M. Uljana Mayer, Ph.D.
Experience
M. Uljana Mayer
Synthesis and application of new reagents and sensors to identify protein interaction networks is critical to a systems biology understanding of how organisms work. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Mayer is currently focusing on the design and application of fluorescent multi-use affinity probes (MAPs) with and without photoactivatable cross-linking extensions for protein complex imaging and identification in S. oneidensis and mammalian systems. Concretely, this work involves the synthesis of the small molecule partners, determining how and where exactly they interact with the proteins of interest and applying them to proteins in our pathways of choice to answer questions on the systems level. It is expected that these reagents will yield a comprehensive time- and location-sensitive understanding of protein complexes and networks, which will be used to solve problems in bio-energy, bio-remediation, mitigation of climate change and health.
Dr. Mayer is trained in bioorganic chemistry, where her particular interests are enzyme mimics, sensors, host-guest chemistry and the hydrophobic effect.
Education
- Postdoctoral, Systems Biology, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, WA, 2002-2003
- Postdoctoral, Biochemistry, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 1999-2002
- Ph.D., Physical Organic Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1999
- M. Phil, Bio-Organic Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1998
- M.A., Organic Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 1995
- B.S., Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1994
Honors and Awards
- Jane Coffin Childs Fellowship, 2000-2002
- Pegram Award, Columbia University, 1999
- Jack Miller Teaching Award, Columbia University, 1996
- Faculty Fellow, Columbia University, 1994-1999
- John Harvard Scholarship, 1991-1994
- Elizabeth Cary Agassiz Merit Award, 1991-1994
Professional Affiliations
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Chemical Society
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Selected Publications
Cao H, Xiong Y, Wang T, Chen B, Squier TC, Mayer, MU. 2007. "A Red Cy3-Based Biarsenical Fluorescent Probe Targeted to a Complementary Binding Peptide." J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129: 8672-8673. Highlighted in Nature (2007), 448: 4-4.
Chen B, Cao H, Yan, P, Mayer MU, Squier TC. 2007. "Identification of an Orthogonal Peptide Motif for Biarsenical Multiuse Affinity Probes." Bioconjugate Chemistry 18(4): 1259-1265.
Verma S, Xiong Y, Mayer MU, Squier TC. 2007. "Remodeling of the Bacterial RNA Polymerase Supramolecular Complex in Response to Environmental Conditions." Biochemistry 46: 3023-3035.
Cao H, Chen B, Squier TC, Mayer MU. 2006. "CrAsH: A Biarsenical Multi-use Affinity Probe with Low Non-specific Fluorescence." Chemical Communications: 2601 - 2603. Also included in the Chemical Biology Virtual Journal.
Yan P, Xiong Y, Chen B, Negash S, Squier TC, Mayer MU. 2006. "Fluorophore-Assisted Light Inactivation of Calmodulin Involves Singlet-Oxygen Mediated Cross-Linking and Methionine Oxidation." Biochemistry 45(15):4736 - 4748.