Rebecca C. Holmberg

holmberg@scripps.edu

(858) 784-7418

Department of Chemistry, CVN-22

10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd.

The Scripps Research Institute

La Jolla, CA 92037

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, December 2002

Research Advisor: Professor H. Holden Thorp

Thesis Title: “Binding and Oxidation of DNA Structures with Metal Polypyridyl Complexes”

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

B.S. in Chemistry, May 1998

Distinguished Majors Program, Graduated with Highest Distinction (GPA 3.81)

Research Advisor: Professor Brooks Pate

Honors Thesis Title: “Analysis of the Rotational Spectrum of Single, Highly Vibrationally Excited Quantum States of Propargyl Alcohol”

Research Experience

The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA

Post-doctoral Research Associate, Feb 2003 – Present

• Evolving DNA and RNA polymerases to expand the genetic alphabet using phage display technology

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Research Assistant, 1998 - 2002

• Studied metal-mediated catalytic oxidation of DNA by various synthesized polypyridyl complexes via electrochemistry

• Developed SELEX method for isolation of a DNA aptamer for Ru(bpy)₂phen²⁺

• Analyzed the mechanism of DNA cleavage by novel copper complexes through high resolution gel electrophoresis

• Supervised an undergraduate research project electrochemically examining the electron transfer properties of osmium-labeled oligonucleotides

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Undergraduate Research in Physical Chemistry, 1996-1998

• Analyzed the conformations of molecules and studied the rate of Intramolecular Vibrational Redistribution (IVR) using Electric Resonance Optothermal Spectroscopy with the eventual goal of conformational specific chemistry

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Summer Research Position in Organic Synthesis, Summer 1996

• Aided in research dealing with ring closure mechanisms to synthesize new catalysts useful in biological systems

Technical Experience

Molecular Biology: Phage display, cloning, enzyme mutagenesis, gene shuffling, ELISA

Spectroscopy: UV-Vis absorbance, circular dichroism, fluorescence, atomic absorbance

Electrochemistry: Cyclic voltammetry, normal pulse voltammetry,

simulation programs (DigiSim, COOL)

Nucleic Acid Techniques: Polyacrylamide and agarose gel electrophoresis, ³²P radiolabeling, affinity chromatography, SELEX, PCR optimization, sequencing, thermal denaturation, hybridization, DNA surface immobilization

Synthesis: Ruthenium and Osmium polypyridyl complexes

Computer Programs: Kaleidagraph, ImageQuaNT, MatLab, MathCad, Sybyl, basic html, Microsoft Office

Publications

Holmberg, R. C.; Thorp, H. H. Electrochemical Determinatino of Triple Helices: Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Guanine in an Intramolecular Triplex.. Chem. & Biol. Submitted 1/04.

Holmberg, R. C.; Tierney, M. T.; Berg, E. E.; Grinstaff, M.W.; Thorp, H. H. Intramolecular Electrocatalysis of 8-oxo-Guanine Oxidation: Secondary Structure Control of Electron Transfer in Osmium-Labeled Oligonucleotides. Inorg. Chem. 2003 42(20), 6379-87.

Holmberg, R. C.; Thorp, H. H. Digital Simulation of Catalytic Cyclic Voltammograms for Oxidation of DNA by a Heterobimetallic Dimer: Effects of DNA Binding and Mass Transport. Anal. Chem. 2003, 75 (8), 1851-1860.

Benites, P.J.; Holmberg, R. C.; Rawat, D.S.; Kraft, B. J.; Klein, L. J.; Peters, D. G.; Thorp, H. H.; Zaleski, J. M. Metal-Ligand Charge-Transfer Promoted Photo-Electronic Bergman Cyclization of Copper Metalloenediynes: Photochemical DNA Cleavage via C-4’ H-atom Abstraction. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125 (21), 6434-6446.

Sistare, M. F.; Holmberg, R. C.; Thorp, H. H. Electrochemical Studies of Polynucleotide Binding and Oxidation by Metal Complexes: Effects of Scan Rate, Concentration, and Sequence. J. Phys. Chem. B. 1999, 103(48), 10718-10728.

Green, D.; Holmberg, R.; Lee, C. Y.; McWhorter, D. A.; Pate, B. H. The rotational spectrum of highly vibrationally mixed quantum states of propynol near 3330 cm-1.

J. Chem. Phys. 1998, 109(11), 4407-4414.

Presentations

Isolation of DNA aptamers that bind Ru(bpy)₂phen²⁺. Holmberg, R. C.; Thorp, H. Holden. Poster. American Chemical Society National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 2002.

Binding and Oxidation of Atypical DNA Structures with Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes. Holmberg, R. C. Oral Presentation. University of North Carolina, April 2002.

Ruthenium-osmium heterodinuclear metal mediator in the electrochemical detection of DNA oxidation. Holmberg, R. C.; Thorp, H. Holden. Poster. International Conference on Bioinorganic Chemistry, Florence, Italy, August 2001.

A hetero-dinuclear ruthenium-osmium mediator in the electrochemical detection of DNA oxidation. Holmberg, R. C.; Thorp, H. Holden. Poster. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2001.

Heterodinuclear metal polypyridyl mediators in the electrochemical detection of DNA oxidation. Holmberg, R. C.; Thorp, H. Holden. Poster. American Chemical Society National Meeting, Washington, D.C., August 2000.

Exploring the possibilities of vanadium compounds as insulin mimics: progress toward the treatment of diabetes. Holmberg, R. C. Oral Presentation. Literature seminar. University of North Carolina, October 1999.

Honors

UNC: Venable Fellowship, 1998/1999; GAANN Fellowship (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need), 2000/2001

UVA: Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society; Iota Sigma Pi (National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry) Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Chemistry for 1998; Hugh Miller Spencer Award for outstanding performance as a B.S. chemist, 1998; Golden Key National Honor Society; National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Dean’s List; Raven Society

Professional Chemical Affiliations

American Chemical Society, member since 1999

Iota Sigma Pi (National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry), member since 1998

Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Chemistry Fraternity, member since 1995

References

Professor H. Holden Thorp

UNC Department of Chemistry

CB 3290 Venable Hall B-5

Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290

(919) 962-0276

holden@unc.edu

Professor M.G. Finn

Department of Chemistry, CB-248

10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd.

The Scripps Research Institute

La Jolla, CA 92037

mgfinn@scripps.edu

Professor Jeffrey Zaleski

Department of Chemistry

Indiana University

800 E. Kirkwood Ave.

Bloomington, IN 47405

zaleski@indiana.edu

Professor Brooks Pate

UVA Department of Chemistry

McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319

Charlottesville, VA 22904-4319

(804) 924-7219

bp2k@virginia.edu