Katharine M. Harris
Assistant Professor of Health Science, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Health Science Chair
Biography
Dr. Harris received her B.S. in chemistry degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. As an undergraduate she worked on the semi-synthesis of a model protein containing an unnatural amino acid isostere for protein folding studies in the laboratory of Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lila M. Gierasch, Ph.D.. Following her time as an undergraduate, Dr. Harris worked in the laboratory of Professor of Biochemistry Robert J. Hondal, Ph.D. on the role that the “21st” amino acid, selenocysteine, played in redox chemistry through thioredoxin reductase studies in the College of Medicine at the University of Vermont as a research technician. In graduate school, Dr. Harris worked in the laboratory of Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Evan R. Kantrowitz, Ph.D. studying allosteric enzyme regulation in the biosynthesis of glucose and pyrimidine nucleotides. She received her doctorate degree in 2012 and joined the faculty at Stonehill.
Education
- Ph.D., Chemistry, Boston College
- B.S., Chemistry, Commonwealth College at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Accomplishments
- Journal of Peptide Science - "Best Publication Award", 2009
Research Interests
- Peptide, protein and enzyme science
- Bioanalytical chemistry
- Structure/function studies
Courses Taught
- General Chemistry I
- General Chemistry II
- Biochemistry Laboratory
- Organic Chemistry I and II Laboratory
- Organic Chemistry of the Cell
Areas of Expertise
Titles
Assistant Professor of Health Science, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Health Science Chair
Departments
Health Science
Selected Publications, Articles & Presentations
- Crystallographic snapshots of the complete catalytic cycle of the unregulated aspartate transcarbamoylase from Bacillus subtilis, Journal of Molecular Biology, 2011, 411(1), 190-200.
- A New Class of Inhibitors of Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase Based Upon the Natural Product Achyrofuran, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2010, 45(4), 1478-84.
- Investigation of the C-Terminal Redox Center of High-Mr Thioredoxin Reductase by Protein Engineering and Semisynthesis, Biochemistry, 2007, 46(33), 9472-83.
- Studies in Deprotection of Cysteine and Selenocysteine Side-chain Protecting Groups, Journal of Peptide Science, 2007, 13(2), 81-93.
- Semisynthesis and Characterization of Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductase, Biochemistry, 2006, 45(16), 5158-70.