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Dr. Roger Sauterer
My lab is especially equipped for projects involving the study of proteins and for projects involving electrophoresis of proteins. We have a full range of electrophoresis capability, including SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing, and even 2 dimensional electrophoresis if necessary. We can also perform immunoblots (Western Blots) of proteins if antibodies are available.
In addition, the lab has a full-scale low pressure chromatography system that can be used for partial purification or complete purification of proteins. To support this equipment, we have a visible-UV spectrophotometer and computer software for analysis of data, a flatbed scanner, and image processing and gel analysis software.
There are three current projects of potential interest, and other ideas are welcome!
1. Purification and characterization of potato tyrosinase.
Tyrosinases are enzymes found in all eukaryotes that are involved in conversion of the amino acid tyrosine into other molecules, including precursors of neurotransmitters. Tyrosinases in plants cause cut potatoes and mushrooms to turn black when exposed to the air. We are currently trying to purify the tyrosinases from potato and to determine their activity under differing conditions and sensitivity to inhibitors. This project will expose students to protein chromatography, enzyme assays, and electrophoresis. One student is already working on this project and we need more!! We's especially like juniors who could join the lab for two years and continue the project after our current student graduates.
2. Electrophoretic and isoenzyme analysis of snail populations (with Dr. Romano)
This project is on hold because our previous student graduated!! We could use one or more students to carry the torch! This project involves investigating two populations of freshwater nails in Cave Springs, Georgia, by electrophoresis. The snail populations are separated by an artificial barrier built 75 years ago. Even though they are only a few hundred yards apart, the two snail populations show different breeding behavior and do not interbreed when placed together. This project involves examining foot tissue form snails I the two populations by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, and by enzyme assays, where proteins separated on electrophoresis gels are treated with chemicals that react with various enzymes to produce detectable colored bands on the gels. Different version of enzyme will produce bands in different locations on the gels. Our previous student showed that for one enzyme, one snail population had two versions (visible as two bands) of the enzyme while the other population had only one. We only tested for three different enzymes (tow did not show any bands at all), but we want to test for other enzymes as well. This project will introduce students tot he use of electrophoresis to study population genetics. It will require, in addition to lab work, occasional field trips to Cave Springs (about 1 ½ hr away) to collect specimens.
3. Studies of salamander development (with Dr. Cline). This project, still under consideration, would observe and possible do biochemical studies on, the early development of salamanders from different environments or when exposed to environmental pollutants. What kind of abnormalities doe we see? What is their development and death rates? What proportion reach any given stage of development? Is development faster or slower under some conditions?
Last Updated: August 30, 2000