Category Archives: Biochemistry

MATTHEWS, N.C., May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --CEM Corporation president and CEO Michael J. Collins delivered the commencement address for the University of Texas at Austin Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, which was held on May 18, 2012. Collins received his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University and has been a member of the Advisory Board for the Chemistry Department at the school for a number of years.

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"I am honored to have been asked to deliver the commencement address again this year," said Michael J. Collins. "UT's encouragement of science and innovation has resulted in a thriving chemistry and biochemistry program whose graduates rank at the top of their professions. I enjoyed speaking to this year's graduates and I look forward to the scientific discoveries and contributions they will make in the years to come."

Collins told the audience about his time at the University of Texas at Austin and how it helped shape his life as a chemist, entrepreneur, and business leader. He advised graduates to disregard the defeatists that have been predicting a worsening of the economy and a lack of opportunities.

"I predict we are on the verge of a major new era of growth for the US which will exceed anything we have seen in the past," said Collins, who believes the growth will be driven by continuing technological advancements in many fields including medicine, material science, and energy production and the ongoing globalization of business as new markets open up in developing countries.

Collins also sees a coming revitalization of American manufacturing through entrepreneurial innovation and breakthroughs in technology.

"Science-based technology companies will continue to change the world. Chemistry and biochemistry will drive many of these companies," said Collins. "Your goal is to go forward and truly become our greatest generation ever."

Collins encouraged the graduates to find something they are passionate about and to pursue it with all their energy and determination.

"Whatever you decide to do, be the absolute best at it and keep challenging yourself," Collins encouraged. "Always be prepared, but be bold and think big."

A prepared text of Dr. Collins' commencement address is available on CEM's website at http://www.cem.com.

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CEM President and CEO Delivers Commencement Address at the 2012 University of Texas at Austin Chemistry and ...

TAINAN, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A southern Taiwan-based National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) research team led by Ming-Shi Chang, NCKU professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has discovered an anti-interleukin-20 (anti-IL-20) antibody, a potential new anti-osteoporosis and anti-rheumatoid arthritis drug, and agrees to license selected intellectual property and transfer certain technology to Novo Nordisk A/S, a Danish-based pharmaceutical company for a total payment of US$ 13.3 million in case of a successful completion of the project.

In addition, Professor Ming-Shi Chang and Novo Nordisk A/S have established a 2-year research collaboration to further strengthen and possible expand the usages of an IL-20 antibody.

NCKU President Hwung-Hweng Hwung hailed the groundbreaking discovery of anti-interleukin-20 antibody: The findings not only mark a milestone in global healthcare, but also raise the visibility of Taiwans academic research.

This medical discovery was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) and has drawn huge attention in the academic world and the biotechnology industry as well.

IL-20 has a key role in osteoclast differentiation, and blockading this cytokine could represent a novel therapeutic approach for osteoporosis, according to data from the NCKU medical team.

The chief editor of Nature Reviews wrote a research highlight in the September issue of Nature Reviews Rheumatology commenting on this finding, while Science-Business eXchange (SciBX) published a cover story reporting on the discovery in the same month.

The study not only signifies groundbreaking findings in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, but could lead to the innovation of new drugs to treat osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Professor Chang pointed out that the medical expense of anti-osteoporosis drugs for patients around the world is estimated to be as much as US$8 billion per year, and that the amount spent on them by 2015 will be about US$8.8 billion.

Changs team has discovered that IL-20 is an important factor in bone cell differentiation and that high serum IL-20 levels in osteoporosis patients cause bone destruction.

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Research and License Agreements between National Cheng Kung University and Novo Nordisk A/S

NEW YORK, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Laboratory Chemical Reagents Industry

http://www.reportlinker.com/p087339/Global-Laboratory-Chemical-Reagents-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Genomics

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Laboratory Chemical Reagents in US$ Million by the following Product Segments: Molecular Biology (Monoclonal & Polyclonal Antibodies, Gene Expression, Vectors, Cloning, & Sequencing, Gene Synthesis, Extraction Kits, PCR Reagents, Enzymes, & Others), Biochemistry (IVD), Cytokine & Chemokine Testing, Cell/Tissue Culture, Carbohydrate Analysis, Immunohistochemistry, and Environmental Testing (Pesticide Residues, & Others). The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2009 through 2017. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report profiles 226 companies including many key and niche players such as BD Biosciences, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Biomerieux, EMD Chemicals Inc., GE Healthcare, Life Technologies Corporation, Meridian Life Science, Inc., PerkinElmer, Inc., SAFC Biosciences, Inc., Shimadzu Biotech, Sigma-Aldrich Corp., Takara Bio, Inc., Wako Pure Chemical Industries Ltd., and Waters Corp. Major Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies suppliers also profiled in the report include Strategic Diagnostics Inc., Gallus Immunotech, Inc., and Lonza Biologics Ltd., key Nucleic Acid Extraction Kits supplier, Quiagen, is also profiled in the report. The two major Biochemistry Reagents and Related Chemical Suppliers highlighted in the report are A.G. Scientific, Inc., and Promega Corporation. R&D Systems, the major Cytokine and Chemokine Reagent and Kits supplier, is also profiled in the report. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based upon search engine sources in the public domain.

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONS

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Global Laboratory Chemical Reagents Industry

John Joseph Scocca, a retired Johns Hopkins biochemistry professor recalled for his keen critical eye, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease May 10 at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson. He was 72 and lived in Aberdeen.

Born in South Philadelphia, he came to Baltimore in 1958 as a Johns Hopkins University undergraduate and went on to spend his entire career at the school. He earned a bachelor's degree in three years and received a doctorate in biochemistry. He then became a professor at what is now the Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health, where he retired four years ago.

Family members said that in his third year of graduate school, he taught laboratory technique to a group of students that included his future wife, Jane Ruble.

They moved to a home on Monterey Road in Ednor Gardens north of the old Memorial Stadium. He, his wife and children were Orioles fans and enjoyed attending games. In 1977, the family moved to Aberdeen.

Colleagues said that as a professor at the School of Public Health, he taught biochemistry to graduate students from outside the biochemistry department. He called his course "baby biochemistry," but friends said he was a thorough and demanding scientist-teacher. He also valued concise speaking and brevity.

"Perhaps John's most significant contributions involved his 30-year tenure as chief organizer of the laboratory rotations for first-year doctoral students," said a Hopkins colleague, Roger McMacken, who lives near Lake Roland. "John operated a dreaded alarm clock that so loudly, rudely and famously halted student rotation talks precisely 10 minutes after the start of any still-continuing research presentation."

Mr. McMacken said this was an "immensely effective training strategy." By the time the students returned for more oral presentations, they "were virtually all completed before the sound of the jarring alarm clock."

He recalled his favorite "Scocca moment," which involved the annual opening day meeting of the department faculty with an incoming class of doctoral students.

"John, because of his wit, keen sense of humor, candor, and unparalleled scientific integrity, routinely had the honor of describing the department's academic program for first-year students," said Mr. McMacken. "What followed was an impassioned exhortation about the do's and don'ts of laboratory research and academic life. No one, including John, knew precisely what he was going to say. But you could certainly count on 45 minutes of a hilarious, off-the-cuff soliloquy that perpetually was a highlight of academic life for us."

Family members said that his personal research work involved the study of the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae and its interactions.

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John Joseph Scocca, Hopkins biochemistry professor

Studying alligators, chemistry and biology will be the focus of a three-week summer internship program for high school students July 16-Aug. 3 at McNeese State University.

"McNeese has one of the world's most knowledgeable and experienced Crocodilian biochemist on faculty and this is the second summer that Dr. Mark Merchant is working with high school students to investigate the immune system of American alligators," said Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the McNeese college of engineering and engineering technology.

Students, accompanied by faculty members, will explore the marshes to capture blood samples from alligators and learn about the unique immune system of these reptiles.

"Dr. Merchant grew up hunting and fishing in the swamps of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana," Kiritsis said. Merchant holds a doctorate in biochemistry and biophysics from Texas A&M University and teaches biochemistry.

His current research is focused on the immune system of alligators and other crocodilians. He has traveled to many countries including Australia, Gabon, Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia, Mexico and Belize to study the different species of wild crocodilians. He has been featured on four National Geographic and two Discovery Channel documentaries, as well as other international appearances on Korean, Japanese and Russian television. His collaboration with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists was featured in the January-February issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.

Cost for the internship program is $1,500 and includes all transportation, lab supplies, on-campus housing and meals. Day trips are scheduled to the NASA Space Center in Houston, Creole Nature Trail, Avery Island and a canoe trip on the Ouiska Chitto.

For more information, contact Kiritsis at nikosk@mcneese.edu or at 337-475-5875.

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McNeese offers summer biochemistry internship program on alligators

Zachary Hostetler of Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, is one of two students who will be honored as the student marshals for the Eberly College of Science during Penn State's spring commencement ceremonies on 5 May, 2012 at the University Park campus. Hostetler's faculty escort will be Song Tan, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Hostetler, who will graduate from Penn State with a 4.0 grade-point average and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, also is enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College and he has been on the Dean's List every semester while at Penn State. Hostetler's awards and scholarships include a Schreyer Academic Excellence Scholarship, two Eberly College of Science academic scholarships--the Tershak Scholarship and the Vinezie Scholarship, a President's Freshman Award, a President Sparks Award, two Evan Pugh Scholar Awards, a University Undergraduate Research Funds award, and a Summer Discovery Grant.

During his years at Penn State, Hostetler has focused on laboratory research involving X-ray crystallography -- a method used to model the atomic structure of proteins. In particular, he and his faculty escort Song Tan, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, have been working on a research project dealing with improving protein crystallization, which is often one of the most difficult steps in X-ray crystallography. While certain proteins naturally form large, ordered crystals, some proteins resist crystallization attempts. Hostetler's approach involves fusing a "protein of interest" with a protein that is known to crystallize well so that this fusion protein will form crystals.

In addition to his scientific pursuits, Hostetler has served on the executive board of the Schreyer Honors College Student Council for several years. He also has represented the Schreyer Honors College Student Council and a Four Diamonds Family by dancing in Penn State's IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon -- an independent student-organized event that raises money to fight pediatric cancer.

In addition, Hostetler has volunteered as a Donor and Alumni Relations (DAR) captain for THON. As a DAR captain, his responsibilities included approaching companies for monetary donations, acting as a liaison to Penn State clubs and organizations to help them with fund-raising efforts, and establishing a system to track and analyze donation patterns. Hostetler also has volunteered for ATLAS, which is an organization devoted to raising money for THON and the Four Diamonds Fund. The Four Diamonds Fund is a Penn State Hershey organization that provides support for patients and families facing pediatric cancer.

After graduation, Hostetler plans to attend a combined M.D./Ph.D. program at either the University of Pennsylvania or Weill-Cornell Medical College in New York City. "I hope that attending a combined medical and graduate-degree program will allow me to combine my interests in human medicine and scientific research," Hostetler said. "Ultimately, I envision myself in academic medicine: conducting research, treating patients, and eventually teaching and training new physicians."

Hostetler also said he is truly honored to represent his Eberly College of Science colleagues at graduation. "This past year truly challenged the Penn State community." Hostetler said. "However, I believe it also was an opportunity for a troubled community to come together. Candlelight vigils and a record-breaking THON weekend marked the best of what Penn State has to offer. These memories, the ones that challenged us as a school and a community, will forever be a part of my Penn State experience."

Hostetler, who attended Garnet Valley High School, will be accompanied at graduation by his parents Robert and Lisa Hostetler, his sisters Lauren and Jenna Hostetler, and his grandfather John Hostetler.

Hostetler, who will graduate from Penn State with a 4.0 grade-point average and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, also is enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College and he has been on the Dean's List every semester while at Penn State. Hostetler's awards and scholarships include a Schreyer Academic Excellence Scholarship, two Eberly College of Science academic scholarships--the Tershak Scholarship and the Vinezie Scholarship, a President's Freshman Award, a President Sparks Award, two Evan Pugh Scholar Awards, a University Undergraduate Research Funds award, and a Summer Discovery Grant.

During his years at Penn State, Hostetler has focused on laboratory research involving X-ray crystallography -- a method used to model the atomic structure of proteins. In particular, he and his faculty escort Song Tan, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, have been working on a research project dealing with improving protein crystallization, which is often one of the most difficult steps in X-ray crystallography. While certain proteins naturally form large, ordered crystals, some proteins resist crystallization attempts. Hostetler's approach involves fusing a "protein of interest" with a protein that is known to crystallize well so that this fusion protein will form crystals.

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Penn State student Zachary Hostetler from Garnet Valley is being honored as a student marshal