Matthew J. Gage

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

P.O. Box 5698

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff AZ, 86011-5698

(928) 523-6394                       matthew.gage@nau.edu

 

Education:

2001    Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology           Purdue University

Dissertation title:  ³Interaction of the Virally Encoded Fungal Toxin KP4 with Calcium Channels²

Advisor:   Prof. Thomas J. Smith

 

1996    B.S. in Chemistry with Honors                                   University of Wyoming

B.S. in Molecular Biology with Honors                     University of Wyoming

           

Professional experience:

  2005 – Present          Assistant Professor

                                    Northern Arizona University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

                                   

  2001 – 2005              Postdoctoral Research Associate

                                    University of Delaware, Department of Chemical Engineering

                                    Advised by Professor Anne Skaja Robinson

Determined the role of hydrophobic residues and ionic interactions in the C-terminus of P22 tailspike in assembly of the mature trimer.  Identified and characterized the first mutants that destabilize the final tailspike trimer

 

  1996 – 2001              Research Assistant

                                    Purdue University, Department of Biology

                                    Advised by Professor Thomas J. Smith

Established that the KP4 fungal toxin inhibits growth but does not actually act as a killer toxin.  Demonstrated that toxin blocks calcium channels in both fungi and mammalian cells.  Demonstrated that the toxin is specific for L-type voltage gated channels.

                                               

   1995-1996                Undergraduate Research Assistant,

University of Wyoming, Department of Chemistry

                                    Advisor – Dr. Dean Roddick

   1994-1995                Undergraduate Research Assistant,

University of Wyoming, Department of Chemistry

                                    Advisor – Dr. Edward Clennan

 

Academic Honors

1999 – 2001  NIH Biophysics Training Grant, Purdue University

1996              Honor Book, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming

1995              NSF REU Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming

1994 – 1996  Outstanding Student, Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming

1994 – 1996  Dean¹s List, University of Wyoming

 

Publications

1.     Gurung, S., J. Saul, T. Baker, M. Spatara, M. Freyer,  A. S. Robinson,  M. J. Gage, 2007.  The C-terminus of the P22 Tailspike Protein Induces Oligomerization of the Maltose-Binding Protein.  In preparation.

2.     Webber, T.M., M.J. Gage. ³Development of a Novel Technique for Analyzing Protein-Protein Associations²  In preparation.

3.     Heintze, E., M.J. Gage. ³Exposure to uranium complexes results in upregulation of p53 mediated pathways²  In preparation. 

4.     Gage, M.J., J.L. Zak, and A.S. Robinson, 2005.  Three Amino Acids that are Critical to Formation and Stability of the P22 Tailspike Trimer. Protein Science, 14(9): 2333-2343

5.     Gage M.J., B.L. Lefebvre, A.S. Robinson, Determinants of P22 Tailspike Folding and Aggregation., in Misbehaving Proteins: Protein (Mis)Folding, Aggregation, and Stability, eds R. Murphy and A. Tsai, ACS press, invited review.

6.     Lefebvre, B.L., N.K. Comolli, M.J. Gage, A.S. Robinson, 2004. Pressure Dissociation Studies Provide Insight Into Oligomerization Competence of Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of P22 Tailspike, Protein Science. 13(6): 1538-46.

7.     Lefebvre, B.L., M.J. Gage, A.S. Robinson, 2004. Maximizing Recovery of Native Protein from Aggregates by Optimizing Pressure Treatment, Biotechnology Progress. 20(2): 623-9.

8.     Gage, M.J., A. S. Robinson, 2003. C-Terminal Hydrophobic Interactions Play a Critical Role in Oligomeric Assembly of the P22 Tailspike Trimer Protein Science. 12(12): 2732-47.

9.     Gage, M.J., S. G. Rane, G. H. Hockerman, T. J. Smith, 2002. The Virally Encoded Fungal Toxin KP4 Specifically Blocks L-Type Voltage Gated Calcium Channels. Molecular Pharmacology 61 (4) 936-944.

10.  Gage, M.J., J. Bruenn, M. Fischer, D. Sanders, T. J. Smith, 2001. KP4 Fungal Toxin Inhibits Growth in Ustilago maydis by Blocking Calcium Uptake. Molecular Microbiology. 41(4):775-785.

 

Poster and Seminar Presentations

·      ³Development of a method to monitor protein-protein interactions using the fluorescent probe FlAsH² Poster, June 2007, Gordon Research Conference, Holderness, NH.

·      ³Using LumioTM Binding to Measure Domain-Domain Interactions² Poster, March 2007, Biophysical Society Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

·      ³Folding of the P22 Tailspike Protein: Applying the Lessons to p53.²  Seminar, September 2005, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Toucan, AZ.

·      ³It All Comes Down to Positioning:  Three Amino Acids that are Critical to Formation and Stability of the P22 Tailspike Trimer.² Seminar, December 2004, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ.

·       ³It All Comes Down to Positioning:  Three Amino Acids that are Critical to Formation and Stability of the P22 Tailspike Trimer.² Seminar, November 2004, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX.

·       ³It All Comes Down to Positioning:  Three Amino Acids that are Critical to Formation and Stability of the P22 Tailspike Trimer.² Poster, August 2004, Protein Society Meeting, San Diego, CA

·      ³Experimental Development of a Model for b-Helical Aggregate Growth² Poster, June 2004, FASEB Summer Research Conference

·      ³Residues 549, 563 and 572 play a critical role in stability of the P22 tailspike protein,² Poster, February 2004, Biophysical Society Meeting, Baltimore, MD

·      ³Hydrophobic Interactions Play a Critical Role in Assembly of the P22 Tailspike Trimer,² Seminar, March 2003, Biophysical Society Meeting, San Antonio, TX

·      ³Interaction of the Virally Encoded Fungal Toxin KP4 with Calcium Channels,² Dissertation Seminar, November 2001, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

·      ³The Interaction of KP4 with Fungal Calcium Channels,² Seminar, September 2001, Structural Biology Group, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

·       ³An Exploration of the Mechanism of KP4,² Seminar, June 2001, Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

·       ³Insights into the Mechanism of a Virally Encoded Fungal Toxin,² Seminar, December 1999, 5th Annual Biophysics Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 

·      ³Insights into the Mechanism of a Virally Encoded Fungal Toxin,² Seminar, November 1999, WISPUR meeting, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL

 

Teaching Experience

2007-                  Professor, Fundamental Biochemistry

Professor, Biochemistry Laboratory

Northern Arizona University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

 

2004-2005          Instructor, Introductory Biochemistry

                           University of Delaware, Department of Chemistry

 

1996-2005          Research Supervisor

                           University of Delaware, Department of Chemical Engineering

                           Purdue University, Department of Biology

 

1999                   Teaching Assistant, Immunology

Purdue University, Department of Biology

 

1994-1996          Teaching Assistant, General Chemistry

University of Wyoming, Department of Chemistry

 

1995                   Chemistry tutor,

University of Wyoming, Department of Chemistry

 

 

Mentored Students:

Masters:

Tawnya Webber

Ellie Heintze

 

Undergraduate:

Sarsati Gurung

Trenton Baker – currently at University of Michigan

Justin Saul – currently at UC Berkley

Kristin Heath

Karim Hackler

Eric Fanucci

Casey Goodyear

Ashley Steiner

Jilleen Jones

LaBrittney Williams

 

Funding:

1.         Science Foundation Arizona Competitive Advantage Award (2007)             $101,727

Developing Techniques to Measure the Structural State of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in vivo

2.         Growing Biotech Initiative (2007)                                                                  $25,000

Developing a method to measure subunit-subunit interactions inside of a cell

3.         Growing Biotech Initiative (2007)                                                                  $75,000

Enhancement of Translational Research and Workforce Development at NAU: Acquisition of a Dynamic Light Scattering Apparatus

4.         Intramural Grant Program (2007)                                                                   $9,600

Investigating the link between aggregation of p53 and tumor formation                    

5.         Pilot Project (NACRP, U54) (2006)                                                               $60,404

Deciphering the folding pathway of the p53 tumor suppressor protein

6.         Growing Biotech Initiative (2006)                                                                  $25,000.00

Developing a method to measure subunit-subunit interactions inside of a cell

7.         Intramural Grant Program (2006)                                                                   $6,800

Investigating the link between aggregation of p53 and tumor formation                    

 

Professional Service:

National and local organization leadership

2005 -              Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee, NAU

2006-               Member, CENS Technology and Indirect Costs Committee, NAU

2000                Member, 6th Annual Biophysics and Cell Biology Symposium organizing committee, Purdue University

1994-1995       President, Student Affiliated ACS Organization, University of Wyoming

 

Reviewer: for the following journals and organizations

            Protein Society

Biomacromolecules

            Biotech Progress

           

Memberships:

2001 -              Biophysical Society

2004 -              Protein Society

1994-1996       American Chemical Society