Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Katlyn MeierKatlyn Kelli Meier is an Assistant Professor on a Tenure-Track. She is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and has spent a good deal of time in western Pennsylvania during her undergraduate and graduate studies. Dr. Meier received her B.S. in Physics from Allegheny College in 2009, where she conducted research with Doros Petasis to spectroscopically characterize (via electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR) Fe/Ru spin cross-over complexes. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University in 2015 under the direction of Professor Eckard Münck. During her graduate research, she utilized EPR in combination with variable temperature and variable field (VTVH) Mössbauer spectroscopies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to define the structural and electronic properties of biological, biomimetic, and synthetic systems that are involved in O2-activation. After earning her Ph.D., Dr. Meier joined the lab of Professor Edward Solomon at Stanford University as a NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F32) postdoctoral fellow. During this time, she expanded her expertise to include VTVH magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), circular dichroism (CD), stopped-flow absorption kinetics, and protein expression and purification. Since starting her independent career at the University of Miami, she has been named a Frost Junior Research Fellow, and has received funding support from the Miami Clinical & Translational Science Institute KL2 program and the University of Miami College of Arts & Sciences for her work to elucidate the interaction of the huntingtin protein with copper and commercially available chelators. Most recently, Dr. Meier was awarded a NSF CAREER award for her work to spectroscopically define functionally and structurally significant protein-protein interactions in heme and nonheme iron proteins and enzymes.

Research in the Meier lab takes place at the interface of physical, inorganic, and biological chemistries and utilizes a range of spectroscopic and computational techniques to elucidate metal involvement in the proliferation of disease states. Their research focuses on achieving a better understanding of the structural and functional significance of metal-protein (i.e. Cu and Fe) and protein-protein interactions as contributors to neurodegenerative disease progression, chemoresistance, and metal-mediated antioxidant response during infections. The overall goal of their work is to provide insight into the electronic and geometric structures of metalloproteins and their associated mechanistic roles, which can be used to develop new, more efficacious therapeutic treatments. Students in the Meier Lab develop biochemical skills, prepare and purify proteins of interest, and gain expertise in spectroscopic methods (absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, Mössbauer, and circular dichroism spectroscopies) as well as quantum chemical calculations.

 Excitement has been brewing in the lab as they await the highly anticipated installation of their new high field Mössbauer instrument. The new instrument will allow them to measure variable field (up to 9T), variable temperature Mössbauer spectra of iron systems (protein/enzyme samples, biomimetic systems, and synthetic complexes). 57Fe Mössbauer is considered the gold standard for determination of iron oxidation state and will be a valuable asset for the Meier Lab and their collaborators!

From 2005 to 2009, Dr. Meier was an Academic Excellence Achievement Scholarship Recipient, and an Allegheny College Alden Scholar. In her senior year at Allegheny, she was awarded the Jonathan Lee Rusk Memorial Prize for the outstanding senior research project in experimental Physics for her senior thesis work. In the summers of 2011, 2013, and 2014 she was the recipient of GSA/Provost Conference Funding Travel awards to present her research at several national and international conferences. Additionally, she was the recipient of the Edwin N. Lassettre Fund for Chemistry Graduate Student Travel Award in the summer of 2013. Dr. Meier was awarded the National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) - F32 Fellowship for Postdoctoral Scholars, which provided her funding from July 2015 to July 2018. She was also the recipient of a Gordon Research travel award to attend the Gordon Research Conference on Metallocofactors in June of 2018 where she presented her work on the formylglycine generating enzyme. Since joining the University of Miami, she has been named a Frost Junior Fellow (January 2020- January 2022), as well as a Miami Clinical & Translational Research Institute KL2 Mentored Translational Research Scholar from February 2021 – January 2023.

Dr. Meier has been a member of numerous Professional and Honorary Organizations including the National Philosophy Honor Society, Phi Sigma Tau and National Physics Honor Society, Sigma Pi Sigma from 2007 to 2009. She was a member in the Women Chemists Committee in 2012 and 2014 as well as the Association for Women in Science (Palo Alto Chapter) from 2017-2019. Not long after joining the Department, Dr. Meier became involved with the Miami Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Connections Group, of which she she’s been a member from 2020 – present. Finally, from 2021 until present, she has been a member of the South Florida Section of the American Chemical Society, the Inorganic Division and the American Chemical Society (from 2010 until present).

Dr. Katlyn Meier’s publications, invited talks, and posters are as follows:

  1. El Metwally A. E., Goodarzi, F., Meier, K. K., Zahran, E. M., Rayat, S., Kegnæs, S., Knecht, M. R., Bachas, L. G. “Cu2S@Bi2S3 Double-Shelled Hollow Cages as a Nanocatalyst with Substantial Activity in Peroxymonosulfate Activation for Atrazine Degradation” ACS Applied Nano Materials 2021, 4, 12222-12234.
  2. Paulino, V.; Mukhopadhyay, A., Tsironi, I.; Liu, K.; Husainy, D.; Liu, C.; Meier, K.*; Olivier, J.-H.* "Molecular Engineering of Water-Soluble Oligomers to Elucidate Radical π-Anion Interactions in n-doped Nanoscale Objects" J. Phys. Chem. C 2021, 125, 10526-10538. *Corresponding author
  3. Jones, S. M.; Transue, W. J.; Meier, K. K.; Kelemen, B.; Solomon, E. I. “Kinetic Analysis of Amino Acid Radicals Formed in H2O2-Driven Cu(I) LPMO Reoxidation Implicates Dominant Homolytic Reactivity.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2020, 117, 11916-11922.
  4. Appel, M. J.*; Meier, K. K.*; Lafrance-Vanasse, J.; Lim, H.; Tsai, C.-L.; Tainer, J. A.; Solomon, E. I.; Bertozzi, C. R. “The formylglycine-generating enzyme binds substrate directly at a mononuclear Cu(I) center to initiate O2 activation” (*co-first authors) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2019, 116, 5370-5375. (Highlighted in: Schilter, D. Nature Reviews Chemistry 2019, 3, 203.)
  5. Meier, K.; Jones, S.; Kaper, T.; Hansson, H.; Koetsier, M.; Sarkehabadi, S.; Solomon, E.; Sandgren, M.; Keleman, B. “Oxygen activation by Cu LPMOs in recalcitrant carbohydrate polysaccharide conversion to monomer sugars.” Chem. Rev. 2018, 118, 2593-2635.
  6. Hansson, H.; Karkehabadi, S.; Mikkelsen, N.; Douglas, N.; Kim, S.; Lam, A.; Kaper, T.; Kelemen, B.; Meier, K. K.; Jones, S. M.; Solomon, E. I.; Sandgren, M. “A lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from Hypocrea jecorina with a structurally defined linker sequence.” J. Biol. Chem. 2017, 292, 19099-19109.
  7. Meier, K. K.; Rogers, M.; Kovaleva, E. G.; Lipscomb, J. D.; Münck, E. Bominaar, E. “Enzyme Substrate Complex of the H200C Variant of Homoprotcatechuate 2,3-Dioxygenase: Mossbauer and Computational Studies.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2016, 55, 5862-5870.
  8. Meier, K. K.; Rogers, M.; Kovaleva, E. G.; Bominaar, E.; Lipscomb, J. D.; Münck, E. “A Long-Lived Fe(III)-(Hydroperoxo) Intermediate in the Active H200C Variant of Homoprotocatechuate 2,3-Dioxygenase: Characterization by Mossbauer, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, and Density Functional Theory Methods.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2015, 54, 10269-10280.
  9. Prakash, J.; Rohde, G. T.; Meier, K. K.; Munck, E.; Que Jr., L. “Upside Down! Crystallographic and Spectroscopic Characterization of an [FeIV(Osyn)(TMC)]2+ Complex.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2015, 54, 11055-11057.
  10. Serrano-Plana, J.; Oloo, W. N.; Acosta-Rueda, L.; Meier, K. K.; Verdejo, B.; Garcia-Espana, E.; Basallote, M. G.; Munck, E.; Que, Jr., L.; Company, A.; Costas, M. “Trapping a Highly Reactive Nonheme Iron Intermediate That Oxygenates Strong C-H Bonds with Stereoretention.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 15833-15842.
  11. Prakash, J.; Rohde, G. T.; Meier, K. K.; Jasniewski, A. J.; Van Heuvelen, K. M.; Munck, E.; Que, Jr., L. “Spectroscopic identification of an Fe(III) center, not Fe(IV), in the crystalline Sc-O-Fe adduct derived from [Fe(IV)(O)(TMC)]2+. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 3478-3481.
  12. Biswas, A. N.; Puri, M. Meier, K. K.; Oloo, W. N.; Rohde, G. T.; Munck, E.; Que, Jr., L. “Modeling TauD-J: a high-spin nonheme oxoiron(IV) complex with high reactivity toward C-H bonds.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 2428-2431.
  13. Makris, T. M.; Vu, V. V.; Meier, K. K.; Komor, A. J.; Rivard, B. S.; Munck, E.; Que, Jr., L.; Lipscomb, J. D. “An Unusual Peroxo Intermediate of the Arylamine Oxygenase of the Chloramphenicol Biosynthetic Pathway.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 136, 1608-1617.
  14. *Liu, J.; Meier, K.; Tian, S.; Zhang, J.; Guo, H.; Schulz, C. E.; Robinson, H.; Nilges, M. J.; Munck, E.; Lu, Y. “Redesigning an Electron Transfer Protein into a Mononuclear Non-heme Iron Enzyme: Preparation and Study of Fe(II)-M121E Azurin.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 12337-12344. *Co-first authors
  15. Chiang, C.-W.; Kleespies, S. T.; Stout, H. D.; Meier, K. K.; Li, P.-Y.; Bominaar, E. L.; Que, Jr., L.; Munck, E.; Lee, W.-Z. “Characterization of a Paramagnetic Mononuclear Nonheme Iron-Superoxo Complex.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 10846-10849.
  16. England, J.; Bigelow, J.O.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Farquhar, E.R.; Martinho, M.; Meier, K.K.; Frisch, J.R.; Munck, E.; Que, Jr., L. “An Ultra-Stable Oxoiron(IV) Complex and Its Blue Conjugate Base.” Chem. Sci. 2014, 5, 1204-1215.
  17. Oloo, W.N.; Meier, K.K., Munck, E., Que Jr., L. “Identification of a low-spin acylperoxoiron(III) intermediate in bio-inspired non-heme iron-catalysed oxidations.” Nature Commun. 2014, 5, 3046.
  18. Li, F.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Meier, K.K.; England, J.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. “Sc3+ triggered oxoiron(IV) formation from O2 and its nonheme iron(II) precursor via a Sc3+-peroxo-Fe3+ intermediate.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 10198-10201.
  19. Banerjee, R.; Meier, K.K.; Münck, E.; Lipscomb, J.D. “Intermediate P* from Soluble Methane Monooxygenase Contains a Diferrous Cluster.” Biochemistry. 2013, 52, 4331-4342.
  20. Mbughuni, M.M.; Meier, K.K.; Münck, E.; Lipscomb, J.D. “Substrate-Mediated Oxygen Activation by Homoprotocatechuate 2,3-Dioxygenase: Intermediates Formed by a Tyrosine 257 Variant.” Biochemistry. 2012, 51, 8743-8754.
  21. Cranswick, M.A.; Meier, K.K.; Shan, X.; Stubna, A.; Kaizer, J.; Mehn, M.P.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. “Protonation of a Peroxodiiron(III) Complex and Conversion to a Diiron (III/IV) Intermediate: Implications to Proton-assisted O-O Bond Cleavage in Nonheme Diiron Enzymes.” Inorganic Chemistry. 2012, 5, 10417-10426.
  22. Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Fiedler, A.T.; DeHont, R.; Shan, X.; Meier, K.K.; Bominaar, E.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr. L. “One-electron oxidation of an oxoiron(IV) complex to form an [O=FeV=NR]+ center.” Proc. Ntl. Acad. Sci. 2012, 109, 11933-11938.
  23. Mbughuni, M.M.; Chakrabarti, M.; Hayden, J.A.; Meier, K.K.; Dalluge, J.J.; Hendrich, M.P.; Münck, E.; Lipscomb, J.D. “Oxy-intermediates of homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase: facile electron transfer between substrates.” Biochemistry. 2011, 50, 10262-10274.
  24. Li, F.; Meier, K.K.; Cranswick, M.A.; Chakrabarti, M.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. “Characterization of a High-Spin Non-Heme FeIII-OOH Intermediate and Its Quantitative Conversion to an FeIV=O Complex.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 7256-7259.
  25. Walsh, J.D.; Meier, K.; Ishima, R.; Gronenborn, A.M. “NMR Studies on Domain Diffusion and Alignment in Modular GB1 Repeats.” Biophysical Journal. 2010, 99, 2636-2646.

 

Invited Talks

  1. Meier, K.K. (13 May 2022) “Bridging STEM Disciplines to Tackle Big Problems in Human Health”, Keynote speakers at the 2022 Freedom Area High School Science Conference.
  2. Meier, K.K. (1 April 2022) "Multi-tasking metals: Defining the functional roles of copper in enzymes and proteins”, Florida International University, Chemistry Department Spring Seminar Series.
  3. Meier, K.K. (15 November 2021) “Defining the Functional Roles of Copper in Enzymes and Proteins”, South Florida Section of the American Chemical Society, Fall Seminar Series (virtual)
  4. Meier, K.K. (26 October 2021) “Elucidating the role of metal-protein interactions in Huntington’s Disease”, University of Miami, 5th Annual Neural Engineering Research Symposium (virtual)
  5. Meier, K.K. (4 June 2020) “Defining the Role of Copper in Neurodegenerative Disease Progression and Exploring its Potential as a Druggable Target”, University of Miami, Frost Junior Fellows Symposium
  6. Meier, K.K. (4 February 2019) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, Northwestern University, Chemistry Department Seminar
  7. Meier, K.K. (15 January 2019) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, University of Washington, Chemistry Department Seminar
  8. Meier, K.K. (7 January 2019) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Chemistry Department Seminar
  9. Meier, K.K. (17 December 2018) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chemistry Department Seminar.
  10. Meier, K.K. (13 December 2018) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Chemistry Department Seminar
  11. Meier, K.K. (10 December 2018) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, West Virginia University, Chemistry Department Seminar
  12. Meier, K.K. (6 December 2018) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, University of Chicago, Chemistry Department Seminar
  13. Meier, K.K. (4 December 2018) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chemistry Department Seminar
  14. Meier, K.K. (29 November 2018) “Spectroscopic characterization of unique iron and copper active sites in biology”, University of Michigan, Chemistry Department Seminar
  15. Meier, K.K. (23 August 2017) “New Insight Into the Reaction Mechanism of the Formylglycine Generating Enzyme: A spectroscopic perspective.” 254th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, Inorganic Division held in Washington, D.C.
  16. Meier, K.K. (6 December 2013) “Studies of an Fe(II) dioxygenase and its intermediates using Mössbauer Spectroscopy and DFT.” 9th Annual Mini-Symposium on Metals in Biological Systems held at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.
  17. Meier, K.K. (20 June 2013) “At the Frontier of Oxygen Activation Chemistry: The hunt for FeV=O Centers.” Chemistry Graduate Student Seminar Series at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
  18. Meier, K.K. (2 November 2012) “The New Frontier: Novel FeV=O Centers.” Research was presented in a 60-minute lecture as part of the joint Physics/Chemistry seminar series at Allegheny College, Meadville, PA.
  19. Meier, K.K. (June 2012) “Spectroscopic Characterization of Novel FeV=O Centers.” Research was presented at the Pennsylvania State University Bioinorganic Training Workshop in an invited 75-minute talk including real-time tutorials for an audience of 70+ graduate students and post-docs and 10+ faculty, State College, PA.
  20. Meier, K.K.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Fiedler, A.T.; DeHont, R.; Shan, X.; Bominaar, E.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. (27 January 2012) “One-electron Oxidation of an Oxoiron(IV) Complex.” Research was presented at the Gordon Research Seminar as a 30-minute talk, Ventura, CA.
  21. Meier, K.K. (6 October 2011) "Enhancing the Information Content of EPR Using High-Frequency Techniques." Presented in the Graduate Seminar series as a 45-minute talk, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
  22. Meier, K.K.; Walsh, J.; Ishima, R. (1 August 2008) “Determination of Backbone Dynamics in Single and Dual Domain Protein GB1: Comparison in the Presence and Absence of Alignment Media.” Research was presented at the University of Pittsburgh Summer Undergraduate Research Conference held in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

Posters

  1. Meier, K. K.; Appel, M. J.; Lim, H.; Bertozzi, C. R.; Solomon, E. I. (12 June 2018) “New Insight into the Reaction Mechanism of the Formylglycine Generating Enzyme and its Requirements for O2 Activation.” 2018 Metallocofactors Gordon Research Conference. Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA.
  2. Meier, K. K.; Rogers, M.; Kovaleva, E. G.; Bominaar, E.; Munck, E.; Lipscomb, J.D. (10 August 2014) “Characterization of a new, long-lived intermediate in H200C homoprotocatechuate 2,3 dioxygenase by Mossbauer, EPR, and DFT methods.” 248th ACS National Meeting and Exposition – Inorganic Division, San Francisco, CA.
  3. Meier, K. K.; Mbughuni, M.M.; Munck, E.; Lipscomb, J.D. (3 April 2014) “Mössbauer and Density Functional Theory Characterization of Two Short-Lived Intermediates in the Catalytic Cycle of Y257F Homoprotocatechuate 2,3-Dioxygenase.” Innovation with Impact Research Exhibition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
  4. Meier, K.K.; Mbughuni, M.M.; Munck, E.; Lipscomb, J.D. (22-27 July 2013) “Probing the Reaction Cycle of Y257F Homoprotocatechuate 2,3 Dioxygenase: Mössbauer and Density Functional Theory characterization of two short-lived intermediates.” 16th International Conference on BioInorganic Chemistry, Grenoble, France.
  5. Meier, K.K.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Fiedler, A.T.; DeHont, R.; Shan, X.; Bominaar, E.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. (31 May 2012-9 June 2012) “Spectroscopic Characterization of Novel FeV=O Centers.” The Pennsylvania State University Bioinorganic Training Workshop, State College, PA.
  6. Meier, K.K.; Li, F.; Cranswick, M.A.; Chakrabarti, M.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. (5 April 2012) “Characterization of a High-Spin Nonheme FeIII–OOH Intermediate and Its Conversion to an FeIV=O Complex.” Innovation with Impact Research Exhibition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
  7. Meier, K.K.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Fiedler, A.T.; DeHont, R.; Shan, X.; Bominaar, E.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. (25-28 January 2012) “One-electron Oxidation of an Oxoiron(IV) Complex.” Gordon Research Seminar, Ventura, CA.
  8. Meier, K.K.; Li, F.; Cranswick, M.A.; Chakrabarti, M.; Van Heuvelen, K.M.; Münck, E.; Que, Jr., L. (10 August 2011) “Characterization of a High-Spin Nonheme FeIII–OOH Intermediate and Its Conversion to an FeIV=O Complex.” 15th International Conference on Bio Inorganic Chemistry, Vancouver, BC Canada.
  9. Meier, K.K.; Nocera, T.; Abood, R.; Chen, M.; Hilfiger, M.; Petasis, D.; Achim, C.; Dunbar, K. (16-20 March 2009) “Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Studies of Cyanide-Bridged Fe/Os and Fe/Ru Clusters.” 2009 APS March Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA.
  10. Meier, K.K.; Walsh, J.; Ishima, R. (17 October 2008) “Determination of Backbone Dynamics in Single and Dual Domain Protein GB1: Comparison in the Presence and Absence of Alignment Media.” Allegheny College Inaugural Symposium, Meadville, PA.

 

A fun fact about Dr. Meier is that she has hiked throughout the bay area, southern California, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, and Haleakala National Park to name a few. It’s now become a personal goal to visit all the national parks in the US.

Dr. Katlyn Meier Hiking