CURRICULUM VITAE
Kiira M. Ratia
The
The Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and
The Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
Lab Phone: (312) 996-1687
Fax: (312) 413-9303
Email: kratia@uic.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Candidate Current
B.S. Biology May,
1999
HOMETOWN
GRADUATE RESEARCH
PROJECT
My current research focuses on characterizing the two viral proteases necessary for SARS virus replication. The enzymes have been cloned and purified to homogeneity without the use of affinity tags. We have developed FRET-based kinetic assays to measure kinetic parameters and to assess inactivation by potential inhibitors in a high-throughput format. Crystallization and structure determination of the enzymes is underway to more thoroughly understand the details of the proteases’ mechanisms and interactions with inhibitors.
EXPERIENCE
University
of
University
of
MEMBERSHIPS AND
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Crystallographic Association (ACA)
ABSTRACTS AND POSTER
PRESENTATIONS
1. Kiira Ratia, Bernard Santarsiero, Kai Xi, Dalia Jukneliene, Brian Harcourt,
Susan Baker, Arun Ghosh,
and Andrew Mesecar. (2004) Kinetic and Crystallographic Analyses of SARS
Coronavirus 3Clpro Inhibitors.
2. Kiira Ratia, Bernard Santarsiero, Kai Xi, Dalia Jukneliene, Brian Harcourt,
Susan Baker, Arun Ghosh,
and Andrew Mesecar. (2004) Crystallographic and Kinetic Studies of Novel
SARS-CoV 3Clpro Protease Inhibitors that Inhibit
SARS-CoV and MHV-A59 Replication.
3.
Sonia Larsen, Kiira
Ratia, Bernard Santarsiero
and Andrew Mesecar. (2003) "Monochromatic and Polychromatic Laue Studies of a Novel Phosphotriesterase
that Degrades Soman Gas." Center for
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
4. Barbara
Calamini*, Bernie Santarsiero*,
Kiira Ratia*, Michael Malkowski§, John Pezzuto#, and Andrew Mesecar*. (2003) Structural Basis for Potent Inhibition
of Cox-1 and Cox-2 by Resveratrol-A Natural Product in Wine.*Department of
Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
5.
Kiira Ratia and Andrew Mesecar. (2003) Directed
Evolution of a Novel Phosphotriesterase Reveals Dynamic
Contributions to Catalysis. Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and the
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
6.
Bernard Santarsiero,
Kiira Ratia, and Andrew D.
Mesecar. (2003) A Comparison of Bromide Ion "Quick Soak" and Se-Met
Derivatives for Structure Determination of a Novel Hydrolase.
The Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and the Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry
and Pharmacognosy, The
7.
Chang, Minsun; Calamini, Barbara; Nikolic, Dejan; Ratia, Kiira; van Breemen, Richard B.; Mesecar, Andrew D.; Bolton, Judy
L. "Differential modification of
the ligand binding domains of human estrogen
receptors alpha and beta by the equine estrogen metabolite,
4-hydroxyequilenin." Abstracts of
Papers, 226th ACS National Meeting,
8.
Mesecar, A.D., Barry Stoddard, Bernie Santarsiero, Sonia Larsen, Kiira Ratia, Magdalini Vamvouka, Zhong Ren, Reinhard Pahl
and Vukica Srajer. (2003)
"Static and Time-Resolved Studies of Enzyme Reaction Coordinates:
Molecular Odysseys in Four Dimensions".
Time Resolved Diffraction in Chemistry & Biology Symposium. American Crystallographic Society Meeting.
9.
Sonia Larsen, Kiira
Ratia, Bernard Santarsiero
and Andrew Mesecar. (2003) Monochromatic and Polychromatic Laue
Studies of a Novel Phosphotriesterase that Degrades Soman Gas. Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Dept.
of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
10.
Barbara Calamini*,
Bernie Santarsiero*, Kiira Ratia*, Michael Malkowski§,
John Pezzuto#, and Andrew Mesecar*.
(2003) Structural Basis for Potent Inhibition of Cox-1 and Cox-2 by
Resveratrol-A Natural Product in Wine.*Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
11.
Kiira Ratia and Andrew Mesecar. (2003) Directed
Evolution of a Novel Phosphotriesterase Reveals
Dynamic Contributions to Catalysis. Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and
the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
12.
Ratia, K., Falzarim, K., Santarsiero, B. D.
and Mesecar, A.D. (2001) Kinetic and
thermal characterization of pyruvate kinase mutants associated with hemolytic anemia. XXI
PUBLICATIONS
1.
Santarsiero, B.D.,
Binutu, O., Ratia, K. and
Mesecar, A.D. (2004). "Structure and evolution of a novel dimeric
extradiol dioxygenase that
cleaves trihydroxytoluene". In
preparation.
2.
Calamini, B., Santarsiero, B., Ratia, K., Makowski, M., Pezzuto, J.,
Mesecar, A.D. (2004). "The
molecular basis for resveratrol health benefits." In
preparation.
3.
Ratia, K., Larsen,
S., Santarsiero, B., and Mesecar, A.D. (2004).
"The structure of a
purple organophosphorous hydrolase from Deinococcus radiodurans that
degrades chemical warfare agents". In
preparation.
4. Solan A, Ratia K, and Fairman R. 2002. Exploring the role of alanine in the structure of the Lac repressor tetramerization domain, a ferritin-like ala-coil. J. Mol. Biol. 317:627.
CONFERENCES ATTENDED
ACA
Annual Meeting – Local Committee member July 2004
Facilitate
Sessions
Annual
MIKI meeting (Medicinal Chemistry) April 2004
ACA
Annual Meeting July/August
2003
X-RAY INSTRUMENTATION
EXPERIENCE
APS Synchrotron:
Beamlines: SER-CAT monochromatic and MAD data collection
BIO-CARS monochromatic and MAD data collection
X-ray Equipment: In house system.
Raxis IIc detector (Rigaku) on RU-200 rotation anode.
Raxis IV++ detector (Rigaku) with inverted phi
LABORATORY SKILLS AND
TECHNIQUES
Cloning
and construction of expression vectors
Directed
evolution
Site-directed
mutagenesis
Random
mutagenesis by error-prone PCR
High
throughput screening to detect desired mutants
Optimizing
of expression conditions
Protein
Purification- column chromatography
Gel
chromatography
SDS
PAGE protein gels: silver and coomassie blue staining
Agarose DNA gels
Native
protein gels
Protein
characterization
Kinetic
assays using UV/Vis spectrophotometer and fluorimeter
High-thoughput assay development
Crystallization
Random
Factorial and Optimization of growth conditions
Cryo conditions & Screening
Seeding