Biochemistry

Jan A. Miernyk

Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry

E-mail:miernykj@missouri.edu

Office: 102 Curtis Hall

Mail: Plant Genetics Research Unit
204 Curtis Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211

Phone: 573-882-8167

Fax: 573-884-7850

Educational background

Research description

Systems biology is a relatively recent term, and can be considered as an amalgam of "functional-omics" data and computational biology. While primarily descriptive as the system is developed, it then evolves to predictive as the system is increasingly defined. The ultimate goal is an integrative model that approaches the in silico organism.

A major focus of systems research in the Miernyk lab is soybean seed development. A descriptive platform has been developed that encompasses eight stages, and defines the periods of cell division/tissue differentiation, cellular specialization, lipid accumulation, protein accumulation, and preparation for quiescence. Total proteins were isolated from each stage and compared by Difference Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE). The patterns of change in protein abundance were analyzed by a combination of model-building, cluster analysis, and multidimensional scaling. Systems cartography is being used to describe the relationships among protein function, expression, localization, and biological interaction. The cartograph is constantly evolving, in all dimensions, as additional data are included.

Selected publications

Miernyk JA, Johnston ML (2006) Chemical cross-linking immobilized-concanavalin A for use in proteomic analyses. Preparative Biochemistry and Biotechnology 36: 203-213

Mooney BP, Miernyk JA, Greenlief MC, Thelen JJ (2006) Using quantitative proteomics to predict metabolic activity. Physiologia Plantarum 128: 237-250

Kojima M, Casteel J, Miernyk JA, Thelen JJ (2007) The effects of down-regulating expression of Arabidopsis thaliana membrane-associated acyl-CoA binding protein 2 on acyl-lipid composition. Plant Science 172: 36-44

Miernyk JA, Szurmak B, Tovar-Mendez A, Randall DD, Muszynska G (2007) Is there a signal transduction pathway that links events at the plasma membrane to the phosphorylation state of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex? Physiologia Plantarum 129: 104-113

Antoine W, Miernyk JA (2007) Shape-to-string mapping: A novel approach to clustering time-index biomics data. Online Journal of Bioinformatics 8: 139-153

Miernyk JA, Thelen JJ (2008) Biochemical approaches for discovering protein:protein interactions. Plant Journal

Antoine W, de los Reyes BG, Miernyk JA, Stewart JMcD (2009) Molecular evolution of the plant SLT protein family. Icfai Journal of Genetics and Evolution 2: 56-73

Antoine W, Miernyk JA (2009) A multidimensional scaling-based model for analysis of time-index biomics data. Advanced Studies in Biology 1: 43-59

Notable honors and service

• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science