Postdoc
University of California, San Francisco - 1981
Professional Preparation
Ph.D. - Chemistry
University of California, Santa Barbara - 1977
University of California, Santa Barbara - 1977
Postdoc
Indiana University - 1977
Indiana University - 1977
B.A. - Psychology
University of Southern California - 1971
University of Southern California - 1971
Research Areas
Research Description
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are one of the two hallmark lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their accumulation has been used to assess the severity of the disease. They are composed of paired helical filaments (PHF), a form of amyloid resulting from the aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Our laboratory has found that peptides as short as 3-6 amino acids are able to initiate the formation of twisted filaments, similar to PHF. We believe that these short amyloid-forming peptides provide an excellent model for studying the structural basis of PHF and amyloid, in general. By understanding the structural basis for amyloid formation, a rational design of therapeutic agents able to prevent PHF accumulation can be undertaken. In addition to using short tau-related peptides to understand the basis of amyloid formation, they may be used as targeting agents for amyloid. For example, we have recently shown that contrast agents prepared from these peptides and a gadolinium chelate bind strongly to senile plaque and NFTs and may act as MRI probes for the diagnosis of AD.Appointments
Associate Professor of Chemistry
The University of Texas at Dallas [1986–Present]
The University of Texas at Dallas [1986–Present]
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
The University of Texas at Dallas [1981–1986]
The University of Texas at Dallas [1981–1986]
Assistant Research Chemist-Lecturer
University of California, San Francisco, California [1979–1981]
University of California, San Francisco, California [1979–1981]
Postdoctorate Research Associate
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana [1977–1979]
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana [1977–1979]
Additional Information
47 publications in related fields
Memberships
American Chemical Society, Society for NeurosciencePatents
- "Enzymatic Synthesis of Isotopically Labeled Carbohydrates from Labeled Pyruvate", U.S. Patent # 4,656,133, 1987.
- "Enzymatic Synthesis of Isotopically Labeled Carbohydrates, Nucleotides and Citric Acid Cycle Intermediates", US Patent #5,227,296, July, 1993.
- "Enzymatic Synthesis of Isotopically Labeled Carbohydrates", US Patent # 5,302,520, April, 1994