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Giovanni Gadda Associate Professor Graduate Director Biochemistry B.Sc. (1989): University of Milan, Italy Ph.D. (1995) : University of Milan, Italy Postdoctoral Research Associate (1995-2000) : Texas A&M University Dr. Giovanni Gadda Department of Chemistry Georgia State University P.O. Box 4098 Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4098
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Research Interests. My research interests are in the area of mechanistic enzymology of redox enzymes with a specific interest in flavin-dependent enzymes. My objective is to understand how enzymes can influence the energetics of reaction intermediates and transition states. These aspects are being studied by steady state and pre-steady state kinetics using isotopically enriched substrates and substrate analogs. Site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography are being used to study the structures of the enzymes and the roles of individual amino acid residues. Data are being augmented by static measurements such as UV/visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. Three enzymes are currently under study: Choline oxidase, choline dehydrogenase, and 2-nitropropane diooxygenase.
Choline oxidase. Choline oxidase (E.C. 1.1.3.17) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the two-step oxidation of choline to betaine in the pathway for the catabolism of glycine, with betaine aldehyde as an intermediate (Scheme 1). Molecular oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor. The enzyme has been found in bacteria of the genera Arthrobacter sp. and Alcaligenes sp. Choline oxidase is a monomer of 66 kDa and contains covalently bound FAD. The recent findings that many bacterial and plant species accumulate betaine in response to salt stress or water deficit have prompted considerable interest in research on betaine biosynthesis, with the goal of genetically engineering water/osmotic stress resistance in beneficial bacteria and crop plants. Furthermore, the development of biosensors for the detection of choline and choline derivatives in serological samples renders this enzyme of medical and clinical interest. From a chemical standpoint, the mechanism of cleavage of the carbon-hydrogen bond of the substrate by choline oxidase is of particular interest because of the high energetic barrier associated with this process. Despite these reasons, choline oxidase is poorly characterized. Three mechanisms consistent with available studies can be proposed, in which the carbon-hydrogen bond is cleaved by removal of a hydride, through a radical, or after formation of an alkoxide intermediate (Scheme 2).

The Arthrobacter choline oxidase has been cloned in E. coli by the group of Dr. Murata, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan. This recombinant enzyme is being used in our laboratory to obtain amounts suitable for mechanistic and structural studies. A number of kinetic approaches, such as product inhibition, pH-profiles, kinetic isotope effects using isotopically enriched substrates, and solvent isotope effects, are being used in the study. Data obtained from any of these methods will be augmented with data obtained using substrate analogs and mutant proteins. Rapid reaction kinetics of both the reductive half-reaction in which the enzyme is reduced by the substrate and of the oxidative half-reaction in which oxygen accepts the electron pair from the enzyme to regenerate the oxidized enzyme will also be performed.The determination of the site of flavinylation in the sequence will allow construction of a protein with non-covalently bound FAD to be used to selectively replace FAD with artificial flavins of different redox potentials, providing a powerful tool for studying the electron transfer reactions. Since the three dimensional structure of the enzyme is not available, the involvement of specific amino acid residues in catalysis will be initially investigated by chemical modification studies with specific reagents and subsequently by mutagenesis.
Choline Dehydrogenase. The oxidation of choline to betaine can also be catalyzed by choline dehydrogenase (CHD; E.C. 1.1.99.1), a membrane-bound enzyme. Two types of choline dehydrogenase have been described, which differ in the prosthetic group (FAD or pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, PQQ). While a wealth of biochemical studies have been recently reported for the PQQ-dependent enzyme, little is known of the FAD-dependent CHD. The latter enzyme has been found in rat liver, in E. coli, and in Sinorhizobium melilori. CHD belongs to the GMC family, which includes cholesterol oxidase, methanol oxidase, glucose dehydrogenase, and glucose oxidase. By sequence alignment, choline oxidase can be included in this family. Although CHD from E. coli shows significant similarity to choline oxidase (52% identify and 68% similarity), it does not react with molecular oxygen. Instead, coenzyme Q has been proposed to serve as the final electron acceptor. The same reasons described above for choline oxidase hold for the study of CHD. Moreover, the origin of the selectivity of CHD for the oxidizing substrate is of considerable interest. The mechanistic and structural properties that confer to reduced flavoproteins the ability to react with oxygen are not known. The comparative study of the mechanisms of CHD and choline oxidase offers a model for gaining insights on how the reactivity of reduced flavins for oxygen is regulated by the protein microenvironment. The recombinant enzyme from Sinorhyzobium melilori (a gift from Dr. Le Rudulier, Universite' de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France) is currently available in the laboratory and will be the focus of the initial studies.
2-Nitropropane dioxygenase. 2-Nitropropane dioxygenase (2-NPD) is found in yeast and catalyzes the oxidation of 2-nitropropane to acetone and nitrite (Scheme 3). The study of an enzyme capable of oxidizing nitroalkanes is of considerable interest for several reasons. Nitroalkanes are widely used as industrial solvents, chemical intermediates, explosives, and fuels. Several nitroalkanes have been shown to be toxic and/or carcinogenic. Thus, an enzymatic activity that converts these compounds into less harmful species is of interest for bioremediation. In addition, aliphatic nitroalkanes were not found at significant levels in the environment until recently. Thus, 2-NPD appears to be an example of a recently evolved enzyme. The study of 2-NPD can provide insight into how organisms evolve enzymes to deal with environmental changes. From a chemical standpoint, 2-NPD is of interest because it offers an opportunity to expand the array of the reactions catalyzed by flavoproteins and the ways in which proteins can modulate the reactivity of the isoalloxazine ring of the flavin.
Hansenula mrakii and Neurospora crassa 2-NPD have been cloned in E. coli by the group of Dr. Esaki (Kyoto University, Japan) and are available in the laboratory. While the two enzymes have molecular weights of about 40 kDa, they differ in their prosthetic group content, in that FAD and FMN are found in the Hansenula and Neurospora 2-NPD, respectively. Pre-steady state and steady state analyses will be performed to determine the kinetic mechanism for 2-NPD with 2-nitropropane. The data obtained will be augmented with data obtained using a number of different nitroalkanes as substrate, such as nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, and phenylnitromethane. Kinetic isotope effects and pH dependence studies with isotopically enriched substrates will be used to determine conditions under which the cleavage of the carbon-hydrogen bond is rate-limiting for catalysis, to obtain information about the stickiness of substrates, and as probes of events after carbon-hydrogen cleavage.
| Education: | ||
| 1990-1995 | Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica Generali Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy Ph.D., Biochemistry, 1995 Thesis: "Study of the Active Site of D-Amino Acid Oxidase from Rhodotorula gracilis" Advisor: Prof. Mirella Pilone Simonetta |
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| 1987-1989 | Honors Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica Generali Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy Thesis: "Studies of Limited Proteolysis on Spinach Ferredoxin-NADP+ Reductase" Advisor: Prof. Giuliana Zanetti |
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| 1984-1989 | Laurea Summa Cum Laude 110/110 laude (B.Sc.) - Biological Sciences Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy |
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| Professional Experience: | ||
| 2007-present | Associate Professor (Tenured), Biochemistry and Enzymology Departments of Chemistry and Biology Georgia State University Atlanta, Georgia (Date of appointment: 08-14-2007) |
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| 2008 | Visiting Professor, Enzymology Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari e Biotecnologie Universita' degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy (June 2008) |
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| 2000-2007 | Assistant Professor, Biochemistry Departments of Chemistry and Biology Assistant Professor, Biochemistry Atlanta, Georgia (Date of appointment: 09-14-2000) |
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| 2005 | Visiting Professor, Enzymology Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari e Biotecnologie Universita' degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy (March 2005) |
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| 1995-2000 | Postdoctoral Research Associate Laboratory of Prof. Paul F. Fitzpatrick Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Project: Mechanistic and Biochemical Studies of Nitroalkane Oxidase (From: 06-13-1995 to 09-13-2000) |
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| 1995 | European Molecular Biology Organization Short Term Fellowship Laboratory of Prof. Sandro Ghisla The University of Konstanz, Germany Project: Biochemical and Kinetic Studies of Cholesterol Oxidase (From: 02-01-1995 to 05-20-1995) . |
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| 1995 | Co-Advisor of B.Sc./M.S. Thesis Dissertation of Silvia Zucchelli Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica Generali Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy Title: "Cholesterol Oxidase from Streptomyces hygroscopicus" |
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| 1995 | Translation from English to Italian of the Textbook Principles and Techniques of Practical Biochemistry, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. | |
| 1994 | Co-Advisor of B.Sc./M.S. Thesis Dissertation of Giovanni L. Beretta Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica Generali Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy Title: "Study of the Active Site of D-Amino Acid Oxidase from Rhodotorula gracilis by Chemical Modification" |
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| 1993-1995 | Graduate Teaching Assistant Universita' degli Studi di Milano sede di Varese, Varese, Italy (now Universita' dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy) |
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| 1991 | Habilitation to the Biology Italian National Board | |
| 1989-1990 | Research Assistant Laboratory of Prof. Giuliana Zanetti Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica Generali Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy |
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| Professional Services: | ||
| 2007-present | Director, Chemistry Department Graduate Program | |
| 2009 | Guest Editor for the Special issue of Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics on Oxidative Enzymes, published in January 2010 | |
| 2009- present | Editorial Board of Enzyme Research, member | |
| 2008 | Organizing Committee Member, \u20ac\u0153Second Interdisciplinary Conference on Vitamins, Coenzymes, and Biofactors\u20ac, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, U.S.A., October 26-31, 2008 | |
| 2008-present | Honorary Editorial Board of Biochemistry Insights, member | |
| 2008-present | Editorial Board of Open Enzyme Inhibition Journal, member | |
| 2008 | Organizing Committee Member, "Second Interdisciplinary Conference on Vitamins, Coenzymes, and Biofactors," University of Georgia, Athens, GA, U.S.A., October 26-31, 2008 | |
| 2007 | Organizer, "Strategies in Enzymatic Oxidation Catalysis" Symposium, at the 234th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Boston, MA, U.S.A., August 19 to 23, 2007. | |
| 2006-2007 | Associate Director, Chemistry Department Graduate Program | |
| 2006-present | Chemistry Department Coordinator, Roland E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program | |
| 2005-present | Editorial Board of Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, member | |
| 2005 | Content Reviewer for "Principles of Biochemistry", fourth edition, by H.R. Horton, L.A. Moran, K.G. Scrimgeour, M.D. Perry, and J.D. Rawn, Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey | |
| 2001-present |
Ad hoc Reviewer for: |
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| 1999-present | Ad hoc Reviewer for: National Science Foundation American Chemical Society - PRF Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council - UK Austrian Science Fund Jeffress Memorial Trust South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Pennsylvania Department of Health |
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Affiliations:
American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2001-present)
American Chemical Society (2001-present)
American Society for Microbiology (2003-present)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (1999-present)
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
Book Chapters:
1. Edmondson, D.E. and Gadda, G. (2008) Guidelines for the Functional Analysis of Engineered and Mutant Enzymes; in Protein Engineering Handbook; S. Lutz and U.T. Bornscheuer Eds.; Wiley-VCH.
Book Reviews:
1. Gadda, G. (2007)Flavins: Photochemistry and Photobiology. Comprehensive Series in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences Edited by Eduardo Silva and Ana M. Edwards (P. Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago). Royal Society of Chemistry: Cambridge. 2006. x + 328 pp. $329.00. ISBN 0-85404-331-4. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007 Jul 18;129(28):8926.
Conference Proceedings (Contributed Papers):
| Invited Seminars: | ||
| 2009 July 10th | “Branching of a reaction intermediate formed during turnover of N. crassa 2-nitropropane dioxygenase inflates the observed kinetic isotope effect for the reaction”, Gordon Research Conference of Enzymes, Coenzymes, and Metabolic Pathways, Waterville Valley Resort, Waterville Valley, NH, U.S.A. | |
| 2009 May 15th | “Involvement of Ionizable Groups in the Reaction Catalyzed by Human Liver Glycolate Oxidase”, FAME 2009 – The Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, FL, U.S.A. | |
| 2009 February 5th | “Effect of protein flavinylation on the reaction of hydride ion transfer catalyzed by flavoenzymes” Auburn University, Auburn, AL, U.S.A. | |
| 2008 October 28th | “Enzyme-substrate preorganization in the Alcohol Oxidation Catalyzed by Choline Oxidase”, The 2nd International Interdisciplinary Conference on Vitamins, Coenzymes, and Biofactors, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, U.S.A. | |
| 2008 September 11th | “Does Flavin Covalent Linkage to the Protein Affect Preorganization of the Enzyme-Substrate complex in Choline Oxidase?” University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, U.S.A. | |
| 2008 May 9th | “On the Importance of Enzyme-Substrate Preorganization in the Hydride Ion Tunneling Reaction Catalyzed by Choline Oxidase”, FAME 2008 – The Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, FL, U.S.A. | |
| 2008 February 18th | “Partition Isotope Effects for Enzymatic Reactions Occurring through Multiple Pathways: The Observed Kinetic Isotope Effect in the 2-Nitropropane Dioxygenase Reaction”, Gordon Research Conference on Isotopes in Biological and Chemical sciences, Ventura, CA, U.S.A. | |
| 2007, December 20th | "2-Nitropropane Dioxygenase: a Model for Anionic Semiquinone Intermediates in Flavin-Dependent Oxidation Reactions", Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. | |
| 2007, November 2nd | "Mechanistic Studies of Flavoprotein Oxidases", Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, U.S.A. | |
| 2007, September 25th | "Involvement of a Flavosemiquinone in the Oxidation Reaction Catalyzed by 2-Nitropropane Dioxygenase", University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, U.S.A. | |
| 2007, August 22th | "Flavin-Dependent Oxidation of Alcohols", Symposium entitled: "Strategies in Enzymatic Oxidation Catalysis", at the 234th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Boston, MA, U.S.A. | |
| 2007, July 20th | "Hydride transfer made easy in the oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by flavin-dependent enzymes", Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A. | |
| 2006, December 18th | "The Unusual Mechanism of 2-Nitropropane Dioxygenase: a Model for Anionic Flavosemiquinone Intermediates in Enzymatic Catalysis", Universita' dell' Insubria, Varese, Italy. | |
| 2006, October 6th | "Alcohol Oxidation by Flavoprotein Oxidases: the Chemical Mechanism of Choline Oxidase", Flavins and Flavoproteins in Milano, a Symposium to Honor the Career of Bruno Curti, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. | |
| 2006, September 15th | "Alcohol Oxidation by Flavoprotein Oxidases: the Chemical Mechanism of Choline Oxidase", Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A. | |
| 2006, July 19th | "Hydride Transfer Made Easy: the Chemical Mechanism for Alcohol Oxidation in Choline Oxidase", Gordon Research Conference of Enzymes, Coenzymes, and Metabolic Pathways, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, U.S.A. | |
| 2004, March 31th | "Structure-Function Studies of FAD-Containing Choline Oxidase: a Bacterial Enzyme Involved in Stress Response", Department of Chemistry, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. | |
| 2004, March 12th | "Mechanistic and Biochemical Investigation of Choline-Oxidizing Enzymes Involved in Bacterial Stress Response", Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. | |
| 2004, March 11th | "Biochemical and Mechanistic Investigation of Choline-Oxidizing Enzymes Involved in Bacterial Stress Response", Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitita' degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy. | |
| 2003, December 5th | "Choline Oxidase and Bacterial Stress Tolerance: Mechanistic and Biochemical Investigation", Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. | |
| 2003, April 3rd | "Mechanistic Studies on Choline Oxidase: a Bacterial Enzyme Involved in Stress Response", Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S.A. | |
| 2002, May 10th | "Nitroalkane-Oxidizing Flavin-Dependent Enzymes", Shearwater Corporation, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A. | |
| 2001, December 21th | "Mechanistic studies on flavoprotein oxidoreductases", Department of General Physiology and Biochemistry, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. | |
| 2001, September 24th | "Biochemical studies on flavin-dependent enzymes: towards a better understanding of flavin reactivity modulation", 53rd Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Protein Engineering Session, Savannah, Georgia, U.S.A. | |
| 2000, April 13th | "Structural and mechanistic characterization of a nitroalkane-oxidizing enzyme from Fusarium oxysporum", Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A. | |
| 2000, February 28th | "Structural and mechanistic characterization of a nitroalkane-oxidizing enzyme from Fusarium oxysporum", Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. | |
| 1997 | "Identification of the naturally occurring flavin of nitroalkane oxidase from Fusarium oxysporum", Department of Chemistry, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, U.S.A. | |
| 1995 | "Characterization of cholesterol oxidase from Streptomyces hygroscopicus and Brevibacterium sterolicum", First European Network Meeting FLAPS 1, University of Wageningen, Wageningen, The Netherlands. | |
| 1990 | "Chemical modification and site-directed mutagenesis of lysine 116 of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase", Fifth National Congress Proteine '90, Urbino, Italy. | |
Courses Taught at Georgia State University:
Research Advisor at Georgia State University (Past):
Research Advisor at Georgia State University (Present):
| Invited Seminars: | ||
| 2009 | Finnegan, S.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2009 | Francis, K.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2009 | Brooks, P.; Biotechnology Scholar Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2009 | Chapman, N.; Biotechnology Scholar Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2008 | Finnegan, S.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2008 | Francis, K.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2008 | Brooks, P; Award for Oral Presentation at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Orlando, FL. | |
| 2007 | Finnegan, S.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2007 | Francis, K.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2006 | Ghanem, M.; Pendergrast Fellowship from Chemistry Department, GSU. | |
| 2005 | Fan, F.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2005 | Fan, F.; Graduate Award for Outstanding Research from Chemistry Department of Georgia State University. | |
| 2004 | Fan, F.; Molecular Basis Diseases Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2001 | Johnson, K.L.; AMP Scholar Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2001 | McAllister. E.; AMP Scholar Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
| 2001 | Russell, B.; AMP Scholar Fellowship from Georgia State University. | |
Direction of Individual Student Work (Thesis and Dissertations):
1.Silvia Zucchelli, Tesi di Laurea in Scienze Biologiche: July 1995. Title “Colesterolo Ossidasi da Streptomyces hygroscopicus”; Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica Generali, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. Co-Advisor.
2.Giovanni Luca Beretta, Tesi di Laurea in Scienze Biologiche: 1995. Title “Studio del Sito Attivo della D-Amminoacido Ossidasi da Rhodotorula gracilis Mediante Modifica Chimica”; Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica Generali, Universita’ degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. Co-Advisor.
3.Bethany Russell, M.S. Thesis: December 2002. Title: ”Purification and Partial Characterization of Recombinant 2-Nitropopane Dioxygenase from Neurospora crassa”; Chemistry Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
4.Nichole Powell, Ph.D. Dissertation: December 2003. Title: " Bacterial Choline-Oxidizing Systems: Characterization of Enzymes Involved in Stress Tolerance and The Roles of Cytochrome P450s 1A1, 1A2, and 2D6, and the GSTM1 Genes in Treatment Resistant Depression"; Chemistry Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
5.Fan Fan, PhD Dissertation: December 2005. Title: "On the Catalytic Mechanism of Choline Oxidase"; Biology Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
6.Mahmoud Ghanem, PhD Dissertation: March 2006. Title: "On the Mechanistic Roles of the Protein Positive Charge Close to the N(1) Flavin Locus of Choline Oxidase"; Chemistry Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
7.Jane V. Hoang, M.S. Thesis: August 2006. Title: ”Inactivation of Choline Oxidase by Irreversible Inhibitors or Storage Conditions”; Chemistry Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
8.Mijatovic Slavica, M.S. Thesis: May 2008. Title: “Biochemical Characterization of 2-Nitropropane Dioxygenase from Hansenula mrakii”; Chemistry Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
9.Osbourne Quaye, PhD Dissertation: August 2009. Title: “On the Pre-Organization of the Active Site of Choline Oxidase for the Hydride Transfer and Tunneling Mechanism”; Chemistry Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.