Chris Rath

Chemical Biology

E-mail:crath@umich.edu

Chris Rath is a fourth year student in the Chemical Biology PhD program and a joint member of the Håkansson and Sherman Labs. His research focuses on applying modern mass spectrometry techniques to the analysis of biosynthetic assembly lines. He graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2003 with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While at UCSC Chris performed marine natural products research in the Crews group. His research focused on characterizing the natural product profile of a sponge derived fungi. After graduating, he worked at PDL Biopharma for three years as a member of the Analytical Biochemistry group with a focus on analyzing protein post-translational modifications.

Christopher M. Rath

Curriculum Vitae

Education:

University of Michigan, Chemical Biology PhD Program, May 2011 [expected] Advisors: Professors Sherman and Hakansson Phd thesis title: Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry for Natural Product Exploration

University of California at Santa Cruz, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BS, June 2003 Advisor: Professor Crews Undergraduate thesis title: Novel Structures and Bioactivity of the Secondary Metabolites of a Sponge Derived Strain of Myrothecium verrucaria and the development of the m-OSMAC experimental protocol

Professional Experience:

PDL Biopharma, Analytical Chemistry, Technical Development Assistant II, 2003-2005 Crews group UCSC, Undergraduate Research Associate, 2000-2003

Publications:

Christopher M. Rath, Jamie B. Scaglione, Jeffrey Kittendorf, and David H Sherman. Hybrid PKS/NRPS natural product biosynthesis. Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Natural Products 2009.

Brian F. Pfleger, Youngchang Kim, Tyler D. Nusca, Natalia Maltseva, Jung Yeop Lee, Christopher M. Rath, Jamie B. Scaglione, Brian K. Janes, Erica C. Anderson, Nicholas H. Bergman, Philip C. Hanna, Andrzej Joachimiak and David H. Sherman. Structural and functional analysis of AsbF: Origin of the stealth 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid subunit for petrobactin biosynthesis. PNAS 2008.

Nicole B. Lopanik, Jennifer A. Shields, Tonia J. Buchholz, Christopher M. Rath, Joanne Hothersall, Margo G. Haygood, Kristina H?ansson, Christopher M. Thomas and David H. Sherman. In Vivo and In Vitro Trans-Acylation by BryP, the Putative Bryostatin Pathway Acyltransferase Derived from an Uncultured Marine Symbiont. Chemistry and Biology 2008.

Taro Amagata T, Christopher Rath, Jerome F, Nicolos Tarlov, Karen Tenney, Fred A Valeriote, Phil Crews. 2003. Structures and cytotoxic properties of trichoverroids and their macrolide analogues produced by saltwater culture of Myrothecium verrucaria. J Med Chem 46(20):4342-50.

Awards, Fellowships and Funding:

Microfluidics in Biomedical Sciences training program awardee
Chemical Biology Interface training program awardee
Roche Bioscience Prize for excellence in undergraduate research
Regent's Scholar, most prestigious academic scholarship awarded by UC
Major contributor submitted RO1: Digital Microfluidics for Combinatorial Biosynthesis

Educational efforts:

Campus Resources on Learning and Teaching Program Seminars: Encouraging Multicultural Dialogue.
Course Assistant: Chemistry 647, Mass Spectrometry
First Exposures, Cameraworks San Francisco, 2004-2005
Modified Supplemental Instruction Program, UCSC, Learning Assistant, 2000-2003
Provided training, mentorship, and guidance, for >8 undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows as a member of the Sherman Laboratory

National Meeting Posters and Talks:

Christopher M. Rath, Kristina Hakansson, David H. Sherman. Direct Injection FT-ICR-Mass Spectrometric Analysis versus Low Resolution Q-LC-MS of Polyketide Biosynthesis American Society of Mass Spectrometry Annual Meeting. June 2009 Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Christopher M. Rath, David H. Sherman, Kristina Hakansson, FT-ICR-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Polyketide Biosynthesis: Preliminary Steady-State and Transient Kinetics of Active-Site Bound Intermediates. American Society of Mass Spectrometry Annual Meeting. June 2008 Denver Colorado.

Christopher Rath, Mathew Sweeney, Brian Schmidt. Analysis of deamidation in monoclonal antibodies: Comparing peptide mapping using LC/MS and enzymatic isoaspartate detection using strong cation exchange chromatography. Poster presented at the 229th ACS National Meeting; 2005 March 13-17; San Diego, CA.

Melissa Alverez, Christoher Rath C, Brian Schmidt, Mathew Sweeny. Development of a RP-LC/MS Assay for Molecular Weight Determinations of MAbs and Related Degradation Products. Poster presented at the 1st Annual Symposium on the Practical Applications of Mass Spectrometry in the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries; 2004 September 17-18; Boston, MA.

Professional societies:

American Chemical Society
American Society for Mass Spectrometry
American Academy of Underwater Sciences Certified Scientific Diver