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Richard W. Frazee, Ph.D.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Science Hall
856-256-5461
frazee@rowan.edu
http://www.rowan.edu/chemphys/faculty/Frazee/Home.htm

RESEARCH SUMMARY:
My research is aimed at uncovering the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene expression in the developing organism. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of the molecular switches that "turn on" and "turn off " genes in response to the cellular environment will provide the ability to manipulate aberrant processes, which lie at the root of many present day illnesses. I have focused on a family of transcription factors known as homeoproteins, which primarily regulate developmental gene expression in higher organisms. Each contains a highly conserved 61 amino acid segment, known as a homeodomain (HD), which interacts almost exclusively with the target DNA binding site. I aim to uncover the mechanism(s) by which these highly conserved DNA binding motifs participate in the extremely selective and timely expression of genes involved in organismal development. To this end, I carry out physical studies of nucleic acid/protein interactions exhibited in the DNA binding complexes of two Drosophila melanogaster homeodomains and a homeodomain involved in rat pancreatic and neuronal stem cell differentiation.

Another area of interest to me is the development of new teaching methods that more accurately reflect the process of science. I have applied research-based approaches to undergraduate laboratory courses and have introduced problem based, group learning in a discussion format to replace the standard lecture. I designed and implemented a year long biochemistry laboratory course consisting of an integrated research project focused on goals rather than methods. My efforts have been recognized with my selection to review Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Instrumentation grants for the National Science Foundation as well as invitations to speak at professional meetings of the American Chemical Society and the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
Frazee, R. W. Transforming a Biochemistry Laboratory Course into an Integrated Research Project: Using the Scientific Process to Discover Meaningful Content. Submitted to Biochem. Mol. Biol. Education. Submitted.

Frazee, R. W., Taylor, J. and T. D Tullius. Interchange of DNA Binding Modes in the Deformed and Ultrabithorax Homeodomains: A Structural role for the N-terminal Arm. J. Mol. Biol. 323(4): 665-683. 2002.

Frazee, R. W., Orville, A. M., Dolbeare, K. B., Yu H., Ohlendorf, D. H. and J. D. Lipscomb. The Axial Tyrosinate-Fe3+ Ligand in Protocatechuate 3,4 Dioxygenase Influences Substrate Binding and Product Release: Evidence for New Reaction Cycle Intermediates. Biochemistry 37: 2131-2144. 1998.

Lipscomb, J. D., Orville, A. M., Frazee, R. W., Dolbeare, K. B., Elango,N. and Ohlendorf, D. H. "Intermediates in Non-Heme Iron Intradiol Dioxygenase Catalysis" In: Spectroscopic Methods in Bioinorganic Chemistry, ACS Symposium Series 692 (E. I. Solomon and K. O. Hodgson, Eds.). ACS Publishing. Washington, D.C. pp. 387-402. 1998.

Lipscomb, J. D., Orville, A. M., Frazee, R. W., Miller, M. A. and D. H. Ohlendorf. "Fundamentally Divergent Strategies for Oxygen Activation by Fe2+ and Fe3+ Catecholic Dioxygenases". In: Oxygen Homeostasis and its Dynamics. Y. Ishimura, H. Shimada, and
M. Suematsu, Eds. Ed. Springer-Verlag. Tokyo, Japan. pp. 263-275. 1998.

GRANT SUBMISSIONS (2002-present)
Dynamics of DNA Binding Specificity: Could Timing be Everything in Transcriptional Regulation? - National Institutes of Health - Fiscal Year 2004

Preliminary Proposal centered on the creation of an Interdisciplinary, project-based learning (IPBL) model for education - Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) - Fiscal Year 2004

Acquisition and Maintenance of an Automated Genetic Analysis System - National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) - Fiscal Year 2004

GRANT AWARDS (2002-present)
Dynamics of DNA Binding Specificity: Could Timing be Everything in Transcriptional Regulation? - Rowan University Separately Budgeted Research (SBIR) - Fiscal Year 2004

Construction of recombinant expression clones for expansion of studies characterizing the Rat Insulin-1 Enhancer Binding Protein - Rowan University SAIL - Fiscal Year 2004

Purification and Preliminary Characterization of the DNA Binding Properties of the Homeo- and LIM domains from the Rat Insulin-1 Enhancer Binding Protein - Council on Undergraduate Research - Fiscal Year 2002