PRIMARY FACULTY MEMBER
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David N. Silverman, Ph.D. Distinquished Professor Phone: 352-392-3556 Office: R5-106 Academic Research Bldg. Email: silvrmn@ufl.edu Publications: Search PubMed |
Personal Research Web Page
Work in Dr. Silverman's lab includes investigations of the mechanisms of very efficient enzymes, mainly human carbonic anhydrase and human superoxide dismutase. These enzymes contain metal ions such as zinc and manganese. Part of our research aims at understanding the role of such metals in the catalysis. Other research aims to show how these important enzymes are limited in overall catalysis by proton transfer steps. This includes intermolecular proton transfers between the enzymes and solution, and intramolecular proton transfer between residues of the enzyme itself. The emphasis of the lab includes biophysical and structure-functions studies in collaboration with the crystallography group of Dr. Robert McKenna in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and in collaboration with Dr. Diane Cabelli at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Methods used to characterize the catalysis of these variants of these enzymes are mass spectrometry, stopped-flow spectrophotometry, and pulse radiolysis. In addition, nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance are used to obtain structural information on the mutant enzymes.
The Silverman lab is also working on methods to measure nitric oxide using mass spectrometry. Developing unique membrane inlet probes that allow NO to enter the mass spectrometer, the lab is studying the nitrite reductase activity of hemoglobin including work with red cell suspensions. This investigation extends to physiological studies in collaboration with Dr. Chris Baylis, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, UF. We are designing and testing NO probes to be used as catheters in physiological studies.
Collaborations outside the Department:
- Dr. Robert McKenna, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UF
- Dr. Chris Baylis, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, UF
- Dr. Diane Cabelli, Department of Chemistry, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Location: http://www.med.ufl.edu/pharm/faculty/silverman.shtml