Mark Distefano, PhD
Distinguished McKnight Professor & Distinguished University Teaching Professor, Department of Chemistry
Contact
Office Address
668C Kolthoff Hall
207 Pleasant St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States
Titles
Distinguished McKnight Professor, Department of Chemistry
Distinguished University Teaching Professor, Department of Chemistry
Graduate Faculty, Department of Medicinal Chemistry
Education
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989
BA, University of California, 1984
Post Doc, California Institute of Technology, 1989 - 1992
Biography
Summary
- Chemical Biology, protein engineering
- Organic Chemistry, bioorganic chemistry
Our group is interested in molecular recognition and catalysis in the context of proteins. Current research is focused on the process of protein prenylation, a key modification that occurs on proteins involved in cellular signaling. Part of the group is studying the enzymes responsible for this process with the ultimate goal of facilitating the development of new anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents. The other major focus concerns the use of protein prenylation to selectively modify proteins for therapeutic applications. Group members use a combination of small molecule- and macromolecule-based methods including organic synthesis, peptide chemistry, enzyme assays, proteomics, recombinant DNA methods and mammalian cell culture.
Distefano Research Page
Languages
- French
Awards & Recognition
- Lloyd Reyerson Professorship, 2016
- American Chemical Society Fellow, 2014
- Distinguished McKnight University Professor, 2011
- Merck Professor of Chemistry, 2011
- Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Distinguished Teaching Professor, 2006
- George W. Taylor/ITAS Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2004
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 1994
- American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Research Award, 1994
- 3M Alumni Assistant Professor, 1992