http://mgilchrist.ccny.cuny.edu/#

http://www.youtube.com/@moleculesandcolorconnectio1778

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry, Columbia University. 1995-1999 (NIH NRSA Fellow 1997-1999)

Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry. University of California, Davis, Department of Chemistry, 1989-1995

B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Louisiana State University, 1981-1987  

Molecular Engineering of Proteins; Biomembranes and Membrane Proteins; Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Supported Biomembrane Systems for Membrane Protein Studies, Biointerface Engineering of Phase Separated Lipid Microenvironments 

Thermodynamics II; CHE 3300

Unit Operations I: Separations CHE 3450  

Introduction to Bioprocess Engineering; CHE 5800

Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics CHE I2800

  In Vitro Biomembrane Hybrid Systems 

Biomembranes are amazing, multifunctional structures composed of a continuous bilayer of lipid molecules embedded with integral and peripheral membrane proteins. Membrane proteins make up ~30% of the genome of a typical eukaryotic cell, yet due largely to a strict requirement of a highly mobile, native-like biomembrane microenvironment, these molecules have not been widely built into functional materials.

Membrane protein structure is often highly complex, typified by large, multi-subunit complexes that not only span the lipid bilayer but also contain large (>2 nm) cytoplasmic and extracellular domains that protrude from the membrane. We have been researching the construction of stabilized biomembrane hybrid systems based on a biomimetic, surface-tethered artificial cytoskeleton where membrane-protein-polymer bioconjugates anchor the lipid bilayer and provide adequate biomembrane to substrate spacing. This application of this core technology is to enable in vitro supported biomembrane systems in which membrane proteins with large cytoplasmic domains can be stably interfaced with materials. Furthermore, the anchoring of biomembranes in this fashion could lead to assemblies that could hold up to shear, flow, and friction in challenging microenvironments such as found in microdevices, packed beds, and biomaterials. 

Our lab has a broad background in membrane protein systems, supported biomembranes, spectroscopy and imaging. Over time we have worked on the immobilization and biochemical characterization of many membrane proteins including gamma-secretase, photosystem II, bacteriorhodopsin, the nicotinic aceytylcholine receptor, and custom-designed alpha helical peptides, among others.  Most recently we been working with the intermembrane protease gamma-secretase in collaboration with Dr. Yueming Li of MSKCC. We were the first researchers to successfully study gamma-secretase in supported bilayer systems, an enigmatic enzyme with involvement in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease and regulation of the Notch pathway in Cancer. Our broad expertise in biointerface engineering has been directed at deciphering open questions about gamma-secretase, including the influence of lipid phase separation and microenvironment on this enzyme’s role in Notch signaling.

Establishment of the CCNY ChE Extremotech Growspace

 We are currently cultivating a range of microorganisms in parallel and directing our attention to the establishment of the waste-to-energy and valorization biorefinery concept applied to extremophiles. Our goal is to form a testbed for microbial technology development related to the biocircular economy and sustainable bioprocessing. The organisms of our main interest thermophilic (heat-tolerant) and halophilic (salt-tolerant) microbial species that are termed extremophilic and thus are hardy enough to survive the rigors of bioenergy-based carbon capture conditions as well as can consume versatile waste streams. The species we have cultivated as part of an undergraduate/graduate level training program have included: Dunaliella salina (halophillic), Galdieria sulphuraria (acidophillic (pH 2, thermophillic) Oscillatoria tenuis, Chlorella vulgaris (algae), Thermatoga maritima, (H₂ former, anaerobic, thermophilic (70^◦C) (Archaea), Rhodobacter sphaeroids (heterotropic H₂ forming phototroph (purple bacteria)) and Methanohalobium evestigatum (halophilic and thermophilic methanogen). Through the CCNY ChE extremotech growspace, we are working to establish a new route to sustainability innovation in chemical engineering higher education at our institution.

Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Jb4Ek7gAAAAJ&hl=en

Martin, J, Li, Y.-M., Gilchrist, M. L., (2024) "Supported Biomembrane Systems Incorporating Multi-Arm Polymers and Bioorthogonal Tethering" Langmuir, In Press

Punia, K., Britton, D., Hüll, K., Yin, L., Wang, Y.,  Renfrew, P. D., Gilchrist, M. L., Bonneau, R., Trauner, D,  and Montclare, J. K. (2023) "Fluorescent azobenzene-confined coiled-coil mesofibers" Soft Matter, 2023, 19, 497-501

Calhoun, D. H. Stokes, E.and Gilchrist, M. L., Glycosylation Independent Proteins. U.S. Patent 11,034,946, Issued June 15, 2021

Stokes, E. S., Gilchrist, M. L., Calhoun, D. H. (2020) “Prediction of Improved Therapeutics for Fabry Disease Patients Generated by Mutagenesis of the α-Galactosidase A Active Site, Dimer Interface, and Glycosylation Region”, Protein Expression and Purification, Volume 175, 105710

Barros, M., Houlihan, W. J., Paresi, C. J., Brendel, M., Rynearson, K., D., Prikhodko, O., Cregger, C., Lee C., Chang, G., Wagner, S. L., Gilchrist, M. L*., Li, Y.-M.*, (2020) g-Secretase Partitioning into Lipid Bilayers Remodels Membrane Microdomains after Direct Insertion, Langmuir 36, 23, 6569–6579

Ahmed, A.H., Dereli-Korkut, Z., Lee, J. H., Waqas, S., Gilchrist, M. L., Jiang, X., Wang, S. (2020) Apoptosis Detection via Automated Algorithms to Analyze Biomarker Translocation in Reporter Cells, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 117(5) 1470-1482 (Cover Article)

Calhoun, D. H. and Gilchrist, M. L., Scavenger Receptor Uptake For Fabry Disease Enzyme Replacement Therapy. U.S. Patent Application US13970551,  Patent awarded 11/28/18

Kyeyune-Nyombi, E., Morone, F., Liu, W., Li, S. Gilchrist, M. L.*, Makse, H. A.*  (2017) High-resolution of particle contacts via fluorophore exclusion in deep-imaging of jammed colloidal packings. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications (in press)

Fried, E. S., Li, Y. Gilchrist, M.L. (2017). Phase Composition Control in Microsphere-Supported Biomembrane Systems. Langmuir 33 (12), pp 3028–3039

Fried, E. S., Luchan, J.  Gilchrist, M. L. (2016). Biodegradable, Tethered Lipid Bilayer-Microsphere Systems with Membrane-Integrated α-Helical Peptide Anchors. Langmuir, 32 (14), pp 3470–3475 

Gilchrist, M. L., Ahn, K. and Li, Y.M. (2016). Imaging and Functional Analysis of γ-Secretase and Substrate in a Microsphere-Supported Biomembrane System. Analytical Chemistry  88(2), 1303-1311

Lin, H. A., Gupta, M. S., Varma, D. M. , Gilchrist, M. L., Nicoll, S. B., (2015) Lower  crosslinking density enhances functional nucleus pulposus-like matrix elaboration by human mesenchymal stem cells in carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels. J Biomed Mater Res A. 104 (1), 165–177

Hume, J. , Sun, J, Jacquet, R., Renfrew, P. D.,  Martin, J. A., Bonneau, R., Gilchrist,  M. L.  and Montclare, J . K.. (2014)  Engineered Coiled-Coil Protein Microfibers Biomacromolecules 15 (10),  3503–3510  

Zhong, L., Tu, R. S. and Gilchrist, M. L. (2013) Tether-Supported Biomembranes with α‐Helical Peptide-Based Anchoring Constructs Langmuir 28, 299-307

Chen, X., Shojaei-Zadeh, S., Gilchrist, M. L., Maldarelli, C, (2013)  A lipobead microarray assembled by particle entrapment in a microfluidic obstacle course and used for the display of cell membrane receptors Lab on a Chip 13, 3041-3060 

Chau, D.M., Shum, D., Radu, C., Bhinder, B., Gin, D., Gilchrist,  M. L., Djaballah,  H., Li, Y.M. A  Novel High-Throughput 1536-well Notch1 γ-Secretase AlphaLISA Assay.Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 16 (6), 415

 Ahn, K., Shelton, C. C., Tian, Y. M.,  Zhan, X, Gilchrist, M. L., Sisodia, S. S. and Li, Y-M, Intrinsic g-Secretase and Presenilinase Activity of Presenilin 1(2010) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107 (50) 21435-21440;

Vaidya, S., Gilchrist, M. L., Maldarelli, C. M., and Couzis, A, (2007) Spectral Barcoding of Polystyrene Microbeads Using Multicolored Quantum Dots, Analytical Chemistry 

Dudu, V., Ramcharan, M., Gilchrist, M. L., Holland, E.. C., and Vazquez, M, (2007) Liposome Delivery of Quantum Dots to the Cytosol of Live Cells Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 

Sharma, M.K. and Gilchrist, M. L., (2007) Templated Assembly of Biomembranes on Silica Micropheres using Bacteriorhodopsin Conjugates as Structural Anchors, Langmuir 23, 7101-7112

Kalyankar, N. D., Sharma, M.K., Vaidya, S., Calhoun, D.H., Maldarelli, C. M., Couzis, A. and Gilchrist, M. L., (2006) Arraying of Intact Liposomes Into Chemically Functionalized Microwell Surfaces, Langmuir 22(12):5403-11

Vengrenyuk Y, Carlier S, Xanthos S, Cardoso L, Ganatos P, Virmani R, Einav S, Gilchrist L, Weinbaum S. A hypothesis for vulnerable plaque rupture due to stress-induced debonding around cellular microcalcifications in thin fibrous caps. (2006) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Oct 3;103(40):14678-83

Sharma, M. K., Jattani, H., and Gilchrist, M. L., (2004) Bacteriorhodopsin Conjugates as Anchors for Supported Lipid Bilayers, Bioconjugate Chemistry 15(4); 942-947

Sampathkumar, P. and Gilchrist, M. L., (2004) Synthesis and Characterization of Bioconjugates of S-Layer Proteins, Bioconjugate Chemistry 15(4) 685-693

Britt, R. D., Campbell, K., Peloquin, J., Gilchrist, AM. L., Ansar, C., Dicus, M., Robbele, M., Messinger, J., (2004) Recent Pulsed EPR Studies of the Photosystem II Oxygen Evolving Complex: Implications as to Water Oxidation Mechanisms, Biochemica Et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Bioenergetics 1655(1-3):158-71

M. Lane Gilchrist Jr., Monde, K. Tomita, Y.; Iwashita, T.; Nakanishi, K. and McDermott, A. E. (2001), Measurement of Interfluorine Distances in Solids. Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 152, 1-6

Gilchrist, M. L. Jr.; Randall, D. R.; Ball, J. A.; Britt, R. D. (1995), Proximity of the Redox Active Tyrosine Yz. to the Manganese Cluster of Photosystem II. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 92, 9545-9549

Tang, X.-S.; Diner, B. A.; Larsen, B. S.; Gilchrist, M. L. Jr.; Lorigan, G. A.; Britt, R. D. (1994), Identification of Histidine at the Catalytic Site of the Photosynthetic Oxygen Evolving Complex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 91, 704-708