Department: Biology
Gretchen A. Repasky
Assistant Professor of Biology, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Office:
Stephens Science Center 244
Contact Information:
Birmingham-Southern College
Box 549022
900 Arkadelphia Rd
Birmingham, AL 35254
Office Phone: (205) 226-7816
Office Fax: (205) 226 3078
E-mail: grepasky@bsc.edu
Brief Career Background:
Assistant Professor of Biology, Biology Department
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Chemistry & Physics Department
Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL (2006-present).Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Chemistry Department
The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO (2004-2006).Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology
Meredith College, Raleigh, NC (2003–2004).Instructor, Department of Biology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (2001-2003).Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (2000 –2004).Doctoral Thesis Research, Department of Biochemistry
New York University Medical Center, New York, NY (1995–1999)
Educational Background:
Ph.D. Cell and Molecular Biology, New York University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New York, NY (Dec 1999)
B.S. Biochemistry, Lehigh University, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Bethlehem, PA (May 1994)
Areas of Academic Interest:
In general, my research interests focus on the study of human cellular communication driven by Ras family proteins. Mutated forms of the genes that code for Ras family proteins are found in greater than 30% of human cancers with certain genes more frequently mutated or aberrantly expressed in specific cancers. Ras and Ras-related proteins function as small GTPases, binding and hydrolyzing GTP. In normal cells, they function as molecular switches that relay extracellular cues to intracellular signaling pathways, controlling cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The Ras proteins found in cancer cells are typically chronically activated proteins, signaling in the absence of extracellular stimuli in an uncontrolled manner.
Current projects in the lab involve 1) study of the growth-inhibitory effects of the Pigment Epithelium Derived Factor (PEDF) on oncogenic Ras-transformed cells and the role of this growth inhibition in development of pancreatic cancer and 2) characterization of the amino acid determinants for specificity of activation of RhoC, a Ras-related small GTPase of the Rho family.
Courses Taught:
BI 125 Cell and Molecular Biology (1)
An investigation of the fundamental properties of cells.Topics include cell structure and function, energetics and metabolism, gene structure and expression, and the techniques used to study these phenomena. Designed for students who plan to major in biology or one of the natural sciences and/or who are pre-health.Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BI 115.BI/CH 408 Biochemistry Lab (1)
An introduction to the structure, chemistry, and metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory, and one DHAR laboratory per week. (Also listed as CH 408, this course may be counted for credit in either biology or chemistry.) Prerequisites: BI 125 and CH 212.