| Title: | Associate Professor |
| Dept: | Biology, Geology, Environmental Science |
| Office: | SR 259, 258 |
| Phone: | 216-687-2516 |
| Fax: | 216-687-697 |
| Email: | A.KOMAR@csuohio.edu |
| Address: | 2121 Euclid Ave. SR 259, 258, Cleveland, OH 44115 |
Education: | ||
|
M.S., Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Moscow State University, 1985
Ph.D., Molecular Biology, Moscow State University, 1991 | ||
| Brief Bio: | ||
| I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Department of Molecular Biology at Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia). Since then my research was focused on various aspects of protein biosynthesis and folding. | ||
| Honors and Awards: | ||
| 1985 Honors Diploma, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
1992 ISF (International Science Foundation) grant of support 1994 FEBS YTF (Youth Travel Fund) grant award to participate in the 3d Meeting "Young Scientist's View of Molecular Biotechnology" Ascona, Switzerland (February 13-19, 1994). 1994-1995 EMBO and FEBS short-term fellowships (awards) to work in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Rainer Jaenicke, University of Regensburg, Germany. 1995 ESF (European Science Foundation) support grant award to participate in the European research conference: "Protein Folding and Stability (Theoretical and experimental approaches)", San Feliu De Guixols, Spain, (April 8-13, 1995) 1995 Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) support grant award to participate in the "First European Symposium of the Protein Society", Davos, Switzerland (May 28 - June 1, 1995) 1998-2000 FRM (Medical Research Foundation) award to work at the CNRS Molecular Genetic Center, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. 2006-2007 Reviewer of the grant proposals submitted to CRDF (U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation) 2007 American Heart Association (AHA) Southern & Ohio Valley Study Group Member 2007 Reviewer of the grant proposals submitted to Cancer Research UK 2007 Cleveland State University Merit Recognition Award in Research 2007- Cleveland State University, Research Council Member 2008 Editor, 2d edition, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (in the "Methods in Molecular Biology" series), Humana Press, scheduled for publication in 2009 2008 American Heart Association (AHA) Grand Rivers Affiliate, Basic Cell & Molecular Biology Study Group Member 2008 Reviewer of the grant proposals submitted to NSF 2008 Cleveland State University College of Science Outstanding Research Award 2009 Cleveland State University Merit Recognition Award in Research | ||
| Research Interests: | ||
| Our research is concerned with protein synthesis and translational control of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Recent studies have pointed to the key role of translational control in regulating gene expression during development, differentiation, cell cycle progression, cell growth, apoptosis, and stress. Regulation of translation is mainly exerted at the initiation step of protein synthesis, thus allowing rapid modification of the overall rate of translation as well as post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression due to changes in the relative selection of different mRNA species utilizing different mechanisms of translation initiation.
Assembly of the 80 S ribosome at a start codon within the majority of eukaryotic mRNAs involves recruitment of the 40 S ribosome (and associated initiation factors) to the mRNA 5'-end followed by ribosome scanning (in search of the initiation codon). However, it was shown that some viral and eukaryotic cellular mRNAs can be translated via internal initiation, a process that is generally independent of the recognition of the 5'-mRNA end and involves direct recruitment of the 40 S ribosome to the vicinity of the initiation codon (directed by internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements). We are interested in the mechanism of internal initiation, and factors that can affect IRESs activity. In particular, we are interested in the structure and function of ribosomal proteins that facilitate the recruitment of certain IRESs. Our research is not confined only to the mechanisms of protein synthesis, we are also interested in the protein structure/function relationships and the mechanism of the co-translational (in vivo) protein folding. In addition, we are interested in the protein structure/function relationships relevant to the prion phenomenon and the design of the novel protein drugs. Apart from the above, we are also interested in the effects of silent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on gene function and the development and progression of certain diseases. | ||
| Teaching Areas: | ||
| Protein translation, protein folding. Protein misfolding and disease. Methods to study proteins and nucleic acids. | ||
| Professional Affiliations: | ||
| Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease and the
Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4935. | ||
| Professional Experience: | ||
| 1987-1996 Research Scientist, Department of Molecular Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
1994-1995 EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) and FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) Fellow, University of Regensburg, Germany 1995 Consultant, (3 months), Pharmacia-Biotech, Moscow, Russia 1995-1996 Research Associate, Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia 1996-2007 Senior Research Scientist, Department of Molecular Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia 1996-1998 Research Associate, CNRS Molecular Genetic Center, Gif-sur-Yvette, France 1998-2000 FRM (Medical Research Foundation) Fellow, CNRS Molecular Genetic Center, Gif-sur-Yvette, France 2000-2001 Assistant (I-class), Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bern, Bern Switzerland 2001-2005 Senior Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 2005- Consultant/Member, Healthcare Council, Gerson Lehrman Group Inc., New York, NY 2005-present Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 2005-present Associate Professor, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, OH 2008-present Member, Member of the planning committee, Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214. | ||
| University Service: | ||
| 2005-2006 Organizer of the Departmental seminar series "Fluorescence and Autoradiography Imaging on Typhoon: Principles and Applications"
2006 Member, Search Committee for BGES Asst Professor Position (Cell Molecular Search). 2006 Member, Search Committee Fenn College of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Asst Professor Position, (BioSensors). 2006 Judge Student Interdisciplinary Symposium April 29, 2006 (CSU/CCF, Case, Kent, Akron). 2006-2007 Coordinator, Cell and Molecular Biology Seminar 2007 Member, Search Committee Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) fellowship (CSU BGES). 2007 Member, Search Committee College of Science Grant Writer/Administrator Search 2007- Cleveland State University, Research Council Member 2007 Member, Search Committee Cleveland State University Vise President for Research 2008 Member, Cleveland State University Committee Task Force on Excellence and Engagement 2008- Member, Cleveland State University Senate (since 2009 member of the steering committee) 2008- Cleveland State University, Graduate Program Director (Biology) | ||
| Professional Service: | ||
| Ad hoc reviewer: Amino Acids, BMC Genomics, Cell Cycle, Clinical Medicine, FEBS Letters, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of General and Molecular Virology, Molecular Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Reports, Nucleic Acids Research, Oncogene, Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine, RNA, Science | ||
| Research Grants: | ||
| Active:
American Heart Association (2007-2010): Komar A.A. PI "Novel approach to create chimeric proteins for therapeutic applications". Total project costs: $260,000. | ||