Fariba M. Assadi-Porter, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry and NMR Facility at Madison, 433 Babcock Dr. Madison, WI 53706.
Telephone: 608-261-1167 Email: fariba@nmrfam.wisc.edu
Research Interests
Structure/function studies of the sweet receptor as a model system for membrane proteins-ligands interactions:
➢ Identifying the underlying molecular interactions between functional sweet ligands and the sweet receptor including details of signal transduction.
➢ Elucidation of molecular features of multivalent binding interaction essential for the brazzein, a sweet tasting protein, and the sweet receptor, a seven-transmembrane spanning G-coupled protein (GPCR). One goal of my study is to design superior tasting non-caloric sweetener that can be used as an approach in addressing diabetes and related disorders.
Metabolomic dynamics:
➢ Identification of small molecule biomarkers in regulatory pathways that distinguish disease progression states.
➢ My current focus is the identification of specific abnormalities in pathways that are involved in human metabolic and inflammatory diseases, including PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome), obesity, diabetes, and infection. These studies use a combination of animal models and human clinical data.
Education
Ph.D., Biomolecular Chemistry 1994
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Wisconsin Medical School
Advisor: Robert Fillingame
Thesis: ‘ NMR studies of proton-translocating subunit c of F1Fo H+-ATP synthase’
B.S. (Chemistry major) 1987
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Undergraduate research advisor: Donald Gaines
Research topic: Studies of intermediates formed in silicon-penta-borane compounds by boron NMR spectroscopy.
Research and Professional Experience
Associate Scientist 2007-present
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Biochemistry and NMR facility
Research topics: Ligand-binding interaction studies with sweet receptor using NMR spectroscopy; development of methods for early identification of progression of disease status using NMR spectroscopy.
Treasurer and co-founder 2005-present
Isomark, LLC. Madison, WI.
Using natural abundance stable isotope biomarkers in the breath of animals and human as an indicator of acute infection.
Assistant Scientist 2001-2007
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Biochemistry and NMR facility
Research Mentor: John L. Markley
Research topics: Detailed chemical and structural studies of brazzein, a high potency, low-calorie protein sweetener by electrophysiology, human taste assay and NMR spectroscopy.
Postdoctoral Research 1996-2000
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Biochemistry and NMR facility
Advisor: John L. Markley
Research topics: Studies of chemical and structural properties of brazzein, a high potency, low-calorie protein sweetener by NMR spectroscopy.
Postdoctoral Research 1995-1996
Department of Horticulture
University of Wisconsin Madison
Advisors: Brent McCown and John L. Markley
Research topic: Development of brazzein protein production methods in E. coli.
Honors and Awards
Undergraduate Dean’s List (1984-1987)
Graduated with honors in the top 5% of the graduating class, second in Chemistry major (1987)
Member of Golden Key National Honor Society (1984-1987)
Member of Phi Eta Sigma, the national freshman honor society (1985)
Mr. and Mrs. Evan P. Helfaer Scholarship (1985)
Mabel Duthey Reiner Scholarship (1987)
Member of American Chemical Society (1989-present)
Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust Scholarship (1990)
Winner of a highly competitive university wide interdisciplinary group proposal initiative (top rating of 8 funded out of 220 proposals) offered by University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Discovery Center (WID) (2007-2010)
NIH/NIDCD RO1 grant: The sweet protein brazzein and its interaction with the human taste receptor ($1.95 million total) (2008-2013)
Teaching Experience
Biochemistry 801 (guest lectures, 2001)
Undergraduate Research Scholars Mentor (2007-2008)
NMR workshop (UW-Madison, NMR facility at Madison with 30 participants, lectures on NOESY NMR data analysis) (2008)
Zoology 520 (undergraduate research training program) (2007-2008)
Invited Talks
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (December 2007 & July 2008)
Cambridge-St John’s school (Keystone symposia September 2008)
Patents
Patent from WARF on: Designing new protein sweeteners (2001)
Patent from WARF on: New high sweet intensity brazzein analogs (2003)
Patent from WARF on: Noninvasive measurement and identification of disease usin stable isotopes and biomarkers in breath (2005)
Patent by WARF on: A new brazzein analog with superior “candy-like” properties and higher potency than the parental brazzein protein sweetener (2006)
Patent applied for by WARF on: One step high yield protein production system for brazzein, low-calorie, high potency protein sweetener (2007)
Patent applied for by WARF on: Identification of disease biomarkers of infectious disease using biomarkers in plasma (2008)
Selected Peer reviewed publications
F.M. Assadi-Porter, M. Tonelli, E. Maillet, K. Hallenga, O. Benard, M. Max and J. L. Markley, 2008. Direct NMR detection of the binding of functional ligands to the human sweet receptor, a heterodimeric family 3 GPCR. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 7212-7213. [Article]
F.M. Assadi-Porter, S. Patry, and J. L. Markley, 2008. Efficient and rapid protein expression and purification of small high disulfide containing sweet protein brazzein in E. coli. Protein Expr Purif, 58, 263-8. [Article]
L. Guo, F.M. Assadi-Porter, J.E. Grant, J.L. Markley, A.E. Ruoho, 2006. One-step purification of bacterially expressed recombinant transduction α subunit and isotope labeled PDE6γ subunit for NMR analysis protein expression and purification. Protein Expr and Purif. Protein Expr and Purif. 51, 187-197. [Article]
F.M. Assadi-Porter, H. Blad, F. Abildgaard , C. Cornilescu, and J.L. Markley 2004. Brazzein, a small, sweet protein: effects of mutations on its structure, dynamics, and functional properties. Chemical Senses, 30, 190-191. [Article]
Z. Jin, V. Danilova, F.M. Assadi-Porter, J. L. Markley, and G. Hellekant, 2003. Critical regions for the sweetness of brazzein. FEBS Letters, 544, 33-37. [Article]
Z. Jin, V. Danilova, F.M. Assadi-Porter, J. L. Markley, and G. Hellekant, 2003. Monkey electrophysiological and human psychophysical responses to mutants of the sweet protein brazzein: Delineating brazzein sweetness. Chem. Senses, 28, 491-498. [Article]
F.M. Assadi-Porter, H. Blad, F. Abildgaard , and J.L. Markley 2003. Correlation of the Sweetness of variants of the protein brazzein with patterns of hydrogen bonds detected by NMR spectroscopy. J. Biol. Chem. 278 (33), 31331-31339. [Article]
F.M. Assadi-Porter, F. Abildgaard, and J.L. Markley 2001. Brazzein, a Potential Low-Calorie Protein Sweetener: Correlation between the Sweetness and Stability of Recombinant Brazzein Variants and Hydrogen Bonds Detected by Trans-Hydrogen-Bond NMR Couplings. 2nd IUPAC - International Symposium on Sweeteners in Japan.
F.M. Assadi-Porter, D., Aceti, J.L. Markley 2000. Insights from Mutagenesis Studies about the Sweet Determinant Sites of Brazzein, a Small, Heat Stable, Sweet-Tasting Protein. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 376 (2): 259-265.
F.M. Assadi-Porter, D., Aceti, H. Cheng, J.L. Markley 2000. Efficient Procedure for Recombinant Production of Brazzein, a Small, Heat Stable, Sweet-Tasting Plant Protein. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 376 (2): 252-258.
Invited Book Chapter
F.M. Assadi-Porter, M. Tonelli, and J. L. Markley, 2008. Chapter book in Sweetness and Sweeteners: Biology, Chemistry and Psychophysics; 2008, ACS Symposium Series 979, pp. 560-572. Oxford University Press. Editors; Deepthi K. Weerasinghe and Grant E. Dubois. Correlation of sweetness to structure and dynamics properties in brazzein protein analogs.
Funding
Completed:
UW Applied Research Grant (PI: Markley, CoI: Assadi-Porter)
Brazzein: A Natural Low-Calorie Sweetener.
Project Period: 2000-2001
The goals of this project were to improve brazzein production system and produce a series of brazzein analogs.
R01 DC006016-01A1 (PI: Hellekant, CoIs: Assadi-Porter, Markley)
Brazzein: sweet-taste receptor interaction.
Project Period: 2/01/04- 01/31/06
The major goals of this project were to establish structure-function relationships in sweet proteins and to correlate the structure of sweet stimuli with sweet receptors (in vivo).
Funded:
R21 (Co-Is: Max and Assadi-Porter) - The Role of the TM of T1R2 in Sweet Receptor Activation
Funding Agency: NIH/NIDCD
Project Period: 01/01/2008-12/31/2010
Budget Period Direct Costs/yr requested: $182,300
The Aims of this proposal are: Aim 1. To identify residues in the transmembrane of hT1R2 involved in small molecule agonists and antagonist binding. Aim 2. Assays will be developed to monitor sweet ligand binding using STD NMR in HEK cells expressing sweet receptors composed of T1R2+T1R3 or their mutant forms.
Discovery seed grant (UW-WID) (PIs: Assadi-Porter, Eghbalnia, Shortreed, Whigham) - Early detection of disease onset – a systems approach using new metabolome phase portraits
Funding Agency: UW-Madison
Project Period: 07/01/2007-07/31/2010
Budget Period Direct Costs: $376,300
Major goal of this project is to identify biomarkers in biofluids involved in Poly Cystic Overy (PCOS) syndrome.
R01 (PI: Assadi-Porter, CoI: Max)
Funding Agency: NIH/NIDCD
Brazzein: The sweet protein brazzein and its interaction with the human taste receptor
Project Period: 7/01/2008- 06/31/2013
Budget Period Direct Costs/yr requested: $250,00
Main goals of this project are: To accurately define the essential molecular features responsible for the brazzein-sweet receptor interaction and the resulting signal transduction. Our continued investigations of brazzein variants and their interaction with wild-type and mutant receptor proteins will lead to more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which brazzein activates the receptor.