NAME: Danielle Clark
PROJECT TITLE: Susceptibility of Amino Acids in Albumin and Hemoglobin to Nonenzymatic Attack By D-Galactose and D-Glucose

View Danielle's webpage here: http://mupfc.marshall.edu/~clark200

Galactosemia is a molecular disease of genetic origin that is characterized by a deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GPUT). While the disease is generally fatal, the prompt initiation of a galactose deficient diet in galactosemic infants allows patients to lead a relatively normal life.  Currently, there are no clinical procedures to measure galactose levels that may prevail during the life span of proteins or methods to effectively manage patients with galactosemia of all ages.
Studies have demonstrated that the measurement of nonenzymatically galactated albumin and hemoglobin can be used for the management of galactosemic patients; however, there are no methods to date for the simple and specific monitoring of these glycated proteins. Recent work in our laboratory has focused on preparing and purifying galactated and glucated samples of both albumin and hemoglobin and on confirming the nonenzymatic binding of D-glucose and D-galactose to these proteins. The objective of this research effort is to identify the amino acid galactation and glucation sites of albumin and hemoglobin. The information gained from this project will be then used to generate galactated peptides that can be used as immunogens for the specific development of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Depending on the quality of the antibodies, the development of an ELISA technique for the management of patients with galatosemia may be realized.