Lynn Zechiedrich
{{Short description|American biochemist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Elizabeth Lynn Zechiedrich
| workplaces = Baylor College of Medicine
| alma_mater = University of Arkansas
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
| thesis_title = Catalytic mechanism of eukaryotic topoisomerase II
| thesis_url = http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24362089
| thesis_year = 1990
}}
Elizabeth Lynn Zechiedrich is a professor in the department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Her laboratory's research considers the structure-function properties of DNA and DNA topoisomerases. She was elected to the National Academy of Inventors in 2017.
Zechiedrich is the technical Founder of Twister Biotech, a Baylor College of Medicine spinout company.
Early life and education
Zechiedrich was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Arkansas. Zechiedrich studied zoology, music, and mathematics at the University of Arkansas. She moved to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine for graduate studies, where she started to study toposiomerases.{{Cite thesis|title=Catalytic mechanism of eukaryotic topoisomerase II|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/24362089|date=1990|language=English|first=Elizabeth Lynn|last=Zechiedrich|oclc=24362089 }}
Research and career
In 1997, Zechiedrich was appointed to the faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine.{{Cite web|title=E. Lynn Zechiedrich, Ph.D.|url=https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/e-zechiedrich-33616}} Her research considers the structure-function properties of DNA and DNA topoisomerases. DNA topisomerases are enzymes that modulate DNA structure and function (for example replication, recombination and chromosome segregation), and they are often targets of anti-cancer drugs. Zechiedrich has developed novel mathematical and experimental approaches to characterize the topography of DNA.{{Cite web|title=Baylor researchers unravel mystery of DNA conformation|url=https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/801331|access-date=2021-11-19|website=EurekAlert!|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Research Casts New Light on 3D Structure of DNA {{!}} Sci-News.com|url=http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-3d-structure-dna-03332.html|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Breaking Science News {{!}} Sci-News.com|date=October 13, 2015 |language=en-US}}
Zechiedrich's laboratory has focused on better understanding fluoroquinolones, broad-spectrum antibiotics that target type-2 topoisomerases. These quinolone antibiotics stabilize topoisomerase-DNA cleavage intermediates. She is interested in how Escherichia coli interact with fluoroquinolones. The breaking and resealing of topoisomerases modulates the formation of DNA supercoils and knots,{{Cite web|last=Cepelewicz|first=Jordana|date=2018-10-29|title=Scientists Learn the Ropes on Tying Molecular Knots|url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/scientists-learn-the-ropes-on-tying-molecular-knots-20181029/|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Quanta Magazine|language=en}} which are overproduced by certain anticancer and antibiotic drugs and can cause cell death. She showed that this coiling and knotting transmits stress along the DNA backbone, which promotes the separation of helical strains and exposes DNA bases.{{Cite web|title=Dynamic twists and loops can enable DNA to modulate its function|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210928074946.htm|access-date=2021-11-19|website=ScienceDaily|language=en}} Zechiedrich's collaborators made use of electron cryotomography to better understand the three-dimensional structures of DNA.
Zechiedrich’s laboratory conceived small circular DNA nanoparticles ("minimized vectors") that can be used to study supercoiling and the function of therapeutic topoisomerase inhibitors. The dynamic movement of the DNA 'minivectors' was investigated using atomic force microscopy by Alice Pyne at the University of Sheffield.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-16|title=First videos to show the helix of 'dancing DNA' developed by scientists {{!}} News {{!}} The University of Sheffield|url=https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/first-videos-show-helix-dancing-dna-developed-scientists|access-date=2021-11-19|website=www.sheffield.ac.uk|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Leeds|first=University of|title=Visualisation of 'dancing DNA'|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-science/news/article/4770/visualisation-of-dancing-dna|access-date=2021-11-19|website=www.leeds.ac.uk|date=February 16, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Saplakoglu|first=Yasemin|date=2021-02-18|title=Incredibly detailed video shows DNA twisting into weird shapes to squeeze into cells|url=https://www.livescience.com/dna-folds-weird-shapes-cell-visualization.html|access-date=2021-11-19|website=livescience.com|language=en}} Minimized vectors can be used as substrates for enzymes that act on DNA, as well as serving as gene therapy vectors.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Zechiedrich named National Academy of Inventors Fellow|url=https://www.bcm.edu/news/dr-lynn-zechiedrich-fellow-nai}} Zechiedrich has theorized that minimized vectors could assist in cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease therapies.{{cite journal |last1=Hardee |first1=Cinnamon L. |last2=Arévalo-Soliz |first2=Lirio Milenka |last3=Hornstein |first3=Benjamin D. |last4=Zechiedrich |first4=Lynn |title=Advances in Non-Viral DNA Vectors for Gene Therapy |journal=Genes |date=10 February 2017 |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=E65 |doi=10.3390/genes8020065 |pmid=28208635 |pmc=5333054 |issn=2073-4425|doi-access=free }}
Selected publications
- {{Cite Q|Q46625387}}
- {{Cite Q|Q33724600}}
- {{Cite Q|Q73538480|doi-access=free}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{twitter|LynnZechiedrich}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:University of Arkansas alumni
Category:Vanderbilt University alumni
Category:Baylor College of Medicine faculty
Category:American classical flautists
Category:American women flautists
Category:Scientists from Houston
Category:20th-century American scientists