Beatrice A. Clack
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
Stephen F. Austin State University
Bio CV
Research Interests
Publications
Personal Courses
Degrees:
University
of Texas at Dallas, Ph.D. (1988) Molecular and Cell Biology
University of Texas at Dallas, M.S., (1984) Molecular and Cell Biology
Texas A&M University, B.S., (1981) Biochemistry
Contact: bclack@sfasu.edu
I was born in Beaumont, TX. I have always been fascinated by living creatures. I became interested in research during my undergraduate studies after having the opportunity to work in the Texas A&M Veterinary school. My graduate school training, under the direction of Dr. Donald M. Gray, focused on studying protein-DNA interactions and structure of DNA within bacteriophages using UV spectroscopy, circular and linear dichroism spectroscopy. I expanded my research expertise at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center studying the Insulin Receptor Kinase and Myosin Light Chain kinases. During my time at UT Southwestern, I found my love for teaching research. In 1996 I was recruited to Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) in Nacogdoches, TX to develop and teach the graduate Biotechnology program. In the process of developing the MS in Biotechnology, my research developed in several directions in order to serve the students who entered the program. Projects include 1) Genetic Characterization of the Threatened East Texas Rose Mallow (Hibiscus dasycalyx) 2) Identifying Eco-friendly biopesticides to the Sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps), 3) Development of an prolyl endo protease for the treatment of Celiac’s Disease 4) Structure/function studies of a unique prolyl endoprotease and 5) Use of Chaperone Proteins to assist in expression of recombinant enzymes in E. coli and 6) Identification of new anti-cancer compounds from plants. These projects provide opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to learn many state-of-the art techniques in molecular biology such as cloning, PCR, microarray, pyrosequencing, Real Time PCR, qRT-PCR, RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, spectroscopy techniques, protein expression methods, tissue culture and many more.
Research Interests
1) Genetic Characterization of the Threatened East Texas Rose Mallow (Hibiscus dasycalyx)
2) Identifying Eco-friendly biopesticides to the Sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps),
3) Development of an prolyl endo protease for the treatment of Celiac’s Disease
4) Structure/function studies of a unique prolyl endoprotease
5) Use of Chaperone Proteins to assist in expression of recombinant enzymes in E. coli
6) Identification of new anti-cancer compounds from plants.
Publications
Kuźma
M, Clack B,
Edwards J, Tylingo R, Samaszko J, Madaj J. Carbohydr
Res. 2012 Feb 1;348:84-90. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2011.11.012. Epub 2011 Nov 28.
PMID: 22177926
Characterization of a prolyl endoprotease from Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Sunn pest) infested wheat. Darkoh C, El-Bouhssini
M, Baum M, Clack B. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2010 Jul;74(3):163-78.
doi:
10.1002/arch.20370. PMID: 20568295
Enzymes as feed additive to aid
in responses against Eimeria species in coccidia-vaccinated broilers fed corn-soybean meal diets
with different protein levels.
Parker J, Oviedo-Rondón EO, Clack BA, Clemente-Hernández S, Osborne
J, Remus JC, Kettunen H, Mäkivuokko
H, Pierson EM. Poult
Sci. 2007 Apr; 86(4):643-53. PMID:
17369534
Phosphorylation-dependent
structural changes in the regulatory light chain domain of smooth muscle heavy meromyosin. Wu X, Clack BA, Zhi G, Stull JT, Cremo CR. J Biol Chem. 1999 Jul 16;274(29):20328-35. PMID:
10400655
Flow linear dichroism spectra of four filamentous bacteriophages: DNA
and coat protein contributions. Clack BA, Gray DM.Biopolymers.
1992 Jul;32(7):795-810. PMID:
1391632
Autophosphorylation of soluble insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. 1H
NMR spectral changes observed during phosphorylation of mobile tyrosine residues. Levine BA, Tavaré
JM, Alejos E, Clack B, Sayed
N. J Biol
Chem. 1991 Jul 15;266(20):13405-10. PMID:
1649190
A soluble
insulin receptor kinase catalyzes ordered phosphorylation at multiple tyrosines of dodecapeptide
substrates. Levine BA, Clack B,
Ellis L. J Biol
Chem. 1991 Feb 25;266(6):3565-70. PMID:
1847379
Phosphorylation of tyrosines 1158, 1162
and 1163 on a synthetic dodecapeptide by the insulin
receptor protein-tyrosine kinase.
Dickens M, Tavaré JM, Clack B, Ellis L,
Denton RM. Biochem Biophys
Res Commun. 1991 Jan 31;174(2):772-8. PMID:
1847054
Two-dimensional phosphopeptide analysis
of the autophosphorylation cascade of a soluble
insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. The tyrosines
phosphorylated are typical of those observed following phosphorylation of the heterotetrameric insulin receptor in intact cells. Tavaré JM, Clack
B, Ellis L. J Biol
Chem. 1991 Jan 25;266(3):1390-5. PMID:
1703148
A CD
determination of the alpha-helix contents of the coat proteins of four
filamentous bacteriophages: fd,
IKe, Pf1, and Pf3. Clack
BA, Gray DM. Biopolymers.
1989 Nov;28(11):1861-73. PMID:
2597737
The binding of
fd gene 5 protein to polydeoxynucleotides: evidence from CD measurements for two
binding modes. Kansy
JW, Clack BA, Gray DM. J Biomol
Struct Dyn. 1986 Jun;3(6):1079-110.
PMID: 3271425
Clack, Beatrice A., and Alan B. Youngblood. "Nucleic acid for biotin production." U.S. Patent No. 7,423,136.
9 Sep. 2008.
Biotechnology-
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Biology-
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Personal
Dr.
Clack enjoys working with her animals: She enjoys playing her cello,
showing the Jazz Man, her Bouvier des Flandres., bird
watching in her yard, keeping fish, cats, chickens, and her cockatiel. She enjoys stain glass, knitting, crocheting
and painting.