Introducing Our Authors pubs.acs.org/synthbio
■
■
BEYZA BULUTOGLU
FARZANEH MOGHADAM
Seyla Azoz
Swedncha Pradham
Education. Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Columbia University,
Education. B.Sc., School of Life Sciences, University of Tehran,
New York City, NY (2017); M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (2011); B.S., Chemical Engineering,
Tehran, Iran. Current Position. Ph.D. Student, School of Biological and
Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey (2010). Current Position. Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the
Health System Engineering, Arizona State University, Arizona, United States. Advisor: Dr. Samira Kiani. Nonscientific Interests. While not working on my research
Center for Engineering in Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Nonscientific Interests. When I am not playing with DNA
projects, I try to find the balance of life in spending time with my family and friends, traveling, camping and enjoying nature. I am interested in designing and building genetic circuits based
or proteins, I enjoy traveling, playing the piano and swimming. I am also a fan of Broadway Shows and NY Philharmonic! My Ph.D. work focused on rational protein design and
on CRISPR system. Considering the speedy evolution of
modification to understand and engineer protein−protein inter-
CRISPR technology, it is important to overcome the obstacles
actions in both natural and recombinant systems. Currently, I am
that hinder its clinical adoption. My Ph.D. research focuses on
using my protein engineering background in biomedical studies.
developing safe and specific tools to reprogram gene regulatory
The presented study utilizes a conformationally dynamic peptide
networks, through combining synthetic biology and CRISPR
as an alternative scaffold for directed evolution. The calcium induced conformational change of the β-roll peptide was used as
technology. Currently, I am working on incorporating multi-
a protein switch to control the activation of the binding interface,
layered safety switches within the CRISPR system to exert
and thus the binding event between the peptide and its target
control over when and where it regulates gene expression. In this
molecule. The use of this approach was demonstrated via affinity
review article, we have evaluated the possibility of using CRISPR
chromatography applications. The exploitation of conformation-
as the next generation of gene therapy. We have also highlighted
ally dynamic motifs in biomolecular recognition has been
the possible means to address the complications associated with
largely unexplored. This study may assist the rational design of
clinical applications of CRISPR technology. (Read Farzaneh’s
future allosterically regulated scaffolds to carry out controllable
article DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00011).
molecular recognition, playing an important role in biological processes. (Read Beyza’s article DOI: 10.1021/
Received: September 5, 2017 Published: September 15, 2017
acssynbio.7b00089). © 2017 American Chemical Society
1607
DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00320 ACS Synth. Biol. 2017, 6, 1607−1608
ACS Synthetic Biology
■
Introducing Our Authors
GITA NASERI
Current Position. Undergraduate Research Assistant, Dr. Samira Kiani, Arizona State University. Nonscientific Interests. Triathlon, backpacking, Latin dancing. My research interests focus on developing technology to build better and safer gene therapies for all human diseases. Genetic engineering has quickly moved to the forefront of public interest with fear of the dangers these technologies pose. As we begin to grasp control over our own genomes, we must prepare ourselves for the inevitability of being able to genetically manipulate any cell in the human body. Our publication was created to help scientists and laypeople alike understand the scope of technology available to improve CRISPR-based therapeutics, and highlight where there are technology gaps for ideal gene therapies. I hope this will lead to a new generation of therapeutics that enables us to improve and lengthen patients’ quality of life. (Read Michael’s article DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00011).
Studioline Potsdam GmbH & Co. KG
Education. M.Sc., University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran; B.Sc. Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran. Current Position. Ph.D. student, University of Potsdam, Germany, group of Prof. Dr. Bernd Mueller-Roeber. Nonscientific Interests. Painting, watching movies, and traveling. I started my work in synthetic biology by developing plant-based artificial transcription factors (ATFs) to regulate gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, published in ACS Synthetic Biology (Naseri et al., 2017). Currently, I am implementing the ATFs into yeast’s cellular networks to control heterologous biosynthetic pathways. Furthermore, I am establishing a novel recombinational cloning method that uses the ATFs as expression control elements to address one of the main challenges in synbio projects, namely the balanced expression of multiple genes encoding biosynthetic pathways, complex gene regulatory networks, or multiprotein cellular structures, in heterologous hosts. My further ambitions are (i) producing novel biomolecular components for different biotechnological applications and (ii) construction of synthetic organelles, cells, and cellular communities. In the long term, I would like to implement these tools for the optimization of metabolism, drug delivery, and to eliminate toxic effects of medicines. (Read Gita’s article DOI: 10.1021/ acssynbio.7b00094).
■
MICHAEL PINEDA
Fernando A. Hernandez
Education. Pursuing B.S. Neurobiology, Arizona State University. 1608
DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00320 ACS Synth. Biol. 2017, 6, 1607−1608
