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Margot PaulickAssistant Professor of Chemistry |
Education:
B.S. Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2000Ph.D. Bioorganic Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 2006
Courses:CHM 231: Organic Chemistry ICHM 231 Lab CHM 232: Organic Chemistry II CHM 232 Lab |
CHM 335: Survey of Biochemistry |
Research Interests:
Glycobiology is the study of the structure, biosynthesis, and
biology of glycans, the complex sugar structures expressed by cells and
tissues that are used for energy, stress protection, and a variety of
other biological functions. Glycans can also be attached to cell
surface biomolecules, such as proteins and lipids, where they are known
to mediate cell-cell interactions and signaling events. For example,
many cellular proteins are attached to the cell surface via a
glycolipid chain known as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor.
Other glycans, such as trehalose, are able to protect cells from
thermal or osmotic stress. Glycans are difficult to study by
conventional genetic methods because their biosynthesis is not template
driven; therefore, progress towards a molecular understanding of their
functions has been slow when compared to proteins or DNA. Chemical
approaches, including small molecule inhibitors, unnatural glycan
structures, and other technologies, offer a powerful alternative to
genetic methods for the study of glycan function. Research in the
Paulick laboratory will focus on the chemical synthesis of modified
glycans for the preservation and understanding of biological systems.
Students conducting research in the Paulick lab will be exposed to
a wide variety of chemical and biological techniques, such as organic
synthesis and purification, cell culture techniques, protein expression
and purification, and fluorescence microscopy. If you are interested in
conducting research in the Paulick lab, please set up an appointment
with Prof. Paulick to discuss this possibility.