State University Assistant

Melissa A. Pinard

***** ***** ******** ******, *** 201. North Bethesda, MD 20852

857-***-****. ac0cyu@r.postjobfree.com

PROFILE

Protein biochemist specializing in recombinant protein expression, purification, crystallization and structure determination using X-ray crystallography.

Proficient in various chromatography techniques

Extensive background in chemistry and biophysical techniques

Expertise in small molecule co-crystallization and structure-based functional analysis

Excellent writing and communication skills supported by strong publication record

Independent productive researcher

Ability to work in a team setting

EDUCATION

University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Fl.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences (2011-2015)

G.P.A: 3.6

Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD.

Department of Chemistry.

B.Sc., Chemistry (2007-2011)

G.P.A: 3.9

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

National Institutes of Health/ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Post-Doctoral Fellow (2015-present)

Principal Investigator: Susan Buchanan

Structural and biophysical characterization of the aerobactin receptor: IutA from the antimicrobial resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP).

hvKP is the causative agent of life- and organ-threatening community infections in young healthy hosts. Antimicrobial resistance presents a challenge in treatment and there is a need for a new target. Identification of the aerobactin binding site gives insight into the mode of binding and transport, as well as the structure-based design of small molecule drugs that are specific to hvKP-IutA

Unpublished results: Optimized expression and purification protocol for IutA and used multiple purification techniques to obtain pure sample. Independently determined crystal structure in the absence and presence of aerobactin using X-ray crystallography. Obtained highest resolution structure of a membrane protein.

University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Fl.

Graduate Research Assistant (2011-2015)

Principal Investigator: Robert McKenna

Thesis: Structure and inhibition of a type II β-carbonic anhydrase psca3 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Determined the crystal structure of psca3 a novel antimicrobial target in the multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa. Tested various classes of inhibitors and obtained protein-drug complexes which gave insight into the mode of binding and helped in the design and development of new drugs. In collaboration with others carried out in vivo studies using those inhibitors, some of which displayed reduced growth in the pathogen.

Additional Research: Development of isoform-specific inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase II and of the cancer associated enzyme carbonic anhydrase IX

Used the binding of sucrose at the entrance to the active site of the human CA IX mimic, and not human CA II (off target), in a non-inhibitory mechanism to investigate a novel carbohydrate moiety binding site that could be further exploited to design isoform-specific inhibitors of CA IX. Determined multiple crystal structures of these proteins complexed to potential inhibitors.

Relevant Publications listed below.

Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD.

Undergraduate Research Assistant (2009–2011)

Principal Investigator: Khadir Aslan

Research Project: Metal-Assisted and Microwave-Accelerated Evaporative Crystallization.

Relevant Publications listed below.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.

Summer Intern (2010) MIT Summer Research Program

Principal Investigator: Jesse Kroll

Research Project: Hydroxyl Radical Generation via Photochemical Oxidation of Hydrogen Peroxide for the Modeling of Atmospheric Oxidation of Organic Compounds

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA.

Summer Intern (2009) Partnership Education Program

Principal Investigators: Daniel McCorkle and Anne Cohen

Research Project: Ocean Acidification Impacts on Larval Shell Formation by Argopecten irradians (bay scallop) of New England

Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD.

Undergraduate Research Assistant (2008–2009)

Principal Investigator: Yongchao Zhang

Research Project:Chitosan-Assisted Synthesis of Silver Nano-particles By Electrodeposition.

RESEARCH TRAINING

Processes & techniques

Recombinant protein expression and purification.

Molecular cloning and mutagenesis

Membrane protein isolation, solubilization and detergent screening

Gel Electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE and Western Blots.

Real time-PCR and protein engineering.

In silico drug design; Isoform specific drug discovery using X-ray crystallography

Independently carry out structure determination

Experience and knowledge in protein and protein-drug complex crystallization. (Ten crystal structures deposited in Protein Data Bank).

Instrumentation & technologies

GE-AKTA Purification systems and Unicorn Software

Independent operation of X-ray machines at national synchrotrons

Knowledge and operation of, Isothermal Calorimetry, Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry instruments.

Experience and knowledge of protein homology modeling

Teaching & Mentorship

University of Florida College of Medicine

Teaching Assistant, August 2013- October 2013

Molecular Structure Determination by X-ray Crystallography,

Undergraduate Mentees, August 2012-2015

Summer High School Students, Center for Precollegiate Education and Training, University of Florida Student Science Training Program (2012-2015)

Morgan State University

Tutor (Spring 2008-Spring 2011). Subjects: General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Analytical Chemistry.

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

2015 Nominee for Boyce Award Competition for Graduate Research in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UF College of Medicine.

2014 Travel Grant, Graduate Student Council, University of Florida.

2014 Finalist for Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Advancement to Candidacy Award, UF College of Medicine.

2013 Travel Grant, Graduate Student Council, University of Florida.

2013 Student Travel Grant Winner. American Crystallographic Association 2013 Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI.

2011-2015 Alumni Graduate Fellowship, UF College of Medicine. Highest graduate student award available at UF; provides four years of full funding for Ph.D. students.

2011-2014 Grinter Fellowship Award, UF College of Medicine. Awarded to new Ph.D. students and awarded beyond first year contingent upon overall 3.0 GPA and satisfactory student progress.

2011 President’s Creative Achievement Award, Morgan State University.

2011 The Maryland Section of the American Chemical Society Award for outstanding achievements in the field of chemistry at Morgan State University.

PUBLICATIONS (only relevant publications shown)

Pinard, M. A., Kurian, J., Aggarwal, M., Agbandje-McKenna, M. and McKenna, R. “Cryo-reannealing-induced space-group transition of crystals of the carbonic anhydrase psCA3.” Acta

Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun. (2016). F72, 573-577.

Pinard, M. A., Lotlikar, S., Boone, C.D., Vullo, D., Supuran, C. T., Patrauchan, M. A., McKenna, R. “Structure and inhibition studies of a type II beta-carbonic Anhydrase psCA3 from Pseudomonas

aeruginosa.” Bioorg Med Chem. (2015). 1;23(15):4831-8.

Pinard M. A., Aggarwal M, Mahon BP, Tu C, McKenna R. “A sucrose-binding site provides a lead towards an isoform-specific inhibitor of the cancer-associated enzyme carbonic anhydrase IX.”Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun. 2015 Oct;71(Pt 10):1352-8.

Pinard M. A., Mahon B, McKenna R. “Probing the surface of human carbonic anhydrase for clues towards the design of isoform specific inhibitors.” Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:453543.

Carta F, Di Cesare Mannelli L, Pinard M, Ghelardini C, Scozzafava A, McKenna R, Supuran CT. “A class of sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitors with neuropathic pain modulating effects.”

Bioorg Med Chem. 2015 Apr 15;23(8):1828-40.

Mahon, B.P.* Pinard, M.A*., McKenna, R. “Targeting Carbonic Anhydrase IX Expression and Activity.” Molecules. 2015 Jan 30;20(2):2323-2348.

Aggarwal M, Chua TK, Pinard M. A., Szebenyi DM, McKenna R. “Carbon Dioxide “Trapped” in a β-Carbonic Anhydrase.”Biochemistry. 2015 Nov 3;54(43):6631-8.

Mahon BP, Lomelino CL, Ladwig J, Rankin GM, Driscoll JM, Salguero AL, Pinard M. A., Vullo D, Supuran CT, Poulsen SA, McKenna R. “Mapping Selective Inhibition of the Cancer-Related Carbonic Anhydrase IX Using Structure-Activity Relationships of Glucosyl-Based Sulfamates.”J Med Chem. 2015

Aug 27;58(16):6630-8.

Boone, C.D*, Pinard, M.A.*, McKenna, R., Silverman, D. “Catalytic Mechanism of α-class carbonic anhydrase: “CO2 hydration and proton transfer.” Subcell Biochem. 2014;75: 31-52.

Bozdag, M., Pinard, M.A., Carta, F., Masini, E., Scozzafava, A., Mckenna, R., Supuran, C.T. “A class of 4-Sulfamoylphenyl-ω-aminoalkyl Ethers with Effective Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitory

Action and Antiglaucoma Effects.” J Med Chem. 2014 Nov 26;57(22):9673-86.

Pinard, M. A., Lotlikar, S. R., Patrauchan, M. A., Mckenna, R. “Preliminary X- ray crystallographic analysis of β-carbonic anhydrase psCA3 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.” Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun. (2013). F69, 891-894.

Pinard, M. A., Boone, C. D., Rife, B. D., Supuran, C. T., McKenna,R. “Structural study of interaction between brinzolamide and dorzolamide inhibition of human carbonic anhydrases.” Bioorg Med

Chem. 2013 Nov 15; 21(22):7210-5.

Pinard, M.; Aslan, K. "Metal-Assisted and Microwave-Accelerated Evaporative Crystallization." Crystal Growth and Design, (2010), 10(11), 4706-4709.

*Authors contributed equally to this work.

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