Peter Oelkers
Associate Professor
Biological Sciences and Biochemistry
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DEARBORN
United States of America
Biography
Ph.D. – Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology August 1996 Wake Forest University – Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NCAdvisor: Paul Dawson, Ph.D. B.S. – Biology May 1991 College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Research Interest
Dr. Oelkers’ research addresses the question, “How do cells allocate fatty acids?” Fatty acids are linear hydrocarbons with species differing regarding length and the number and location of double bonds. Prior to utilization fatty acids are converted to acyl-CoA, the substrate for a variety of acyltransferase enzymes. Accordingly, acyltransferases are a focus of study since they are central to the allocation of fatty acids species among triglycerides, phospholipids, and proteins. Regarding phospholipids, this allocation influences the biophysical properties and thus function of cell membranes. Dr. Oelkers’ main pedagogical goal is to empower students to thrive in a professional setting. Problem solving and data analysis are featured.
Publications
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Renauer, P., Nasiri, N., Oelkers, P. (2015)Saccharomyces cerevisiaelyso-phospholipid acyltransferase, Lpt1, requires Asp146 and Glu297 for catalysis.J. Lipid Res. 56: 2143 - 2150.
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Jain, S., Dholakia, H., Kirtley, W., Oelkers, P. (2016) Energy Storage in Yeast: Regulation and Competition with Ethanol Production. Current Microbiology 73: 851 - 858.
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Oelkers, P. (2016) Semester-long inquiry-based molecular biology laboratory: transcriptional regulation in yeast. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 45: 145 - 151 doi: 10.1002/bmb.21023.
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Oelkers, P., Pokhrel, K. (2016)Four acyltransferases uniquely contribute to phospholipid heterogeneity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Lipid Insights 9: 31 - 41.
