Squire Booker Explained

Squire Booker
Birth Date:September 9, 1965
Awards:Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (2004)
American Chemical Society Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2011)
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2015)
Associate Editor for the American Chemical Society Biochemistry Journal (2019)
Workplaces:Penn State University (1999-Present)
Alma Mater:B.A. in Chemistry at Austin College (1987)
Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1994)
NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Fellow (1994-1995)
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Enzyme Research at the University of Wisconsin (1996-1999)
Known For:Biochemistry research with iron-sulfur clusters enzymes
Birth Place:Beaumont, Texas

Squire Booker is an American biochemist at Penn State University.[1] Booker directs an interdisciplinary chemistry research program related to fields of biochemistry, enzymology, protein chemistry, natural product biosynthesis, and mechanisms of radical dependent enzymes.[2] He is an associate editor for the American Chemical Society Biochemistry Journal, is a Hughes Medical Institute Investigator,[3] and an Eberly Distinguished Chair in Science at Penn State University.[4]

Early life

Booker was born September 9, 1965. He grew up in the segregated community of Beaumont, Texas. He was raised by his grandmother with the help of three uncles.[5] [6] Squire Booker's career was particularly influenced by two of his uncles. One worked at NASA and sparked his interest in astronomy, while the other was a math teacher who inspired his curiosity for solving complex problems. This led him to choose chemistry as his major in college, which combined his interests in math and science.[7]

Education

Booker received his B.A. in chemistry at Austin College in 1987, where he was a Minnie Stevens Piper Scholar.[8] He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994, and conducted postdoctoral research at Universite Rene Decartes in Paris, France and held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Enzyme Research at the University of Wisconsin. He became a professor at Penn State University in 1999,[9] where he earned tenure in 2005.[10]

Research

Booker is a professor of biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology at Penn State University. His research explores how enzymes change their catalytic abilities due to metal ions or metal clusters.[11] His research focuses on enzymes containing iron-sulfur clusters which catalyze chemical reactions.[12] [13] He focuses on the Radical S-adenosylamethionine Superfamily (SAM) which is a group of enzymes that encounters radical chemistry in post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications of DNA.[14] [15] [16]

He also researches many bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, which is found in the nasal cavity and on the skin in humans.[17] S. aureus is problematic because it can mutate into the superbug methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).[18] There is a protein called Cfr protein in S. aureus that binds to ribosomes which is where translation occurs. Many antibiotics bind to ribosomes which cause bacteria to die. However, when Cfr is expressed, it binds to the ribosome and allows the bacteria to stay alive which is known as methylation[19] [20] [21]

This research has led Booker to discover that S. aureus expresses a protein, Cfr, which makes it resistant to many antibiotics.[22] He developed mechanism of this methylation.[23] [24] Booker's lab also researches aspects of the bacterium, Escherichia coli.[25] [26] He determined the three-dimensional structure of the RImN protein from the bacteria. RImN is one of two proteins which makes chemical modification to different RNA molecules. Understanding this structure will help with other research of antibiotic resistance.[27] [28] As a result of his research, he is synthesizing new compounds to stop the bacteria's defenses which would make antibiotics more effective.[29] The goal of his research to design compounds which can prevent infections due to drug-resistant bacteria.[29] [30]

Activism

Booker is active in promoting diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) especially towards undergraduate and graduate students. He was a chair on the Minority Affairs Committee of the American Association of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2010, he helped organize a workshop which discussed the different obstacles and challenges that minorities in biochemistry and molecular biology encounter when building externally funded research programs.[31] [32]

Booker was the guest speaker at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 2019 Investiture of Doctoral Hoods and Degree Conferral Ceremony. He was chosen due to his impressive contributions to the scientific community and his activism towards inclusion of all in STEM. In his speech, he emphasized an opportunity for all in science. He encouraged the graduates to take responsibility and give back to society. It does not matter what one's background is in, people in STEM need to be willing to accept and stand up for each other.

Honors and awards

Booker has received numerous honor and awards:

Selected publications

Booker has published over 100 scientific publications in journals such as the Journal of the American Chemical Society and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Here are some of the most cited publications:

References

  1. Web site: Squire J. Booker — Penn State University - Department of Chemistry. chem.psu.edu. 2020-01-26.
  2. Schepartz. Alanna. 2019-12-24. Welcome New Associate Editor, Squire Booker. Biochemistry. 58. 51. 5099. 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b01057. 31870158. 0006-2960. free.
  3. Keston News Service, No.301, May 26, 1988, 22 pp. . Human Rights Documents Online . 10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-0328-0272.
  4. Stokley. James. 1931-02-07. February Evening Skies. The Science News-Letter. 19. 513. 85–86. 10.2307/3906900. 3906900. 0096-4018.
  5. January 1977. Anthropology News. 18. 1. 5. 10.1111/an.1977.18.1.5.2. 1541-6151. Central States to Provide Employment Service. free.
  6. Book: Indonesia Economic Quarterly, June 2019. June 2019. World Bank. 10.1596/31993. 240730162 .
  7. Web site: Never Stop Exploring: Spotlight on Squire Booker . 3 February 2023 . asm.org.
  8. 1944-06-10. Better/Service for AMERICA'S LABORATORIES IN THE Central States. Chemical & Engineering News. 22. 11. 878. 10.1021/cen-v022n011.p878. 0009-2347. free.
  9. September 1980. Anthropologists Elected to NAS and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Anthropology News. 21. 6. 14. 10.1111/an.1980.21.6.14.2. 1541-6151. free.
  10. Web site: Biochemistry in the Age of Big Data.
  11. Cicchillo. Robert M.. Iwig. David F.. Jones. A. Daniel. Nesbitt. Natasha M.. Baleanu-Gogonea. Camelia. Souder. Matthew G.. Tu. Loretta. Booker. Squire J.. June 2004. Lipoyl Synthase Requires Two Equivalents ofS-Adenosyl-l-methionine To Synthesize One Equivalent of Lipoic Acid†. Biochemistry. 43. 21. 6378–6386. 10.1021/bi049528x. 15157071. 0006-2960.
  12. Lieder. Kafryn W.. Booker. Squire. Ruzicka. Frank J.. Beinert. Helmut. Reed. George H.. Frey. Perry A.. February 1998. S-Adenosylmethionine-Dependent Reduction of Lysine 2,3-Aminomutase and Observation of the Catalytically Functional Iron−Sulfur Centers by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance†. Biochemistry. 37. 8. 2578–2585. 10.1021/bi972417w. 9485408. 0006-2960.
  13. Blaszczyk. Anthony J.. Silakov. Alexey. Zhang. Bo. Maiocco. Stephanie J.. Lanz. Nicholas D.. Kelly. Wendy L.. Elliott. Sean J.. Krebs. Carsten. Booker. Squire J.. 2016-03-03. Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Characterization of the Iron–Sulfur and Cobalamin Cofactors of TsrM, an Unusual Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Methylase. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 138. 10. 3416–3426. 10.1021/jacs.5b12592. 26841310. 0002-7863.
  14. Grove. Tyler L.. Lee. Kyung-Hoon. St. Clair. Jennifer. Krebs. Carsten. Booker. Squire J.. July 2008. In Vitro Characterization of AtsB, a Radical SAM Formylglycine-Generating Enzyme That Contains Three [4Fe-4S] Clusters†. Biochemistry. 47. 28. 7523–7538. 10.1021/bi8004297. 18558715. 0006-2960. 2664749.
  15. Chatterjee. Abhishek. Li. Yue. Zhang. Yang. Grove. Tyler L. Lee. Michael. Krebs. Carsten. Booker. Squire J. Begley. Tadhg P. Ealick. Steven E. 2008-10-26. Reconstitution of ThiC in thiamine pyrimidine biosynthesis expands the radical SAM superfamily. Nature Chemical Biology. 4. 12. 758–765. 10.1038/nchembio.121. 18953358. 1552-4450. 2587053.
  16. Booker. Squire J. Cicchillo. Robert M. Grove. Tyler L. October 2007. Self-sacrifice in radical S-adenosylmethionine proteins. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology. 11. 5. 543–552. 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.08.028. 17936058. 1367-5931. 2637762.
  17. Booker. S.. Stubbe. J.. 1993-09-15. Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the adenosylcobalamin-dependent ribonucleotide reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 90. 18. 8352–8356. 10.1073/pnas.90.18.8352. 8397403. 47354. 1993PNAS...90.8352B. 0027-8424. free.
  18. Sanders. Laura. 2010-09-28. Genes & cells: Superbug secret revealed. Science News. 178. 7. 9. 10.1002/scin.5591780708. 0036-8423.
  19. Peng Jiang. Peng Jiang. 2015-02-10. Sequencing the Cactus Genome to Discover the Secret of Drought Resistance . Experiment . 10.18258/4612.
  20. 2011-09-28. Effective antibiotics are in sight after scientists unlock secrets of superbug. Nursing Standard. 26. 4. 17. 10.7748/ns.26.4.17.s23. 0029-6570.
  21. Bauerle. Matthew R.. Schwalm. Erica L.. Booker. Squire J.. 2014-12-04. Mechanistic Diversity of RadicalS-Adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent Methylation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 290. 7. 3995–4002. 10.1074/jbc.r114.607044. 25477520. 4326810. 0021-9258. free.
  22. Grove. Tyler L. Livada. Jovan. Schwalm. Erica L. Green. Michael T. Booker. Squire J. Silakov. Alexey. 2013-05-05. A substrate radical intermediate in catalysis by the antibiotic resistance protein Cfr. Nature Chemical Biology. 9. 7. 422–427. 10.1038/nchembio.1251. 23644479. 1552-4450. 3897224.
  23. Boal. A. K.. Grove. T. L.. McLaughlin. M. I.. Yennawar. N. H.. Booker. S. J.. Rosenzweig. A. C.. 2011-04-28. Structural Basis for Methyl Transfer by a Radical SAM Enzyme. Science. 332. 6033. 1089–1092. 10.1126/science.1205358. 21527678. 0036-8075. 3506250. 2011Sci...332.1089B.
  24. Grove. T. L.. Benner. J. S.. Radle. M. I.. Ahlum. J. H.. Landgraf. B. J.. Krebs. C.. Booker. S. J.. 2214309. 2011-03-17. A Radically Different Mechanism for S-Adenosylmethionine-Dependent Methyltransferases. Science. 332. 6029. 604–607. 10.1126/science.1200877. 21415317. 2011Sci...332..604G. 0036-8075. free.
  25. Lanz. Nicholas D.. Blaszczyk. Anthony J.. McCarthy. Erin L.. Wang. Bo. Wang. Roy X.. Jones. Brianne S.. Booker. Squire J.. 2018-01-03. Enhanced Solubilization of Class B Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Methylases by Improved Cobalamin Uptake in Escherichia coli. Biochemistry. 57. 9. 1475–1490. 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01205. 29298049. 0006-2960. 5941297.
  26. Cicchillo. Robert M.. Lee. Kyung-Hoon. Baleanu-Gogonea. Camelia. Nesbitt. Natasha M.. Krebs. Carsten. Booker. Squire J.. September 2004. Escherichia coli Lipoyl Synthase Binds Two Distinct [4Fe−4S] Clusters per Polypeptide†. Biochemistry. 43. 37. 11770–11781. 10.1021/bi0488505. 15362861. 0006-2960.
  27. Pennisi. E.. Elizabeth Pennisi. 1993-05-22. Cancer Cells Caught in the (Metastatic) Act. Science News. 143. 21. 324. 10.2307/3977284. 3977284. 0036-8423.
  28. McCarthy. Erin L.. Rankin. Ananda N.. Dill. Zerick R.. Booker. Squire J.. 2018-12-11. The A-type domain in Escherichia coli NfuA is required for regenerating the auxiliary [4Fe–4S] cluster in Escherichia coli lipoyl synthase. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 294. 5. 1609–1617. 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006171. 30538130. 6364782. 0021-9258. free.
  29. ARNAUD. CELIA. Novel Antibiotic Mechanism. 2007-08-13. Chemical & Engineering News. 85. 33. 13. 10.1021/cen-v085n033.p013a. 0009-2347.
  30. Rajakovich. Lauren J.. Nørgaard. Hanne. Warui. Douglas M.. Chang. Wei-chen. Li. Ning. Booker. Squire J.. Krebs. Carsten. Bollinger. J. Martin. Pandelia. Maria-Eirini. 2015-09-02. Rapid Reduction of the Diferric-Peroxyhemiacetal Intermediate in Aldehyde-Deformylating Oxygenase by a Cyanobacterial Ferredoxin: Evidence for a Free-Radical Mechanism. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 137. 36. 11695–11709. 10.1021/jacs.5b06345. 26284355. 0002-7863.
  31. April 1985. NSF Outreach Service. Anthropology News. 26. 4. 13. 10.1111/an.1985.26.4.13.4. 1541-6151.
  32. August 2010. News briefing: 30 July–5 August 2010. Nature. 466. 7307. 670–671. 10.1038/466670a. 0028-0836. free.
  33. Web site: Protein Society Awards . www.proteinsociety.org.
  34. 1978-06-19. ACS News. Chemical & Engineering News. 56. 25. 38–39. 10.1021/cen-v056n025.p038. 0009-2347. free.
  35. Psychologist Steven Breckler named fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2008. 10.1037/e539992008-001.

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