Madeline E. Rasche

Associate Professor

Department of Microbiology and Cell Science University of Florida
Ph. D. 1991 Department of Biochemistry
University of California, Riverside, CA
Postdoctoral: 1991-1995 Department of Biochemistry and Anaerobic Microbiology,  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 1995-1997 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,  Utah State University, Logan, UT

Teaching Interest

General Microbiology, Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology
MCB 3020, Basic Biology of Microorganisms
MCB 4034L, Advanced Microbiology Laboratory
MCB 4934, Literature Research in Microbiology
MCB 6937, Anaerobic Microbiology and Biotechnology

Honors/Awards

National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, 1985-1989
National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1993-1996

Description of Research

General Area: Biochemistry and physiology of methane-producing microorganisms; investigation of
metalloenzyme structure and function using kinetic analysis, molecular genetics, and biophysical
spectroscopy.

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Selected Publications

Testani, J., Diabelic, R. and Rasche, M.E.* 2006. Chemical reduction of pterins to dihydropterins. Analytical Biochem. 358:20-24.

Rasche, M. E., and Ferry, J. G. 2005. Molecular Biology of Methanogens and the Archaebacteria, p. 237-261. In R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, 2nd ed, vol. 8. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co., Weinheim.

Chistoserdova, L.*, Rasche, M.E., and Lidstrom, M.E.  2005.  Novel tetrahydromethanopterin biosynthesis genes discovered via mutagenesis in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. J. Bacteriol. 187: 2508-2512.

Hamilton, R., Casasús,, A., Rasche, M. Narang, A, Svoronos, S. A.*, and Koopman, B*. 2005.  A structured model for denitrifier diauxic growth.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 90(4):501–508, 2005.

Caccamo, M. A., Malone, C. S., and Rasche, M. E.  2004.  Biochemical characterization of dihydromethanopterin reductase, a tetrahydromethanopterin biosynthesis enzyme in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. J. Bacteriol. 186:2068-2073.

Rasche, M. E., Wyles, S. A., and Rosenzvaig, M.  2004.  Identification of two methanopterin biosynthesis genes in Methylobacterium extorquens using a tetrahydromethanopterin bioassay.  J. Bacteriol. 186:1565-1570.

Bobik, T.A., Rasche, M.E.  2004. Purification and partial characterization of the Pyrococcus horikoshii methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase.  Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 63:682-685.

Rasche, M. E.  2004.  Outcomes of a research-driven laboratory and literature course designed to enhance undergraduate contributions to original research.  Biochem. and Molecular Biology Educ. 32:101-107.

Kima, P.E., Rasche, M.E.  2004.  Sex determination using the polymerase chain reaction.  Biochem. and Molecular Biology Educ. 32:115-119.

Bechard, M. E., Chhatwal, S., Garcia, R. E., and Rasche, M. E.  (2003)  Application of a colorimetric assay to identify putative RFAP synthase genes expressed with activity in Escherichia coli.  Biological Procedures Online 5:69-77.

Dumitru, R., Palencia., H., Schroeder, S. D., DeMontigny, B., Takacs, J., Rasche, M. E., Miner, J. L., and Ragsdale, S. W.  (2003)  Targeting methanopterin biosynthesis to inhibit methanogenesis.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:7236-41.

Bobik, T. A., and Rasche, M. E.  (2003)  HPLC assay for methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 375:344-349.

Uz, I, Rasche, M.E., Townsend, T., Ogram, A. V., and Lindner, A. S.  (2003)  Characterization of methanogenic and methanotrophic assemblages in landfill samples.  Proc. Royal Society of London B (Biology Letters Suppl.) 270:S202-S205.

Scott, J. W., and Rasche, M. E. (2002) Purification, overproduction, and partial characterization of beta-RFA-P synthase, a key enzyme in the pathway of methanopterin biosynthesis. J. Bacteriol. 184:4442-4448.

Bobik, T.A. and Rasche, M.E. (2001) Identification of the human methylmalonyl-CoA
racemase gene based on the analysis of prokaryotic gene arrangements. Implications for decoding the human genome. J. Biol. Chem 276(40): 37194-371948.

Rasche, M. E., and White, R. H.  (1998)  Mechanism for the enzymatic
formation of 4-( b-D-ribofuranosyl)aminobenzene 5'-phosphate during the
biosynthesis of methanopterin.  Biochemistry 37:11343-11351.

Rasche, M. E., and Seefeldt, L. C.  (1997)  Reduction of thiocyanate, cyanate,
and carbon disulfide by nitrogenase:  kinetic characterization and EPR
spectroscopic analysis.  Biochemistry 36: 8574-8585. 

Rasche, M. E., Smith, K. S, and Ferry, J. G.   (1997)  Identification of cysteine
and arginine residues influencing substrate binding and activity of
phosphotransacetylase from Methanosarcinathermophila. 
J. Bacteriol.179: 7712-7717.

Rasche, M. E., and Ferry, J. G.  (1996)  Molecular biology of methanogens
and archaea.  In Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology.  Meyers, R. A., Ed., 
VCH Publishers, New York.  

Seefeldt, L . C., Rasche, M. E., and Ensign, S. A.  (1995)  Carbonyl sulfide and carbon dioxide as new substrates, and carbon disulfide as a new inhibitor, of nitrogenase.  Biochemistry 34: 5382-5389.

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