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John Peters' lab Personnel

Alexander B. Alleman

Graduate Research Assistant

 

Washington State University
Institute of Biological Chemistry
299 Clark Hall
Pullman, WA 99164

 

E-mail:alexander.alleman@wsu.edu

 

Research Interests

 

I grew up outside of Boulder, CO where I explored the mountains on my bike and skis. I continued this lifestyle as I attended Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, CO as I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry. I then continued my education in the biochemistry program at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT where I joined the Peters lab to study the structure and function of unique carboxylase enzymes. I then transferred my studies with the Peters lab to Washington State University and am now in the Molecular Plant Science program. I study the physiological process and regulations of biological nitrogen fixation. The model organism Azotobacter vinelandii is capable of fixing nitrogen under high aerobic conditions by tuning its respiration for oxygen protection. By using genetic, computational modeling, and biochemical approaches we have been able to distinguish the different physiological properties A. vinelandii utilize for aerobic nitrogen fixation. These insights will lead to new developments in agricultural technologies to help lessen the effect of the world’s nitrogen crisis.

Education

 

  • 2017-Present    PhD Student in Molecular Plant Science, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
  • 2015-2016          PhD Student in Biochemistry (Transferred), Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
  • 2009-2014         B.A. in Chemistry and Biology, Dept. of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, CO

Research Experience

  • 2013    Thornton Biology Research Grant Recipient- Truncation of Brewers Yeast’s Enzyme Ilv5 to Lower the Concentration of Diactyel in Beer

 

Publications

 

  1. Mus F, Alleman AB, Pence N, Seefeldt LC, Peters JW. Exploring the alternatives of biological nitrogen fixation. Metallomics. 2018 Apr 25;10(4):523-538. doi: 10.1039/c8mt00038g. Review. PubMed PMID: 29629463.
  2. Mus F, Eilers BJ, Alleman AB, Kabasakal BV, Wells JN, Murray JW, Nocek BP, DuBois JL & Peters JW. Structural Basis for the Mechanism of ATP-Dependent Acetone Carboxylation. Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 7234 (Aug 3, 2017) doi:10.1038/s41598-017-06973-8