Kathryn Brewer

2016 Beckman Scholar
Pursuing Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University

Contact Info

kathryn.r.brewer@vanderbilt.edu

Biography —

Kathryn Brewer is from Overland Park, Kansas, where she attended Blue Valley West High School. The project she pursued under the mentorship of Dr. Audrey Lamb focused on understanding an iron uptake system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which involved the synthesis of iron-chelating molecules called siderophores. In this project, one of the enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway of the siderophore called pyoverdin was studied. This enzyme requires post-translational modification prior to becoming catalytically active. A fluorescent probe has been synthesized that will allow this modification to be detected after testing. Once modification has been successfully demonstrated, kinetic studies and crystallization efforts of the protein will begin. Kathryn graduated in May 2018 with a B.S. degree in chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry, earning Departmental Honors.

Education —

B.S. in Chemistry, University of Kansas, 2018, Lawrence, KS
University Honors, Departmental Honors

Selected Publications —

Kuenze, G.; Duran, A.M.; Woods, H.; Brewer, K.R.; McDonald, E.F.; Vanoye, C.G.; George, A.L.; Sanders, C.R.; Meiler, J. "Upgraded molecular models of the human KCNQ1 potassium channel" PLOS One, 2019, 14(9), e0220415

Kuenze, G.; Vanoye, C.G.; Desai, R.R.; Adusumilli, S; Brewer, K.R.; Woods, H.; McDonald, E.F.; Sanders, C.R.; George, A.L.; Meilier, J. "Allosteric mechanism for KCNE1 modulation of KCNQ1 potassium channel activation" eLife, 2020, 9, e57680

Brewer, K.R.; Kuenze, G.; Vanoye, C.G;, George, A.L.; Meiler, J.; Sanders, C.R. "Structures illuminate cardiac ion channel functions in health and in long QT syndrome" Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2020, 11, 00550

Brewer, K.R.; Woods, H.; Kuenze, G.; Sanders, C.R. "Design of a Chimeric KCNQ1 Channel for E. coli Expression and Studies of LQTS Variants" Biophys. J. 2021, 120(3) 241a

Selected Presentations —

25th Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Lawrence, KS; "Fluorescent Detection of the post-translational modification of PvdJ module 2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa," October 2017 (Poster)

Beckman Symposium, "Fluorescent Detection of the post-translational modification of PvdJ module 2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa", Irvine, CA, August 2017 (Poster)

Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; "Assessing the Post-Translational Modification of PvdJ M2" April 2017 (Poster)

Chemical Biology Training Grant Symposium, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; "Assessing the Post-Translational Modification of PvdJ M2"; March 2017; (Poster; won 1st place award)

Midwest Enzyme Chemistry Conference, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL; "Assessing the Post-Translational Modification of PvdJ M2"; October 2016 (Poster)

KU Chemistry REU Symposium "Assessing the Post-Translational Modification of PvdJ M2" July 2016 (talk)

KU Summer Undergraduate Poster Symposium, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; "Assessing the Post-Translational Modification of PvdJ M2"; July 2016 (Poster)

Awards & Honors —

Graduation with University Honors and Chemistry Department Honors

May 2018

Alpha Chi Sigma Award, KU/ACS

May 2018

Adrienne Hiscox Memorial Scholarship, KU Chemistry Dept.

May 2017

First Place Undergraduate Research Poster, KU Chemical Biology Symposium

2017