Nikolau Group - Scientists

Libuse BRACHOVA, Associate Scientist and Lab Manager

libuse@iastate.edu

Publications

Responsibilities summary: I am the Nikolau laboratory manager, with research interest in the biotin biosynthetic pathway.

Biotin is an essential cofactor for enzymes transferring carboxyl groups between substrates. The biotin biosynthetic pathway has not been fully elucidated in plants. The early steps leading to pimeloyl CoA remain unknown. The next step utilizing pimeloyl -CoA and alanine is catalyzed by enzyme 8-amino-7-oxononanoate synthese (KAPA), followed by 7,9-diaminopelargonic acid synthese, dethiobiotin synthetase, and biotin synthase. Our resent research is focused on characterizing a gene that may be involved in this biotin biosynthesis, a homolog of a gene that in E. coli is located in biotin operon, but its biochemical function remains unknown.

Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic. Degree/s: BS in Biochemistry, Charles University, Prague; MA in Biochemistry, Charles University, Prague; PhD in Biochemistry, Institute of Physiology, Czechoslovak Academy of Science, Prague. Research interest/s: My research is focused on study of proteins and genes involved in biotin metabolism. Likes best about working with the Nikolau group: Working with a group of people who are dedicated to science, but also value the meaning of friendship, collaboration and help to others. Fun fact: I started to play tennis couple years ago, and now I am addicted to it - I have to play tennis almost every day.

Reid CLAUSSEN, Research Associate

Responsibilities summary: BRL floor manager and rotating research associate

Hometown: Bettendorf, IA. Degree: BS in Biology, Iowa State University Research interest: ... Likes best about working with the Nikolau group: I really enjoye the atmosphere and the opportunities that the Nikolau group has offered me. I find myself working harder than I ever had before, and I attribute this to the community of researchers with whom I interact. Fun fact: I am part of a family-run cattle business called 4RC. It stands for Ron, Ross, Ryan and Reid Claussen. My sister and I created a website for the business.

Ludmila RIZSHSKY, Assistant Scientist
Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements

ludmilar@iastate.edu

Publications

Responsibilities summary: My research is part of the Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements. I am focused on fingerprint analysis and chemical identification of phytochemicals in medicinal plants - Hypericum, Echinacea and Prunella.

Hometown: Born in Sankt-Petersburg, Russia; hometown is Jerusalem, Israel. Degree/s: BS in Molecular Biology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Isreal; MS in Biotechnology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; PhD in Biology, Technion-Isreal Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. MS thesis title: Development of transgenic plants with enhanced resistance to pathogens. PhD thesis title: Molecular analysis of oxidative stress response in plants. Research interest/s: Fingerprinting analysis and chemicalidentification of phytochemicals in herbal supplements used in alternative medicine; the study focused on Echinace, Hypericum and Prunella. Fun fact: Almost all members of my family were born in different countries. Another fun fact – my army rank is higher than my husband’s.

Zhihong SONG, Associate Scientist
Assistant Manager, W.M. Keck Metabolomics Research Laboratory

zhsong@iastate.edu

Publications

Research project summary: I am working on a project entitled “Mass Spectrometric Imaging of Plant Metabolites” funded by the Ames Laboratory of US DOE. It involves profiling and mass spectrometric imaging of plant metabolites by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). This research will ultimately lead to a predictive understanding of the mechanisms that multi-cellular organisms use to regulate metabolic processes. In addition, I perform metabolic profiling and target metabolite analysis in plants using GC-MS and LC-MS to decipher metabolic and regulatory functions of genes.

Hometown: Changzhi, Shanxi, China. Degree/s: BS in Pharmacy, Beijing Medical University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China; PhD in Pharmacognosy, Beijing Medical University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (now Peking University), China. Thesis title: Studies on the chemical constituents and biological activities of Cistanche tubulosa and Cistanche sinensis. Research interest/s: Plant metabolomics, mass spectrometry imaging, natural products chemistry. Likes best about working with the Nikolau group: Friendly atmosphere, diverse projects and multidisciplinary collaboration. Fun fact: I like playing tennis with my children.

Marna YANDEAU-NELSON, Associate Scientist
Project Coordinator, Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC)

myn@iastate.edu

Publications

Responsibilties summary: One of my primary responsibilities is to assist in defining and executing the directions of our CBiRC research, which includes co-advising the CBiRC graduate students within the lab. I also initiate and coordinate CBiRC outreach opportunities in the lab, and have a side CBiRC research project:

Project 1: Strains with increased flux through the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway are good candidates for optimization to make efficient microbial production systems for biorenewable chemicals. We have developed a high-throughput strategy for identifying yeast with increased oil content and, therefore, the potential for increased fatty acid production. We are currently screening mutant populations for gain-of-function alleles that increase flux through fatty acid biosynthesis.  In addition to a role these strains could play in the production of biorenewable chemicals, identification of oleaginous mutant strains of S. cerevisiae could also have applications to biodiesel production.

Project 2: Biological sources of simple hydrocarbons potentially provide a biorenewable alternative to fossil fuels. We are surveying the variability in hydrocarbon accumulation across diverse maize inbreds and hybrids to provide genetic material from which we can identify superior alleles of genes involved in the hydrocarbon pathway. Superior alleles will be combined to enhance hydrocarbon production in a heterologous system to produce biorenewable hydrocarbon fuels.

Hometown: Catskill, New York. Degree/s: BS in Biology, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa; PhD in Interdepartmental Genetics, Iowa State University. Thesis title: The effects of trans modifiers and tandem duplications on meiotic recombination in maize. Research interest/s: Biorenewables, fatty acid biosynthesis, yeast and plant genetics. Likes best about working with the Nikolau group: The synergy among research projects and among researchers in the lab; the ability to be very involved in CBiRC and biorenewables research as the Center is starting. Fun fact: Favorite pastime - baking with my daughter.