Dewald AH, Hodges JC, Columbus L. Biophysical Journal 100:2131 – 2140.
The spontaneous folding of two Neisseria outer membrane proteins, opacity-associated (Opa)60 and Opa50 into lipid vesicles was investigated by systematically varying bulk and membrane properties. Centrifugal fractionation coupled with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis mobility assays enabled the discrimination of aggregate, unfolded membrane-associated, and folded membrane-inserted protein states as well as the influence of pH, ionic strength, membrane surface potential, lipid saturation, and urea on each. Protein aggregation was reduced with increasing lipid chain length, basic pH, low salt, the incorporation of negatively charged guest lipids, or by the addition of urea to the folding reaction. Insertion from the membrane-associated form was improved in shorter chain lipids, with more basic pH and low ionic strength; it is hindered by unsaturated or ether-linked lipids. The isolation of the physical determinants of insertion suggests that the membrane surface and dipole potentials are driving forces for outer membrane protein insertion and folding into lipid bilayers.
Alison Dewald
Alison and Jackie’s paper #15 of the “Top 25 Hottest Articles” in Biophysical Journal
According to Science Direct, from April to June 2011
Physical Determinants of Beta-Barrel Membrane Protein Folding in Lipid Vesicles
Biophysical Journal, Volume 100, Issue 9, May 2011, Pages 2131-2140
Dewald, Alison H.; Hodges, Jacqueline C.; Columbus, L.
is 15th in the “Top 25 Hottest Articles” of Biophysical Journal.
Graduate Student
BS: Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University (2001)
M. Ed: Temple University, Educational Psychology (2006)
Alison conducted undergraduate research in the Guiltinan lab at the Penn State Biotechnology Institute, then taught chemistry and biology in Hershey, PA.
Alison’s research uses liposome (lipid vesicle) systems to investigate membrane proteins involved in bacterial pathogen – host interactions. Ultimately, her research aims to utilize the cellular hijacking mechanisms invented by pathogens (e.g. inducing phagocytosis, controlling cellular trafficking, and causing cell death) in the design of protein-decorated liposomes with novel characteristics desirable for drug delivery.
Columbus and Criss Colaboration an Inaugural Poster Finalists
As part of her inauguration celebration this April, President Sullivan recognized research and scholarship with a Pan-University Poster Competition which highlighted high-impact and innovative growth areas for U.Va. research. Our research poster on Opa-liposomes (a collaboration with the Criss laboratory) was chosen as one of the five finalists in the “Biosciences and Health” category, which had approximately 60 submissions. Louise and Alison presented the poster in the finals competition April 8th, 2011.
Alison presents poster at FASEB Summer Research Conference
Alison presented a poster entitled “Physical determinants of outer membrane Opacity-associated protein folding in lipid vesicles” this August at the Molecular Biophysics of Cellular Membranes FASEB Summer Research Conference.
Alison on a hike in the White Mountains of Vermont.
Alison and Linda on the same hike.
Columbus and Criss labs receive UVA nanoSTAR seed funds
UVA nanoSTAR Institute awarded $30,000 to the Columbus and Criss laboratories to facilitate a collaboration aimed at targeting liposomes cell specifically. The nanoSTAR seed projects fund is contributed to by the Office of the Vice President for Research, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of Medicine. The nanoSTAR Seed Fund program is designed to support promising new interdisciplinary research collaborations in the Institute’s three thrust areas: nanoelectronics, medicine, and energy and the environment.
Alison and Jackie receive a UVA Double Hoo Fellowship
The University of Virginia has awarded eight “Double-’Hoo” research awards, which fund pairings of undergraduate and graduate students who collaborate on research projects. Each project is awarded up to $5,000 toward research expenses, as well as an additional $500 for the faculty mentor overseeing the project. Jackie, a second-year chemistry-biochemistry major, and Alison, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry, will study proteins found in the outer membrane of bacterial pathogens to understand how these proteins infect and colonize human cells.
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Alison and Dan present at the Biophysical Society’s 54th Annual Meeting
Alison and Dan present at the Biophysical Society’s 54th Annual Meeting at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California, February 20-24, 2010. Dan presented a poster on the NMR structure determination of OpaI and Alison presented a talk on the molecular determinants of the spontaneous refolding of OpaI in lipid vesicles.
UVA Chemistry Colleague and Chair, David Cafiso, received a Fellow of the Biophysical Society award. 
Alison receives travel award
Alison received a Biophysical Society 2010 Student Travel Award and was chosen for a platform talk”The Spontaneous Refolding of Opacity-Associated Proteins into Lipid Membranes” at the 54th annual meeting in February
Alison shares second place in 3rd year poster competition
Alison’s poster entitled “Opa Proteins of Neisseria: Liposome Reconstitution and Interactions with a Human CEACAM Receptor” shared second place in the Departmental 3rd year poster award. She receives a monetary award and presented her research to the department on April 24th.
Village School Visits the Lab
The 8th grade class of Kim Taylor visited on November 13, 2008 for an introduction to a research laboratory. The visit included two chemistry demonstrations (elephant’s toothpaste and molecular clock) and a tour of the laboratory by two graduate students Alison Dewald and Celine Griot, interactive molecular graphics by undergraduate Thien Nguyen and Prof. Columbus, and liquid nitrogen ice cream by Iza Bielnicka and Prof. Columbus.
Photos