Karen J. Chave
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Karen J. Chave, Ph.D.

Director, Protein Expression and Biochemistry Cores
Research Scientist, Scientific Core
Ph.D., University of Surrey (1993)
Postdoctoral training: New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center

Research Interests

I am the Director, and actively work in, the Wadsworth Center Protein Expression Core where I express and purify proteins in E.coli, insect and mammalian expression systems. I specialize in finding conditions for expression of soluble protein in E.coli.  I have expressed and purified over 150 proteins.

My graduate and postdoctoral studies focused on the biochemical function of enzymes involved in folate metabolism.  Particularly the enzyme γ-glutamyl hydrolase.  This enzyme is involved in folate metabolism and catabolizes antifolate drugs such as methotrexate.  DNA and protein variants of this enzyme are implicated in drug resistance, toxicity and clinical outcome in cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Select Publications
Chave KJ. Gamma-glutamyl-Hydrolase. "Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes". 2013; (3rd Edition, Academic Press): 2453-2458.
Eisele LE, Chave KJ, Lehning AC, Ryan TJ. Characterization of Human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase in solution demonstrates that the enzyme is a non-dissociating homodimer. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 2006; 1764 (9): 1479-86.
Pubmed Web Address
Volk EL, Pankuch JJ, Chave KJ, Coward JK, Schneider E. A rapid assay for the quantitation of gamma-glutamyl hydrolase using a fluorogenic peptide as substrate. BioTechniques. 2003; 35 (5): 926-928.
Pubmed Web Address
Chave KJ, Ryan TJ, Chmura SE, Galivan J. Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase gene and characterization of promoter polymorphisms. Gene. 2003; 319 (NULL): 167-175.
Pubmed Web Address
Li H, Ryan TJ, Chave KJ, Van Roey P. Three-dimensional structure of human gamma-glutamyl hydrolase. A class I glatamine amidotransferase adapted for a complex substate. J Biol Chem. 2002; 277 (27): 24522-29.
Pubmed Web Address