David J. Wright, PhD

Senior Research Biochemist

Citizenship: US

Professional Experience and Goals

I have 20 years of biotechnology industry experience, from bench-level

discovery research through product development and project management. My

personal focus is the creation of molecular tools. I have a strong

background in protein chemistry, enzymology, molecular biology, and

biological applications of nanotechnology. My professional goals are to

continue to advance knowledge of life processes at the molecular level and

to create biomolecular systems with useful biological or chemical

activities.

Areas of Expertise

Bioconjugation chemistry

Chemical and enzyme kinetics

DNA and RNA oligonucleotide synthesis and purification

Fluorescence spectroscopy

Immunoassays (ELISA, FP)

Protein engineering

Protein expression and purification

Quantum dot nanocrystal bioconjugation and biological applications

Recombinant DNA technology

Statistical Design of Experiments methodology

Employment

2012-present

Independent Biotechnology Consultant

Current clients:

Crux Solutions LLC (Eugene, OR)

Intelligent Material Solutions (San Diego, CA)

MagnetoOrganics LLC (Eugene, OR)

2006- 2011

Life Technologies Corporation (Molecular Probes)

Eugene, Oregon

Staff Scientist, Bioconjugation Services

-Lead Bioconjugation Scientist for Quantum Dot Nanocrystal R&D and Custom

Conjugation Services

-Developed improved conjugation chemistries for quantum dot

bioconjugation

-Performed detailed biochemical and kinetic analysis of quantum dot

nanocrystal bioconjugation

-Fabricated hundreds of quantum dot nanocrystal conjugates for Customs

business and R&D

-Served as subject matter expert in bioconjugation and DNA replication

enzymology for NextGen DNA sequencing R&D

2002-2006

Promega Corporation

Madison, Wisconsin

Senior Research Scientist, Proteomics

-Lead research scientist for development of site-specific protein

labeling

methods for proteomics

-Built expression vectors that combined enzymatic protein labeling

technology with Flexi vectors

-Demonstrated utility for rapid screening of expressed proteins using in

vitro translation systems

-Evaluated numerous protein labeling methods, including:

--farnesyl protein transferase for C-terminal labeling with farnesyl

pyrophosphate analogs

--dye-labeled GST-chloroquinone adducts for labeling of GST fusion

proteins

--tRNA-based labeling by amber suppression in in vitro translation

extracts

-Developed a novel amino-terminal protein labeling method based on

luciferin chemistry

1993-2002

BD Technologies

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Scientist, DNA Amplification Systems and Biosensors

-Technical lead scientist for thermophilic Strand Displacement

Amplification

(SDA) development

-Developed and patented BsoBI/Bst polymerase SDA system currently used in

BD

ProbeTec ET and Viper clinical diagnostic instruments

-Isolated and characterized thermophilic DNA polymerases and SSB proteins

-Developed alternative SDA systems that do not require phosphorothioates

-Developed and patented an SDA-based SNP analysis method

-Developed and patented an engineered glucose biosensor

-BD's principal investigator on a successful DoD/DoE-funded pathogen

detection program

Postdoctoral Research

1992-1993

American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow

Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Mentor: Professor Darrel L. Stafford

-Analyzed kinetic mechanism of the vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl

carboxylase

-Demonstrated processive carboxylation of a Factor IX-derived peptide

substrate

-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry

-Wrote chapter on carboxylase for "Thrombosis and Hemostasis"

-Trained and supervised graduate students

1990-1991

American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow

Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mentor: Professor Paul R. Schimmel

-Examined recognition of glutamine-specific tRNA by Escherichia coli

glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase

-Published in Biochimie

-Purified and characterized Saccahromyces cerevisiae glutaminyl-tRNA

synthetase

-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry

Duke University, 1990

Advisor: Professor Paul L. Modrich

Dissertation: DNA Cleavage and Facilitated Diffusion by EcoRI Endonuclease

-Performed detailed kinetic analysis of DNA cleavage by EcoRI

endonuclease

-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry

-Identified functionally critical amino acid residues in EcoRI

endonuclease

using site-directed mutagenesis

-Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry

Bachelor of Arts, Biology

California State University, Fresno, 1982

-Graduated cum laude with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics

-Key advanced coursework: Microbial Genetics, Advanced Cell Biology,

Biochemistry of Proteins

Additional Information

Publications

Wright, D.J., K. King, and P. Modrich (1989) "The Negative Charge of

Glutamate 111 is Required to Activate the Cleavage Center of EcoR I

Endonuclease", J. Biol. Chem 264: 118**-*****

Ludmerer, S.W., D.J. Wright, and P. Schimmel (1993) "Purification of

Glutamine tRNA Synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae", J. Biol. Chem.

268: 5519-5523

Wright, D.J., S.A. Martinis, M. Jahn, D. Soll, and P. Schimmel (1993)

"Acceptor stem and anticodon RNA hairpin helix interactions with glutamine

tRNA synthetase", Biochimie 75: 1041-1049

Wright, D.J., D.P. Morris, and D.W. Stafford (1995) "Vitamin K-dependent

Glutamyl Carboxylase", pp. 309-330 in Molecular Basis of Thrombosis and

Hemostasis, H. Roberts and K. High, eds. (Marcel Dekker, New York)

Haaland, P.D. and D. Wright (1995) "Experimental Design Software Improves

the Efficiency of Product Development", Scientific Computing and Automation

12(4): 37-40

Morris, D.P., R.D. Stevens, D.J. Wright, and D.W. Stafford (1995)

"Processive Post-Translational Modification", J. Biol. Chem. 270: 30491-

30498

Spargo, C.A., M.S. Fraiser, M. Van Cleve, D.J. Wright, C.M. Nycz, P.A.

Spears, and G.T. Walker (1996) "Detection of M. tuberculosis DNA using

Thermophilic Strand Displacement Amplification", Molecular and Cellular

Probes 10: 247-256

Wright, D.J., W.E. Jack, and P. Modrich (1999) "The Kinetic Mechanism of

EcoRI Endonuclease", J. Biol. Chem. 274: 318**-*****

Patents and Patent Applications

Fraiser, M.S., Spargo, C.A., Walker, G.T., Van Cleve, M.D., Wright, D.J,

and Little, M.C. "Strand displacement amplification using thermophilic

enzymes" (US Patent 5,684,211)

Fraiser, M.S., Spargo, C.A., Walker, G.T., Van Cleve, M., Wright, D.J., and

Little, M.C. "Strand displacement amplification using thermophilic enzymes

(US Patent 5,744,311)

Nadeau, J.G., Dean, C., Dey, M., Howard, D., Schram, J. and Wright, D.J.

"Detection of mycobacteria by multiplex nucleic acid amplification" (US

Patent 5,811,269)

Amiss, T.A., C.M.Nycz, J.B. Pitner, D.B. Sherman, and D.J. Wright "Binding

Proteins as Biosensors" (US Patent 6,855,556)

Wright, D.J., M.A. Milla, J.G. Nadeau, and G.T. Walker "Methods for

Detecting Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms" (US Patent 7,223,536)

Wright, D.J., L. Meisenheimer, J. Anderson, and J. Shultz "Site-specific

labeling of proteins using cyanobenzothiazole derivatives" (patent pending)

Professional References

James D. Hirsch, PhD

Life Technologies Corporation

29851 Willow Creek Rd.

Eugene, OR 97402

541-***-****

Professor Paul L. Modrich, PhD

Department of Biochemistry

Duke University Medical Center

Durham, NC 27710

919-***-****

Professor Darrel W. Stafford

Department of Biology

University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, NC 27599

919-***-****

Professor Paul R. Schimmel

The Scripps Research Institute

La Jolla, CA 92037

858-***-****

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