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Dr. Mary E. Konkle
Introduction My EIU Story Education & Training Conference Presentations Publications Funding & Grants Frequently Taught Courses Research & Creative Interests Professional Affiliations Update your profile

Dr. Mary E. Konkle

Associate Professor - Biochemistry

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Konkle is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry who is intrigued by systems where a small chemical change causes a large biological impact. She investigates case studies that impact human health and disease.

My EIU Story

Mary Konkle

Mary Konkle gives us a little background about her philosophies and motivations as an educator at Eastern Illinois University.

 

Education & Training

2016 – present            Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
2010 – 2016                Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
2008 - 2010                 Post-Doctoral Associate, Lab of Dr. Laura Hunsicker-Wang, Department of Chemistry, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
2003 - 2008                 Ph.D., Chemistry, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, TN
2001 - 2003                 Medicinal Chemistry, Albany Molecular Research, Albany, NY    
1997 - 2001                 B.S., Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Conference Presentations

* Denotes student presenter
ME Konkle, LM Hunsicker-Wang, Translation of chemical biology research into the biochemistry laboratory: Chemical modification of protiens by diethylpyrocarbonate, Presentation at ACS National Meeting, 2016 Mar; San Diego, CA
 
*J Herrera, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Characterizing the Interactions of Pioglitazone, GDH1 and MitoNEET, Poster Presented at: Louis Stokes Midwest Center for Excellence, 2015 Oct; Indianapolis, IN
 
*SE Banister, *P Birge, *M Woodruff, *FR Roland, W Geldenhuys, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Testing Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1 Activity in the Presence of Type-2 Diabetes Drugs (TZDs), SURE Award Winner, Poster Presented at: SciFest, 2015 Apr; Charleston, IL
 
*DF Grimm, *L Altamirano, **J Herrera, L Welker, *S Paudel, ME Konkle, MA Menze, The Effects of Pioglitazone of Liver Cell Bioenergetics, Poster Presented at: American Society of Cell Biology, 2014 Dec; Philadelphia, PA
 
*S Paudel, *LE Welker,BP Nathan, ME Konkle, MA Menze, D-Galactose Decreases MitoNEET (CISD1) Levels in HepG2 Cells, Poster Presented at: American Society of Cell Biology, 2014 Dec; Philadelphia, PA
 
*SE Banister, *M Woodruff, *FR Roland,  MA Menze, ME Konkle, Reactions of MitoNEET, A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: Research Celebration, 2014 Nov, Charleston, IL
 
*SE Banister, *M Woodruff, *FR Roland,  MA Menze, ME Konkle, Chemical Modification of MitoNEET, A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: Protein Society, 2014 Jul; San Diego, CA
 
*MM Laffoon, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Chemical Modification of MitoNEET, A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: Protein Society, 2014 Jul; San Diego, CA
 
*MM Laffoon, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Chemical Modification of MitoNEET, A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Presentation presented at: National Conference for Undergraduate Research, 2014 Apr; Lexington, KY
 
*JP Crail, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Analysis of the Oligomeric State of MitoNEET: A Novel Type-2 Diabetes Drug Target, Presentation presented at: National Conference for Undergraduate Research, 2014 Apr; Lexington, KY
 
*NE Ferry, *MM Laffoon, ME Konkle, MA Menze,MitoNEET: Reduction in Insulin Resistance through Ameliorated Oxidative Stress, Presentation presented at: National Conference for Undergraduate Research, 2014 Apr; Lexington, KY
 
*JP Crail, *ME Roberts, *W Fernandez, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Characterizing Protein Binding Partners of MitoNEET, Poster session presented at: 246th American Chemical Society Meeting, 2013 Sep; Indianapolis, IN
 
*MM Laffoon, *ME Roberts, ME Konkle, Expression, Purification and Chemical Modification of MitoNEET; A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: 246th American Chemical Society Meeting, 2013 Sep; Indianapolis, IN
 
*W Fernandez, *LE Erbacher , ME Konkle, MA Menze, Examining the Roles of Estrogen and Oxidative Damage in Alzheimer’s Disease. Poster session presented at: Council for Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill, 2013 Apr; Washington D.C
 
*M Laffoon, *ME Roberts, ME Konkle, The Purification and Characterization of MitoNEET; A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: Butler Undergraduate Research Symposium, 2013 Apr; Indianapolis, IN
 
*ME Roberts, *W Fernandez, MA Menze, ME Konkle, The Characterization and Binding Partners of MitoNEET:A Novel Diabetes Drug Target,Poster session presented at: Graduate Research Showcase, 2013 Apr; Charleston, IL
 
*L Erbacher, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Targeting Alzheimer’s Disease; Discovering Protein Targets of Oxidative Stress, Presented at: National Conference for Undergraduate Research, 2013 Apr; La Crosse, WI
 
*N Ferry, *F Roland, ME Konkle, MA Menze Type-2 Diabetes: Does MitoNEET Impact Mitochondrial Functions by Multiple Mechanisms? Poster session presented at: National Conference for Undergraduate Research, 2013 Apr; La Crosse, WI
 
*N Ferry, *ME Roberts, ME Konkle, MA Menze, Type-2 Diabetes: Does MitoNEET Impact Mitochondrial andCatalase Functions by Multiple Mechanisms? Poster session presented at: Illinois State Academy of Sciences, 2013 Apr; Jacksonville, IL
 
*N Ferry, *F Roland, ME Konkle, MA Menze Type-2 Diabetes: Does MitoNEET Impact Mitochondrial Functions by Multiple Mechanisms? Poster session presented at: SciFest, 2013 Apr; Charleston, IL
 
*M Laffoon, *ME Roberts, ME Konkle, The Purification and Characterization of MitoNEET; A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: Undergraduate Research Showcase, 2013 March; Charleston, IL
 
*L Erbacher, *K Ballom, *W Fernandez, MA Menze, ME Konkle Targeting Alzheimer’s: Discovering Mitochondrial Protein Targets of Oxidative Stress, Poster session presented at: Chemistry Research Celebration, 2012 Nov; Charleston, IL
 
*ME Roberts, *M Laffoon,  ME Konkle, The Purification and Characterization of MitoNEET; A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: Protein Society Annual Symposium, 2012 Aug; San Diego, CA
 
*L Erbacher, *K Ballom, *W Fernandez, MA Menze, ME Konkle Targeting Alzheimer’s: Discovering Mitochondrial Protein Targets of Oxidative Stress, Poster session presented at: Protein Society Annual Symposium, 2012 Aug; San Diego, CA
 
ME Konkle, MA Menze, Britto Nathan, *W Fernandez, *L Erbacher, *E Hendrick, *K Ballom Untangling Alzheimer’s Disease; Interdisciplinary Research at Eastern Illinois University, Presented at: College of Sciences External Advisory Board Meeting, 2012 Apr, Charleston, IL
 
*ME Roberts, *M Laffoon, ME Konkle, The Purification and Characterization of MitoNEET; A Novel Diabetes Drug Target, Poster session presented at: Undergraduate Research Showcase, 2012 Apr; Charleston, IL
 
ME Konkle, MA Menze, Britto Nathan, *W Fernandez, *L Erbacher, *E Hendrick, *K Ballom Untangling Alzheimer’s Disease; Interdisciplinary Research at Eastern Illinois University, Presented at: SciFest, 2012 Apr, Charleston, IL
 
*L Erbacher, *K Ballom, *W Fernandez, MA Menze, ME Konkle Targeting Alzheimer’s: Discovering Mitochondrial Protein Targets of Oxidative Stress, Poster session presented at:Undergraduate Research Showcase, 2012 Apr; Charleston, IL
 
*L Erbacher, *K Ballom, *W Fernandez, MA Menze, ME Konkle Targeting Alzheimer’s: Discovering Mitochondrial Protein Targets of Oxidative Stress, Poster session presented at: SciFest, 2012 Apr; Charleston, IL
 
*W Fernandez, L Elmuti, ME Konkle, B Nathan, MA Menze, Effects of Estrogen on Mitochondrial Function in ApoE-deficient Mice Poster session presented at: Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2012 Jan; Charleston, SC
 
*A Anderton, *ME Roberts, *F Roland, ME Konkle, Expression, Purification, and Activity of Bacterial Dioxygenases, Poster session presented at: Chemistry Research Celebration, 2011 Nov; Charleston, IL
 
*R Adeboyejo, ME Konkle, The Detoxification of Organic Waste Contaminants by Toluene Dioxygenase and Carbazole Dioxygenase Metabolism, Poster session presented at: Chemistry Research Celebration, 2011 Nov; Charleston, IL
 
*R Adeboyejo, ME Konkle, The Detoxification of Organic Waste Contaminants by Toluene Dioxygenase and Carbazole Dioxygenase Metabolism, Poster session presented at: 25th Annual Symposium of the Protein, 2011 July; Boston, MA

Publications

7.“Conservative Secondary Shell Substitution In Cyclooxygenase-2 Reduces Inhibition by Indomethacin Amides and Esters via Altered Enzyme Dynamics”
ME Konkle, AL Blobaum, CW Moth, JJ Prusakiewicz, S Xu, D Akingbade, AT Jacobs, CA Rouzer, TP Lybrand, LJ Marnett, Biochemistry, 2016, 55(2), pp 348-359
 
6.“The Reduction Rates of DEPC-modified Mutant Thermus Thermophilus Rieske Proteins Differ when There is a Negative Charge Proximal to the Cluster”
*NE Karagas, CN Jones, DJ Osborn, *AL Dzierlenga, P Oyala, ME Konkle, *EM Whitney, RD Britt, LM Hunsicker-Wang, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2014, 19(7), pp 1121-1135
 
5.“Disulfide Bond with Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1 Links Diabetes Drug Target MitoNEET to Insulin Regulation” *ME Roberts, *JP Crail, *MM Laffoon, *W Fernandez, MA Menze, ME Konkle, Biochemistry, 2013, 52(50), pp 8969-8971
4.“Chemical Modification of the Rieske Protein from Thermus thermophilus Using Diethyl Pyrocarbonate Modifies Ligating Hisitidine 154 and Reduces the [2Fe-2S] Cluster” ME Konkle, *KN Elsenheimer, *JC Robicheaux, ST Weintraub, LM Hunsicker-Wang, Biochemistry, 2010, 49 (34), pp 7272-7281
 
3.“Effects of pH on the Rieske Protein from Thermus thermophilus: a Spectroscopic and Structural Analysis” ME Konkle, *SK Muellner, *AL Schwander, MM Dicus, *R Pokhrel, RD Britt, AB Taylor, LM Huncsicker-WangBiochemistry, 2009, 48 (41), pp 9848–9857
 
2.“Indomethacin Amides as a Novel Molecular Scaffold for Targeting Trypanosoma cruzi Sterol 14a-Demethylase” GI Lepesheva  (ME Konkle, Author 1 of 12)  J. Med. Chem., 2009, 52 (9), pp 2846–2853
 
1.“Cyclooxygenase Inhibition Mechanisms: Recent Advances” MV Turman, AL Blobaum, ME Konkle, LJ Marnett, 2008 Wiley Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology. 1-8
 
Non-peer Reviewed Publications
 
3.“Glimpses Into Summer Research – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 3)” published in Council on Undergraduate, Chemistry Division website post, 8/2016.
2.“Glimpses Into Summer Research – Transitions (Part 2)” published in Council on Undergraduate, Chemistry Division website post(https://curchem.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/a-glimpse-into-summer-research-part-2/), 6/2016.
1. “Glimpses Into Summer Research – Year of the Young (Part 1)” published in Council on Undergraduate, Chemistry Division website post (https://curchem.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/856/), 8/2016.

Funding & Grants

National Science Foundation RUI (2016-2019), (Mary Konkle, PI, Michael Menze, Co-PI, and Nilay Chakraborty, Co-PI) Amount awarded: $396,360
President’s Research Fund (2016-2017), (Mary Konkle, PI), Amount awarded: $15,000
Mindlin Foundation: Investigator Award (2015), (Mary Konkle, PI, Michael Menze, Co-PI and Nilay Chakraborty, Co-PI) Amount awarded: $10,000
Mindlin Foundation: Student Award (2015), (Audrey Rex, undergraduate student, Mary Konkle, mentoring PI) Amount awarded: $2,500
Council for Faculty Research (2015), Eastern Illinois University (Mary Konkle, PI), Amount awarded: $4,000
Mitochondrial Genetics and Physiology Workshop (2015), Hosted by Dr. Carlos Torres-Ramos at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
 Interdisciplinary Research In Sciences (2014), Eastern Illinois University (Mary Konkle PI, Michael Menze, Co-PI, Britto Nathan Co-PI). Amount awarded: $5,000
Lida G. Wall Research Award (2014), College of Sciences Eastern Illinois University

Frequently Taught Courses

Biochemistry Courses
Biochemistry I, 3 semester credit hours (Fa 2010, Fa 2012, Fa 2013, Fa 2015)
Biochemistry II, 3 semester credit hours (Sp 2012, Sp 2014)
Biochemistry III, 3 semester credit hours (Fa 2011, Fa 2014, Fa 2016)
Biochemistry Laboratory, 2 semester credit hours (Sp 2011, Sp 2013, Sp 2014)
Survey Biochemistry, 3 semester credit hours (Sp 2011, Sp 2014, Sp 2016)
Honors Courses
Honors First Year Seminar, 3 semester credit hours (Fa 2016)
Graduate Courses
Bioanalytical Problem Solving, 3 semester credit hours (Sp 2014, Sp 2016)
Special Topics in Chemistry; A  Biochemistry Course for High School Teachers, 3 semester credit hours (Su 2013)
Organic Chemistry for High School Teachers, 3 semester credit hour (Su 2015)
Critical Reading of the Chemical Literature, 1 semester credit hour (Fa 2016)
Organic Courses
Survey of Organic Chemistry Lab, 1 semester credit hour (Sp 2011)
Organic Chemistry Lab 1, 1 semester credit hour (Sp 2009, Sp 2010)
General Chemistry Courses
World of Chemistry, 4 semester credit hours (Fa 2010, Fa 2011, Sp 2012, Fa 2012, Fa 2014, Fa 2015)
General Chemistry I Lab (Fa 2009, Sp 2011, Sp 2015)

Research & Creative Interests

Dr. Mary E. Konkle (Department of Chemistry, Eastern Illinois University) has formed collaborations with Dr. Michael A. Menze (Department of Biological Sciences, University of Louisville), and Dr. Nilay Chakraborty (Department of Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn) to investigate the novel chemical properties of the recently described human protein mitoNEET and its impact on life processes. Energy can be produced through different pathways in cells. How the traffic of fuel through these pathways is directed is still unclear. Evidence suggests that mitoNEET, a novel iron-sulfur containing human protein, regulates the flow of fuel through different pathways in a tissue specific manner. This role directly links chemistry of iron-sulfur proteins to the life process of energy generation. The integrated approach combines techniques from biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioengineering to address the role of mitoNEET in cells. Our research students are partners in this scholarly work and acquire training in protein production, genetic engineering, and cellular imaging provided by the three laboratories.  Our collaboration gives access to cutting-edge molecular research while simultaneously encouraging development of diverse talent in the science and engineering pipeline.

Professional Affiliations

American Chemical Society
Protein Society
Council on Undergraduate Research
Louis Stokes Midwest Center for Excellence
EIU Sandra and Jack Pine Honors College
Sigma Alpha Iota