Rick H. Cote, Ph.D.
Director
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Background: I began as an undergraduate student researcher in the lab of Linc Sonenshein (Dept. Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts Univ. School of Medicine) studying bacterial RNA polymerase. I carried out my doctoral research in Gary Borisy's lab (Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Univ. Wisc.-Madison) studying the polymerization kinetics of microtubules. My post-doctoral research was conducted in Deric Bownds' lab (Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Univ. Wisc.-Madison) where I began my ongoing fascination with the regulation of the visual signaling pathway in rod and cone photoreceptor cells.
Other interests: Teaching aerobics/strength-training classes, cinema, cycling, and spending quality time with family and friends. Current research interests: A major focus of our lab is the regulation of photoreceptor phosphodiesterase (PDE6), the central enzyme in the visual excitation pathway. We are also interested in the molecular organization of PDE6 with its binding partners, the molecular evolution of the PDE superfamily, and the pharmacology of PDEs with applications to parasitic nematode control. See the variety of projects being carried out by members of the lab on the Research pages of this site. |
Karyn B. Cahill, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Suzanne Matte, B.S.
Research Technician
Kevin Schuster, B.S.
Doctoral student
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Background: My undergraduate studies were at St. Joseph College where I received a BS in Biology and Chemistry and performed undergraduate research at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Donald Kreutzer’s immunology group. My doctoral research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with Gordon Carmichael’s lab in the Health Center focused on the regulatory control of the late promoter of Polyomavirus. I then transitioned into industry by taking a post-doc position at Molecular Therapeutic, Inc. in Bradley Zerler’s lab studying chimeric mouse/human antibodies. This position led to a permanent position at Bayer Pharmaceuticals working in their Research Technologies group on projects ranging from generating transgenic mice producing b-amyloid proteins to producing recombinant proteins for high-throughput drug screening.
Other interests: cooking, vegetable and perineal flower gardening, yoga/Pilates, skiing, boating, book club – all done in the company of family and friends. Current research: One of my projects is to express the regulatory domains of PDE6 for crystallographic and biochemical characterization in order to better understand the regulation of PDE6 during visual excitation, recovery, and adaptation. I am also leading the effort to study the phylogeny and evolution of the phosphodiesterase superfamily to identify structural differences that underlie the catalytic and pharmacological properties of the various PDE families, as well as to gain a better understanding of the molecular evolution of vertebrate vision. Background: I received my bachelor’s degree at UNH in Pre-Veterinary Medicine in 1981. I worked for a number of years in veterinary hospitals in the area, and during that time had two wonderful children. After working on my own as a riding instructor and barn manager, I started working for Corning Life Sciences designing applications for the development and testing of plastic laboratory disposables used for molecular biology. I also managed a project to determine the parameters for the use of large-scale cell culture products that were currently in development. In 2004, I joined the Cote lab where I have served as lab manager for our research group.
Other interests: Horseback riding, boating, swimming, camping, painting, and relaxing down at the lake. Current research: I have been involved in numerous projects during my time in the Cote lab. Currently, I am studying the PDE6 interacting protein, GARP2, and its effects on the regulation of PDE6 during visual transduction. Background: I obtained a B.S. in
Medicinal Chemistry from the University at Buffalo (2009), and subsequently worked as an Analytical/Surface Chemist at Bausch and Lomb in Rochester, NY.
Other interests: I am a former Division I swimmer, and currently compete in triathlons. Current research: My research investigates the use of PDE inhibitors as potential nematicides. I am taking a molecular evolutionary approach to understand whether the drug binding sites of nematode PDEs are likely to differ significantly from vertebrate PDEs with the hope that inhibitor compounds might be designed that are highly selective for nematode PDEs. I am also studying the ability of PDE inhibitors to disrupt the locomotion and chemosensation of C. elegans in vivo, with the goal of applying this information to disrupting the life cycle of plant parasitic nematodes. |
