The University of Toledo

Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich

Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich Associate Professor    419-530-1940 (Office) 419-530-1937 (Lab) WO 2219 amanda.bryant-friedrich@utoledo.edu

Institutions/Degrees

B.S. 1990                             North Carolina Central University
M.S. 1992                            Duke University
Dr. rer. Nat, 1997                Ruprecht Karls Universität, Heidelberg, Germany
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1999   Universität Basel, Basel, Switzerland

 

Research Interests

Modified Nucleic Acids, Biomarkers, DNA and RNA damage, Photochemistry, Mass Spectrometry, Ionizing Radiation, Women in Science

Nucleic Acids play a seminal role in maintaining the proper function of cells and organisms. Due to their key functions a full understanding of their damage and repair is critical in elucidating the causes and finding treatments for many chronic diseases. The role that nucleic acids damage plays in cancer, heart disease, chronic inflammation and macular degeneration makes this topic significant to those seeking to improve human health. Our laboratory contributes to the understanding of the biological process of oxidative damage to nucleic acids through the synthesis of organic molecules capable of generation of free radical species in and around DNA and RNA. Through these chemical entities the mechanisms by which nucleic acids are oxidized can be determined and the fate of their subsequent damage products investigated. Our laboratory is involved in several different approaches to obtain the information needed to understand this biological process.

• Site-specific modification of DNA and RNA oligomers for the generation of for the study of oxidative damage processes.
• Development of analytical techniques for the identification, detection and validation of biomarkers of oxidative stress.
• Oxidative nucleic acid damage in protein-nucleic acid complexes
• Synthesis of DNA and RNA binding chromophores as drugs and tools for molecular biology.

Our laboratory has successfully used the site-specific modification of oligonucleotides for the identification of oxidative damage products in nucleic acids. We are currently involved in collaborative projects to determine the role of modified nucleic acids in disease.

 

Representative Publications

 1.         Suaad A. S. Audat, CherylAnn Trzasko Love, Buthina A. S. Al-Oudat and Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich, “Synthesis of C3’-Modified Nucleosides for Selective Generation of the C3’-Deoxy-3’-Thymidinyl Radical: A Proposed Intermediate in LEE Induced DNA Damage”. J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 3829-3837.

 2.         Rehana Zaidi and Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, “The Effect of Reductant Levels on the Formation of Damage Lesions Derived from a 2-Deoxyribose Radical in ssDNA”, Radiat. Res., 2012, 177, 565-572.

 3.         A. Bryant-Friedrich. Fate of DNA Sugar Radicals, in Advances in Molecular Toxicology, James Fishbein Ed.; Elsevier: New York, 2010; Vol. 4, pp 127-155.

 4.         G. Lahoud, A. Hitt, A. Bryant-Friedrich, “The aerobic fate of the C-3'-thymidinyl radical in single stranded DNA”, Chem. Res. Toxicol., 2006,19,1630-1636.

 5.         Georges Lahoud, Jesse Fancher, Sanda Grosu, Breyanna Cavanaugh, and Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, “Automated Synthesis, Characterization and Structural Analysis of Oligonucleotide C-3’-Radical Precursors”, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2006, 14, 2581-2588.

 6.         A. Bryant-Friedrich “Generation of a C-3'-Thymidinyl Radical in Single-Stranded Oligonucleotides under Anaerobic Conditions”, Org. Lett., 2004, 6, 2329.

 7.         D. Becker, A. Bryant-Friedrich, C. Trzasko, M. Sevilla, “Electron Spin Resonance Study of DNA Irradiated with Argon Heavy Ion Beams: Evidence for Formation of Sugar/Phosphate Radicals”, Radiation Research, 2003, 160, 174.

 8.         S. Körner, A. Bryant-Friedrich, B. Giese, “C-3’-a- and b-Branched 2’-Deoxythymidines as Precursors for the Selective Generation of C-3’-Nucleoside Radicals”, J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 1559.

 

Women in Science

1.         Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Association for Women In Science (AWIS) Women In Science Day Of Meetings (WISDOM), AWIS Magazine, Summer 2012, accepted.

 2.         T. Berry and N. Mizelle, eds. (2006) “From Oppression to Grace: Women of Color and Their Dilemmas Within the Academy”, Stylus Publishing, LLC, Virginia. (Solicited, contributing author.)