Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences

Education:

• Ph.D. Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS), 2009 
  • Mentors: Dr. Julian Limburg and Dr. Emily E. Scott
  • Her graduate work focused on determining the structure and function of a prolyl 4-hydroxylase-like protein involved in collagen production.

Professional Experience:

• Dr. Culpepper joined the department of chemistry at Appalachian State University in 2014
  • She teaches classes in Analytical, Biochemistry, and Introductory Chemistry.
• NIH postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University
  • Mentor: Dr. Amy C. Rosenzweig 
  • She researched biological methane oxidation by the membrane protein particulate methane monooxygenase. 

Research/Interests:

Current research projects in the Culpepper lab utilize interdisciplinary techniques encompassing biochemistry, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry. Research projects investigate the protein structure and biochemical function of enzymes involved in the global sulfur cycle. Namely, an enzyme responsible for the degradation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), the major contributing volatile organic sulfur compound (VOSC) in our atmosphere implicated in climate regulation. Research students learn protein expression and purification as well as biochemical characterization using analytical instrumentation. Our laboratory uses X-ray facilities at Argonne National Laboratory to collect protein structure data. This data is used to elucidate the three-dimensional protein structure all towards understanding how structure dictates chemical mechanism.

Selected Publications:

Hammers, D. S.; Donaghy, C. M.; Heiss, S. L.; Harris, L. M.; Gordon, J. M.; Stevens, J. W.; IV; Murray, L. P.; Schwab, A. D.; Hester, B. C.; Culpepper, M. A., Identification and Characterization of a DmoB Flavin Oxidoreductase from a Putative Two-Component DMS C-Monooxygenase. ACS Omega 2020, 5 (17), 9830-9838. PMC7203701

Grants: 

National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of Environmental Health Science

• PI, M.A. Culpepper; co-PI, B.C. Hester 
• Title: Initial flavin transfer studies on the sulfur-degrading enzyme dimethylsulfide monooxygenase.

Predominantly Undergraduate Institution (PUI) Fund Agency: Gordon Research Conference Board of Trustees

• PI, M.A. Culpepper 
• Title: Deciphering the metal binding of dimethylsulfide degradation.

CONCERT research grant

• PI, M.A. Culpepper; co-PI, B.C. Hester 
• Agency: Appalachian State University, Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics 
• Title: Determination of the native binding partner in a two-subunit protein involved in climate regulation