2008 CSL Undergraduate Summer Research Stipends
Kok Ann "Sam" Gan | Scott Justus | Susan Mallgrave | Emily Mick | Christos Mitillos | Yacin Nadji | Angela Pak | Yaofu Zhou
Scott JustusFourth-year undergraduate, Biochemistry Joseph OrgelAssistant Professor of Biology, Associate Director BioCAT Biophysical studies of connective tissue structure at molecular resolution |  | |
| Scott works with Orgel (left), an expert in fiber diffraction and collagen structure. |
Recipient of a prestigious NSF CAREER Award in 2007, Professor Orgel studies the organization of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the molecular structure of collagen. His work provides clues to new ways to stop or slow cancer metastasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases.
The ECM is the non-cellular element of connective tissue, mostly proteins and carbohydrates deposited outside of cells. Collagen, the principal component of the ECM, is a complex protein found throughout the body, from skin and blood vessels to teeth and bone.
To study its structure, Orgel's lab specializes in x-ray diffraction. Diffraction techniques make it possible to determine molecular structure by "bouncing" x-rays, neutrons, or electrons off atoms in an experimental sample, and reading their intensity at the angles at which they are detected after passing through the sample to ascertain their arrangement.
Orgel has taken a leading role in determining the molecular structure of whole collagen molecules within intact animal tissues. Using the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne, he did x-ray diffraction studies on rat tail tendons to study collagen microfibrils and fibrils (collagen bundles). He identified how the molecules work together to bind and regulate the action of enzymes called "collageneses," which enable tumor metastasis or rheumatoid arthritis.
New Lenox, IL, native Scott plans to earn a PhD in biochemistry or structural biology and has become proficient in various structure-determining techniques like circular dichroism. He has worked in Orgel's lab for a year and now sometimes trains other students. This summer, he made, purified and crystallized collagen fragments for APS studies. Others described the low-resolution structure of intact tissues, identifying where ECM components attach to collagen, and Scott examined them in more detail. He expects to help publish a paper on the work. He said, "Dr. Orgel is one of the world's leading experts in fiber diffraction and collagen structure. It is exciting to learn from him."
Photographer: Mindy Sherman, IIT Communications & Marketing
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