Shane Ruebush

Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry MSU

NASA Astrobiology Institute

Air Force Office of Scientific
Research

Office of Naval Research

US Department of Energy

National Institutes of Health

Thermal Biology Institute

Center for Bio-inspired Nano
materials

P.O. Box 173400

Bozeman, MT 59717

Ph: 406 994 7211

Fax: 406 994 7212

john.peters@chemistry.montana.edu

Bridger Bowl Snow Report

Big Sky Snow Report

Moonlight Basin Snow Report

Shane Ruebush

Postdoctoral Fellow

sruebush@chemistry.montana.edu

Current Research

I am a post-doc working on the hydrogenase maturation and H-cluster biosynthesis problem in the Peters group. This project has many great questions; it is both intellectually stimulating and enjoyable. In this project we are applying biochemical, molecular biological and spectroscopic techniques to probe the mechanism by which the H-cluster is synthesized and transferred to the FeFe hydrogenase. Specifically I am addressing the metabolic source of the unusual ligands that are part of the H-cluster.

I have always enjoyed bioinorganic chemistry since receiving a B.S. in chemistry from Utah State University (Logan, UT). As an undergraduate I studied the enzyme methionine aminopeptidase under the guidance of Rick Holz. My family and I moved to Penn State University (State College, PA) where I studied for a Ph.D. in biochemistry with Ming Tien and Sue Brantley. My research was looking at the process of bacterial respiration using minerals as the terminal electron acceptor. Bugs breathing metals-- that was a very intriguing topic! I looked at the changes in metabolism of Shewanella oneidensis with different electron acceptors as well as the cellular organization of the proteins necessary to transfer electrons outside the cell the mineral phases.

Since finishing my Ph.D. I took the opportunity to return to the West and my family and I enjoy the natural beauty of the Montana landscapes. Montana is a great place to live and do research.

Education

2006

1996-2000

Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
Title of Ph.D. thesis: "Biochemical characterization of membrane proteins in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 involved in dissimilatory iron reduction"

B.S. in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT.

Research Experience

2000-2006

1999-2000

1998-1999

Graduate student, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Dr. Ming Tien's lab
- isolation and purification of proteins involved in electron transfer to iron oxides
- proteomics to identify proteins unique to growth conditions
- cloning and heterologous expression of proteins
- development of assays for the reduction of soluble and solid phase iron

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Dr. Richard Holz's lab
-expression of pfMetAP (methionine aminopeptidase from Pyrococcus furiosus);
-kinetic and spectroscopic characterization of pfMetAP
-crystallization of apo- and Zn-loaded enzyme

Laboratory Technician, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Dr. Steve Aust's lab
-performed organic extractions for HPLC analysis of fungal cultures growing using trinitrophenol compounds as a source of carbon -collected and prepared samples of C¹⁴ labeled CO₂ from active growing fungal cultures -prepared and maintained fungal cultures for experiments

Publications

McGlynn, S. E., Ruebush, S. S., Naumov, A., Nagy, L. E., Dubini, A., King, P. W., Broderick, J. B., Posewitz, M. C., and Peters, J. W. (2007) In vitro activation of [FeFe] hydrogenase: new insights into hydrogenase maturation. J Biol Inorg Chem 12: 443-7.

Ruebush, S. S., S. L. Brantley, and M. Tien. (2006). Reduction of soluble and insoluble iron forms by membrane fractions of Shewanella oneidensis grown under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. In press.

Ruebush, S. S., G. A. Icopini, S. L. Brantley, and M. Tien. (2006). In vitro enzymatic reduction kinetics of mineral oxides by membrane fractions from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 70:56-70.

Brantley, S. L., S. S. Ruebush, and M. Tien. (2006). Analysis of the biogeochemical kinetics of reaction of Fe oxides in vitro, in vivo, and in silico. Reviews in Clays and Clay Minerals. In press.

Copik, A. J., B. P. Nocek, S. I. Swierczek, S. S. Ruebush, S. B. Jang, L. Meng, V. M. D'Souza, J. W. Peters, B. Bennett, and R. C. Holz. (2005). EPR and X-ray crystallographic characterization of the product-bound form of the Mn-II-loaded methionyl aminopeptidase from Pyrococcus furiosus. Biochemistry. 44:121-129.

Icopini, G. A., A. D. Anbar, S. S. Ruebush, M. Tien, and S. L. Brantley. (2004). Iron isotope fractionation during microbial reduction of iron: The importance of adsorption. Geology 32:205-208.

D'Souza, V. M., S. I. Swierczek, N. J. Cosper, L. Meng, S. S. Ruebush, A. J. Copik, R. A. Scott, and R. C. Holz. (2002). Kinetic and structural characterization of manganese(II)-loaded methionyl aminopeptidases. Biochemistry. 41:13096-13105.

Meng, L., S. S. Ruebush, V. M. D'Souza, A. J. Copik, S. Tsunasawa, and R. C. Holz. (2002). Overexpression and divalent metal binding properties of the methionyl aminopeptidase from Pyrococcus furiosus. Biochemistry. 41:7199-7208.