Shawn McGlynn, Graduate Student

Contact Information:

Montana State University

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

226 Chemistry and Biochemistry & Building

Bozeman, MT 59717

Email: simplyshawn@gmail.com

Research Interests

Growing up in western Michigan and completing an undergraduate degree in chemistry at Calvin College, I came to Bozeman, MT four years ago and am progressing toward a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry. With a wide range of scientific interests centered around structural biology, I am working on the hydrogenase biosynthesis project. This project is particularly exciting as it explores the many unknown details of [FeFe]-hydrogenase maturation and has practical applications toward renewable energy technology. Currently, the focus of my work is characterizing the HydA structural protein from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This involves protein purification and characterization via x-ray crystallography, EPR, Mossbauer and x-ray absorption spectroscopies. When I am not spending time in the lab, I enjoy flyfishing, backpacking and skiing in the mountains around Bozeman.

Education

2005

B.S. in Chemistry, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman MT.

Research Experience and Awards

2008-

2005

Summer 2005

IGERT Fellowship

Lab Technician, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman MT.

Dr. John Peters' Lab

Investigation of the biosynthesis of hydrogenase and roles of the three accessory proteins from

Clostridium acetobutylicum taking part in the assembly of the active site of hydrogenase

DAAD Undergraduate Scholar, Institute of Chemical Technology, University Campus Vaihingen,

Pfaffenwaldring 55 Stuttgart, Germany.

Prof. J. Weitkamp's Lab

In the summer of 2005 work with the Institute and the group of was conducted investigating the use

of gas expanded liquids as a solvent media for performing oxidations of alcohols using carbon

supported platinum. Of specific concern was the oxidation of 1-Pentanol to the two oxidation

products, valeraldehyde and valeric acid. In varying solvent amounts and pressure, product

distribution was investigated.

Publications

Mcglynn, SE; Mulder, DW; Shepard, SE; Broderick, JB; Peters, JW. Hydrogenase cluster biosynthesis: organometallic chemisty nature's way. Dalton Trans. 2009; 4274-4285.

McGlynn, SE; Shepard, EM; Winslow, MA; Naumov, AV; Duschene, KS; Posewitz, MC; Broderick, WE; Broderick, WE; Broderick, JB; Peters, JW. HydF as a scaffold protein in [FeFe] hydrogenase H-cluster biosynthesis. FEBS Lett. 2008; 582: 2183-2187.

McGlynn, SE; Ruebush, SS; Naumov, A; Nagy, LE; Dubini, A; King, PW; Broderick, JB; Posewitz, MC; Peters, JW. In vitro activation of [FeFe] hydrogenase: new insights into hydrogenase maturation. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2007; 12: 443-447.

Projects