The Third Annual S. Dexter Squibb Lecture series took place on Monday, October 30th and Tuesday, October 31st, 2000.  The speaker was Professor Nancy Kolodny, Nellie Z. Cohen and Anne Cohen Heller Professor of Chemistry, Wellesley College.

Professor Nancy Kolodny

Community Lecture

Monday October 30th, 7:30 p.m.
Robinson Hall 125

"Ancient Microbes through Twenty-First Century Eyes"

This presentation will explore the most ancient oxygen-evolving organisms, cyanobacteria, using as our "eyes" modern techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and confocal laser scanning spectroscopy.  A major focus of our work is the synthesis and degradation of the only known non-protein polymer whose function is the storage of nitrogen, cyanophycin.  Cyanophycin accumulates in large amounts during nutrient stress and during nitrogen fixation.  It is mobilized when cyanobacteria are starved for nitrogen.  Studies of the mechanisms involved in cyanobacteria's specific environmental responses will provide new information about gene regulation and pathways leading from the sensing of environmental signals to the regulation of enzymatic activities.

General Chemistry Lecture

Tuesday October 31st, 12:30 p.m.
Robinson Hall 125

"Looking into the Eye with MRI"

Proton Magnetic Resonance Imaging (1H MRI) has become a widely-used medical technique for clinical diagnosis and basic scientific research.  This presentation will discuss both the technique of MRI and its application to understanding the physiology of the widespread disease uveitis.  Conventionally used to create images that display anatomical details of soft tissues in the body, MRI can also be used for dynamic studies of normal and diseased states.  The goal of recent research in my laboratory was to determine if blood-aqueous barrier permeability in the eye could be assessed using MRI.  We then used MRI to measure differences between the inflamed uveal tissues of corticosteroid-treated and placebo-treated uveitic eyes.

Professor Kolodny's Research Group at Wellesley College.