0 Paul Martino

Paul Martino

Professor of Biochemistry

585.567.9300
paul.martino@houghton.edu
Paine 420A

I teach at Houghton College because of its excellence in science education and because of its excellence in service to Christendom. When I was “saved” (a mere 10 years ago) a dream began where I would one day merge my love and longing for Christ’s presence with my whole existence, not just when I attend church on Sundays.

While I work every day to achieve my dream, one key component is solid: Houghton College. I love the Christian environment – the constant support, nurturing, and ministry as God has now merged with my career. I am in a community where I am growing academically and spiritually; a place where I can positively impact students’ lives and spirituality. Explorations with students in science – more specifically, in biochemistry – is richer in the context of Christianity and having a personal relationship with Jesus.

Education

  • Ph.D. | University of Virginia
  • B.S. | Shepherd University
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Courses Taught

  • Biochemistry I
  • Biochemistry II
  • Trends: Biomolecular Structural Studies
  • Science and Society: Climate Science
  • Chemical Instrumentation in Research
  • General Chemistry

Professional Members/Associations

  • American Chemical Society
  • American Society of Mass Spectrometry

Professional Experience/Achievements

  • Recipient of the 2015 Mentoring Award, Carson-Newman University.
  • Awarded $8,000 grant through the Carl Tabb and Catherin Garrott Bahner Foundation in Spring 2015 for continued studies of Amyloid-Beta Peptides with Synthesized Chalcones.
  • Awarded $7,000 grant through the Carl Tabb and Catherine Garrott Bahner Foundation in Spring 2013 for studies of Amyloid-Beta Peptides with Resveratrol and Analogs.
  • Awarded $119,318 grant in Fall 2008 for NSF Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement.
  • Awarded $13,050 grant in Fall of 1998 for NSF Instrument and Laboratory Improvement Program.
  • Elected Math and Science Division Chair at FVCC (2003 – 2006) (3-year term).

Research Interests

  • Gas-phase carbene labeling of proteins for topographical studies.

Development of a new mass spectrometry-based tool for structural biology called fast carbene-derivatization during electrospray ionization. The method marks protein topographical information by selective placement of methylene labels using an omnivorous surface assessable derivatization reagent, carbene. Subsequent mass spectrometry analysis quantifies the amount of methylene addition at each amino acid position of the protein, thereby generating a topographical map of the protein structure.

  • Unraveling the early events in Alzheimer’s disease.

We are characterizing the early stages of beta-amyloid formation and inhibition. A telltale sign of Alzheimer’s disease is the formation of beta-amyloid deposits on the outside of neuronal cells and the influx of smaller amyloid-beta aggregates into the neuronal cells. We are developing ways to measure the relative effectiveness of various beta-amyloid inhibitors and to probe how these inhibitors function.

Publications/Conferences

  • “Carbene Labelling of Gas Phase Peptide Ions: A Novel Technique for Studying Protein Topography.” Gregory Ballard and Paul Martino. 44th Annual Rochester Academy of Sciences Fall Scientific Paper Session, Nov 11, 2017, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY.
  • “Optimization of Parameters for Carbene Labelling of Gas Phase Peptide Ions: A Novel Technique for Studying Protein Topography.” Gregory Ballard and Paul Martino. 44th Annual Rochester Academy of Sciences Fall Scientific Paper Session, Nov 11, 2017, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY.
  • “A Routine HPLC ESI-MS Method to Screen Drug Effectiveness in Inhibition of Amyloid-Beta Peptide Aggregation.” Madison Herbert and Paul Martino. The 68th Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Columbia, SC, October 22, 2016.
  • “Molecular Inhibition of Oligomer Formation and Amyloid-Beta Aggregation.” Daniel Higgins and Paul Martino. The 68th Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Columbia, SC, October 22, 2016.
  • “Inhibition of Microtubule Affinity-Regulating Kinase-2 in Regards to the Hyperphosphorylation of the Tau Protein.” Jared Reed and Paul Martino. The 68th Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Columbia, SC, October 22, 2016.
  • “A routine ESI-MS method to screen drug effectiveness in inhibition of Amyloid-Beta Peptide aggregation rate.” Madison Herbert and Paul Martino. The 67th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Memphis, TN, November 7, 2015.
  • “Synthesis of Resveratrol Analog to Block AB-peptide (1-40) Aggregation.” Jared Reed and Paul Martino. The 67th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Memphis, TN, November 7, 2015.
  • “Synthesis of Chalcones that Mimic Resveratrol and Curcumin and Inhibit Amyloid-Beta (1-40) Aggregation.” Corey Bray and Paul Martino. The 67th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Memphis, TN, November 7, 2015.
  • “Inhibition of Oligomer formation and Aβ Aggregation in Alzheimer’s Disease.” Daniel Higgins and Paul Martino. The 67th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Memphis, TN, November 7, 2015.
  • “Elucidating the interaction of copper (II) with human prion protein (106-126) using labeling electrospray deposition and mass spectrometry.” Mark A. Carver and Paul Martino. The 66th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Nashville, TN, October 19, 2014.
  • “Rapid gas-phase carbene labeling and top-down mass spectrometry provides topographical structural information.” Daniel Therrien, Douglas Steiner, Elizabeth Campbell, Mark Carver, Emily Hammer, Margaret Cothern, and Paul Martino. The 62st ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Baltimore, MD, June 15-19, 2014.
  • “Elucidating the interaction of resveratrol with amyloid-β (1-40) using labeling electrospray deposition and mass spectrometry.” Jeddidiah W. Griffin and Paul Martino. The 62st ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Baltimore, MD, June 15-19, 2014.
  • “Inhibition of amyloid-beta (1-40) aggregation by synthetic resveratrol analogs.” Caleb M. Gibson and Paul Martino. The 246th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, Indianapolis, IN, September 8-10, 2013.
  • “New electrospray mass spectrometry-based assay for measuring drug inhibition of amyloid-beta (1-40) peptides.” Elizabeth J. Campbell and Paul Martino. The 246th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, Indianapolis, IN, September 8-10, 2013.
  • “Can structural elements of proteins be identified by mass spectrometry and rapid derivatization in electrospray plumes?” Paul Martino, Ga-Ram Han, Joshua Denny, Jennifer Bowman, Chance Lewis, Douglas Steiner, and Daniel Therrien. The 61st ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Indianapolis, IN, June 9-13, 2013.
  • “Insulin as a model for amyloid-β fibril inhibition studies using rapid derivatization in electrospray plumes.” Jeddidiah W. Griffin and Paul Martino. The 61st ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Indianapolis, IN, June 9-13, 2013.

Other Interests/Hobbies/Enjoyments

Fly fishing local (and distant) rivers and streams. Tying flies and building Tonkin split-cane fly rods.

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