TERRE HAUTE —
As students file into class this fall for their biochemistry course, Indiana State junior chemistry major Seth Lutjemeyer will have a head start after completing the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.
Instead of spending summer away from campus, Lutjemeyer reported to the biochemistry laboratory on campus performing studies on mushroom tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is an enzyme found in fruits and vegetables and causes the browning of the foods. Lutjemeyer sought to get a better understanding of how the enzyme functions. As a byproduct of his examinations of the enzyme, Lutjemeyer has spent hours learning invaluable lab techniques specific to biochemistry and feels more prepared for his upcoming bio-chemistry course.
The SURE program is sponsored by the university and offers students the opportunity to participate in summer research. This summer, the program included 30 ISU students working with faculty members in a variety of research across the natural sciences.
“At the beginning, it was a whole new experience,” Lutjemeyer said. “I was skeptical at first but I learned so much now that it’s over and hope to do it again.”
Lutjemeyer said the experience built upon knowledge acquired in the classroom. He was interested in taking part in the program because he wanted to do more hands-on work in chemistry. The SURE program provided just that.
Despite having a career plan to attend dental school upon graduation, Lutjemeyer said he has taken a liking to doing research because of the program.
“It can be my back-up plan,” Lutjemeyer said.
Advised by William Flurkey, ISU chemistry and physics professor, Lutjemeyer conducted three studies on the mushroom tyrosinase during the 10-week program.
“This enzyme is involved in browning reactions in fruits and vegetables, so preventing this enzyme from working will theoretically improve food appearance and food quality,” Flurkey said.
Flurkey said researchers hoped to understand more about the enzyme but real-world applications of the research are still in the distant future.
The first study was to protect the latent form of the mushroom tyrosinase by adding protease inhibitors.
“We are trying to determine if there is a way to preserve the latent form,” Flurkey said. “If we can do that, we can do studies on the dormant form.”
The second study looked at activating the enzyme by using a detergent and then removing that detergent to see if it is possible to return it back to its latent form.
“It’s been proposed that once you activate it, it stays active but we are seeing if it is reversible,” Lutjemeyer said.
He said they were able to convert some back to latent but less than expected.
The third study focused on the separation of active and latent forms of tyrosinase using chromatography methods.
“Usually biochemists like to study different forms of enzymes,” Flurkey said. “So it would be nice to be able to separate them so you can study them individually.”
Schools
SURE offers students opportunity to participate in summer research
- Schools
-
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Montgomery Meigs establishes Arlington National Cemetery
This week (June 15) in 1864, Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs, who had been appointed Quartermaster General of the Union Army in 1861, established Arlington House, the former home of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, as a cemetery for the Union’s soldiers. Today Arlington National Cemetery is America’s national military burial ground.
- Vigo County School Corp. High School Honor Roll
- Goals, Pride & Achievements: June 13, 2013
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: This week in 1944: D-Day and the Airborne assault on Normandy
This week (June 5) in 1944, with the D-Day invasion of the Nazi-occupied Normandy coast set to begin, the man in charge of that invasion, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, paid a special visit to members of the U.S. 82nd and the 101st Airborne.
-
Terre Haute North, South African-American clubs taking educational journey to Washington, D.C.
Students and teachers from Terre Haute North and South Vigo high schools saw three years of hard work pay off Monday afternoon as they lined up eagerly at the doors of a school bus to start a long ride to Washington, D.C.
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: A woman’s voice of moral clarity
This week (June 1) in 1950, Margaret Chase Smith, the Republican senator from Maine and the first woman ever to serve as both a U.S. senator and member of the House of Representatives, gave a speech that, looking back, was a voice of moral clarity amidst a cacophony of madness and vilification.
-
Education-technology grants given to Valley
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has announced the 2013 Technology Resource Grants, awarded to help organizations purchase technology resources for student instruction in career and technical educations classrooms.
-
Turkey Run presents academic awards
Turkey Run High School freshmen, sophomores and juniors were honored at an awards program on May 16.
-
Goals, Pride & Achievements
Laci Pethtel of Oblong is the 2013 recipient of the Lincoln Trail College Professional Assistants Group scholarship.
-
VCSC to offer summer meals
Sarah Scott Middle School will offer free breakfast and lunch for people 18 years old and younger Monday through June 20.
-
Road Runners name scholarship winners
The Wabash Valley Road Runners have named Anne Mullican and Justin Clapp as the recipients of the 2013 WVRR scholarships.
-
South student blazes competition with research
Ryan Chung, a junior at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, placed first at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the computer science category.
-
Indiana State University Dean’s List
Indiana State University has announced its dean’s list for the spring 2013 semester. Area students recognized for their academic achievement include:
-
RP recognizes outstanding students
Riverton Parke High School’s class of 2013 was honored on May 15 at the annual senior awards night in the school’s cafetorium.
-
Student blood donors receive scholarships
Roche Diagnostics and Indiana Blood Center are recognizing 81 high school seniors in Indiana who participate in community service.
-
Bruce’s History Lessons: Morse’s telegraph and its impact as a ‘game changer’
This week (May 24) in 1844, Professor Samuel F.B. Morse sat in the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., surrounded by members of Congress, who had come to witness history.
-
High schoolers attend automotive, welding skills competitions
Area high school students put their skills to the test at the annual Automotive Skills and Welding Skills competitions on April 18 at Ivy Tech Community College—Wabash Valley.
-
Riverton Parke presents concert, music awards
The Riverton Parke Jr.-Sr. High School Music Department presented its annual Spring Concert on May 13 in the school gymnasium.
-
Turkey Run senior awards and honors
Turkey Run High School seniors were honored at an awards program May 13. Scholarships and departmental and activity awards were presented.
-
South earns national yearbook design honor
The Terre Haute South yearbook, Uaxactun, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2013 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 11 celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage.
-
Vincennes University Dean’s List
The Vincennes University Dean’s List for Spring 2013 includes students from the Vincennes campus, Jasper campus, Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, military bases, and other extended sites.
-
4 more honored as Four Star Schools
In addition to the three Vigo County schools (Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Dixie Bee Elementary and Fayette Elementary schools) that were announced earlier, four more Wabash Valley schools were recognized as Indiana Four Star Schools.
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
This week (May 14) in 1948, at the direction of President Harry Truman, the United States recognized the existence of the newly formed state of Israel, which had declared independence earlier that day. It was, Truman later stated, among the most important decisions of his presidency.
- Reunion listings: May 16, 2013
-
Chances and Services for Youth to participate in food program
The Chances and Services for Youth recently announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.
-
South Latin students compete at convention
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Latin students competed with other Indiana schools at the recent state convention at ISU.
-
Southwest Parke School Corp. receives eLearning grant
Southwest Parke Community School Corp. has received an Imagining and Creating eLearning grant for the 2013-2014 school year through the Indiana Department of Education.
- Newsmakers: May 16, 2013
-
Otter Creek competes in regional Academic Super Bowl
The Otter Creek Academic Super Bowl teams competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl competition on April 27 at Sarah Scott Middle School.
-
Riverton Parke FFA teams compete at April 16 contest
Two Riverton Parke FFA Parliamentary Procedure Teams competed at the section competition for the Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration Contest on April 16 at the Indiana FFA Center in Trafalgar.
- More Schools Headlines
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Montgomery Meigs establishes Arlington National Cemetery
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Today in History June 19
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Failed Cuba-to-Florida Swimmer Won't Try Again
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
