Scott A. Banta
820 Mudd, Mail Code: 4721
Phone: +1 212-854-7531
Fax: +1 212-854-3054
Email:
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Education:
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2002
M.S., Chemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2000.
B.S.E, Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1997.
Research interests:
Our research focuses on applying
protein engineering and metabolic engineering tools to solve a variety of important
problems in bioengineering. Protein engineering involves the modification of
proteins and peptides in order to produce new molecules with novel traits or
functions. Metabolic engineering refers to the characterization and improvement
of networks of enzymes to obtain desired new goals. These pursuits can be used
to bring about new solutions to problems in biotechnology, nanotechnology,
biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering, and drug discovery.
One of our current research interests involves the engineering of peptide
conformational changes. Peptide motifs have been evolved to respond to changes
in their environment through alterations in their corresponding structures.We are interested in engineering new
stimulus-responsive peptides that respond to novel environmental cues.These new peptides will be useful in many
applications including tissue engineering, protein purification,
bioremediation, drug delivery, and bionanotechnology.
Another area of interest is the engineering of peptides for targeted drug
delivery. A new class of peptides has recently been discovered that are
capable of directing the transport of materials across cellular membranes but
they lack cell type specificity.We are
engineering new peptides that are specific for different tissues and
organs. For example, peptides that can cross the blood brain barrier and
target specific brain cell populations will be valuable for the treatment of
several central nervous system disorders.
Finally, we have an ongoing interest in the interface between protein engineering and electrochemistry.Biofuel cells are devices that use enzymes to produce electricity from biological fuels.We are also interested in biosensors that incorporate proteins and peptides for the robust and specific detection of targeted analytes.There are many opportunities to engineer the properties of these proteins and peptides such that their interface with electrochemical systems is enhanced.
Wheeldon, I.R., Campbell, E. and Banta, S. (2009) "A chimeric fusion protein engineered with disparate functionalities- enzymatic activity and self assembly" Journal of Molecular Biology (In Press).
Gao, S., Simon, M.J., Morrison III, B., and Banta, S. (2009) "Bifunctional chimeric fusion proteins engineered for DNA delivery: Optimization of the protein to DNA ratio" Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (General Subjects) 1790(3) 198-207.
Glykys, D.J., and Banta, S. (2009) "Metabolic control analysis of an enzymatic biofuel cell" Biotechnology and Bioengineering 102(6) 1624-1635.
Wheeldon, I.R., Gallaway, J.W., Calabrese Barton, S., and Banta, S. (2008) "Bioelectrocatalytic hydrogels from electron-conducting metallopolypeptides coassembled with bifunctional enzymatic building blocks" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105(40) 15275-15280.
Blenner M.A., and Banta, S. (2008) "Characterization of the 4D5Flu single chain antibody with a stimulus-responsive elastin-like peptide linker: A potential reporter of peptide linker conformation" Protein Science 17(3) 527-536.
Chockalingam, K., Blenner, M., and Banta, S. (2007)"Design and Application of Stimulus-Responsive Peptide Systems" Protein Engineering, Design and Selection 20(4) 155-161.