr. Hardcastle ran the compounds on his Raman instrument. I also used Gaussian 98 for Windows to run ab initio calculations to see what the calculated frequencies were for our compounds. Dr. Hardcastle was excited about some of the beginning data but I concluded after several more calculations that his relationship or hypothesis for these compounds was inaccurate and would need to be redone. We did not try to pursue another hypothesis.

The next directed research experience was part of a class at ATU. Dr. Maruca had developed a hypothesis about a procedure to develop a polymer which he suspected might be used to capture iron compounds and that would be able to be sprayed on surfaces. I worked on this project for about three weeks and made it to what would have been a half-way point. However, our mass spectra showed that the series of reactions that we had used would not work. Dr. Maruca re-evaluated the experiment and decided to change the reactions used to reach the compound. At last notice, one of my fraternity brothers, Rodney Rowland, was working on this project and beginning the reactions. Progress had been made but at this point I am unsure of the status of this project.

The same class as mentioned above brought me to my third form of directed research. This research was under Dr. Robert Sadoski and involved Cytochrome C and the possibility of labeling this chemical with another species and then viewing it in X-ray crystallography. This research actually turned out well. We were able to get crystal formation of the compounds. However, a forced break was placed upon us and we were unable to harvest the crystals very quickly. By the time the break was finished, we had lost the crystals. I believe that during the rest of that year Dr. Sadoski continued that project with some more students. I do not know the results that they found and am unsure as to whether or not I will know much more than that. Dr. Sadoski, like many other ATU Chemistry Faculty, has left ATU and is teaching at another academic position. I hope he is doing well.

Section 2. One of the most rewarding research experiences that I have had has been at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. While there, I worked with Dr. David Grant, Dr. Rick Schnellmann, and Jeff Moran to show whether or not the metabolic derivatives of Linoleic acid were toxic and at what concentrations these compounds were toxic. We were able to see good results are published in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. To view this paper click on the hyperlink listed before this sentence of Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. The paper can be seen there in PDF format. This research has led to other areas of toxicological/biochemical research that we have tried and/or start soon. Among these are the characterization of the diepoxides of linoleic acid and work with a few other compounds that have linoleic acid as their parent compound.

Section 3. Since being hired as a Research Assistant, I have started work on numerous projects for Dr. Grant. During the first week, I was been introduced to numerous projects that I will be involved in and the roles that I might be allowed to play in those projects.

I was hired to take the place of one of the Post-Doctorate workers in Dr. Grant's lab. Dr. Tina Hendrickson left the lab to begin employment in the academic field in Little Rock and her abilities in the lab were and are needed. Dr. Hendrickson was responsible for keeping alive the Sf-21 cell line that Dr. Grant uses for many of his toxicological studies as well as many animal studies. During the later portion of my first week, Dr. Hendrickson began introducing me to the Sf-21 cell culture methods that I will use to provide for a continuous line of cells for the lab to use. I was able to use some techniques I learned during those first few weeks to help finish some experiments for a paper that was in progress. That paper has been published in Chemical Research in Toxicology. The abstract can be viewed by clicking here.

Since then I have used the Sf-21 cells to run numerous experiments that I am preparing for publication. I will try to keep you informed on the status of that paper. I am also working with transfected cells to determine if polymorphisms in hsEH may lead to increased chances of cancer. The work has been going on for sometime but my part has dwindled down. I was not able to contribute to the project in the hoped for area.

The last project that I worked on with Jeffery Moran dealt with linoleic acid and its metabolites possibly having a protective role in cells and this is the reason that it is released in cellular injury. This work has been accepted for publication and should be in press shortly.

Another project that I am becoming involved with is a continuation of my work with linoleic acid. This project involves actual in vivo studies using rats to determine what effect our compounds will have in these animals. My work is slow in this area due to the amount of time required to allow the rats to recover before beginning any experiments. One experiment takes on the average of two to three weeks. We are finishing up the last experiment to provide us with good preliminary data for Dr. Grant's grant renewal packet. This project may lead to another interesting paper. The final touches are being made on that paper and we hope to submit it shortlyl.