Wilfred Chen
Professor of Chemical Engineering
|
Molecular Biology
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1993
VOICE: 951-827-2473 |
Over the past three decades breakthroughs in molecular genetics have revolutionized our ability to analyze and manipulate the structures and properties of nucleic acids and proteins. The combination of chemical engineering principles and molecular biology will be the foundation of an increasing number of problems, ranging from environmental monitoring and cleanup to the production of high value products. My current research efforts are focused on the development of novel biocatalysts and molecular tools that can be used to enhance or manipulate microbial metabolism for the degradation of toxic pollutants or for environmentally-friendly chemical synthesis.
My research in the area of biosynthesis centers on the enhancement of recombinant protein synthesis during restricted growth by manipulating the active ribosome population. This impact of this research was recognized by a NSF Career Award. In the area of bioremediation, my goal is to exploit existing biodegradative routes and to develop novel catabolic pathways that can effectively eliminate pollutants. One ongoing project funded by the EPA and NSF is to develop novel 'live biocatalysts" for the detoxification and monitoring of organophosphate nerve agents. Another project funded by the ONR is to exploit the sequence flexibility of biphenyl dioxygenase in order to create novel enzymes with extended substrate specificity and enhanced activity towards PCBs. We have recently initiated two new research projects, one on monitoring pathogens in drinking water and another one on heavy metal removal using synthetic phytochelatins.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Mulchandani, P., Mulchandani, A. Kaneva, K. and Chen, W. Microbial biosensor for direct determination of organophosphate nerve agents using recombinant Escherichia coli with surface-expressed organophosphorus hydrolase. 1. Potentiometric electrode, Anal. Chem. 70:4140-4145 (1998).
Kaneva, K., Mulchandani, A. and Chen, W. Factors influencing parathion detoxification by recombinant Escherichia coli with surface-expressed organophosphorus hydrolase. Biotechnol. Prog. 14:275-278 (1998).
Chen, W. and Mulchandani, A. The use of live biocatalysts for pesticide detoxification. Trends in Biotechnology 16:71-76 (1998).
Richins, R., Kaneva, I., Mulchandani, A. and Chen, W. Biodegradation of organophosphorus pesticides by surface-expressed organophosphorus hydrolase. Nature Biotechnology 15:984-987 (1997).
Richins, R., Htay, T., Kallio, P. and Chen, W. Elevated Fis expression enhances recombinant protein synthesis in E. coli. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 56:138-144 (1977).
Dedhia, N., Chen, W. and Bailey, J.E. Design of expression systems for metabolic engineering: Coordinated synthesis and degradation of glycogen. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 55:419-426 (1997).
Deshusses, M.A., Chen, W.A., Mulchandani, A. and Dunn, I.J. Innovative bioreactors. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 8:165-168 (1997).
Dedhia, N.N., Richins, R., Mesinam A. and Chen, W. Improvement in recombinant protein production in ppGpp deficient E. coli. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 53:379-386 (1997).