College of the
Holy Cross Phone:
1-508-793-3380
Department of
Chemistry FAX: 1-508-793-3530
1
College Street E-mail:
kmills@holycross.edu
Worcester, MA
01610
2001-present College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
áDepartment of Chemistry
áAssociate Professor, 2007-
áAssistant Professor, 2001-2007
Education
1996-2001 Harvard
University, Cambridge,
MA
áDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical
Biology
áA.M. 1998
áPh.D. 2001, Advisor: Prof. Henry Paulus
1992-1996 Loyola
College in Maryland,
Baltimore, MD
áB.S., summa cum laude, 1996
áChemistry major, philosophy minor
Research
Interests
Protein
splicing, mechanistic enzymology, protein chemistry, guided-inquiry
undergraduate lab development
Research
Experience
2001-present College of the Holy Cross, Department of Chemistry,
Worcester, MA
áDirect undergraduate researchers in the
study of the mechanism of hedgehog autoprocessing and protein splicing.
1996-2001 Harvard
University, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cambridge, MA
áStudied mechanism of protein splicing and developed an in
vitro trans-splicing
protein ligation system using inteins from RecA protein of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis and DnaE
protein of Synechocystis
species PCC6803.
1995 Summer
Research Institute for Applied Science, Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory, Livermore, CA
áStudied peptide models of prion protein
folding.
1991-1996
Medical
Research Institute for Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Edgewood
Area, MD
áStudied and designed active site mutants of human
butyrylcholinesterase that demonstrated hydrolysis of organophosphate
inhibitors.
Teaching
Experience
2001-present College of the Holy Cross,
Department of Chemistry
áAtoms and Molecules, Chemistry 101/181 Lecture and Lab (Fall
2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
áIntroduction to Equilibrium and Reactivity/Equilibrium and
Reactivity, Chemistry 231 Lecture and Lab (Spring 2002-2007, 2009)
áBiochemistry, Chemistry 399, Fall 2008
áBioorganic Chemistry, Chemistry 310 (Spring 2003, 2006)
áAdvanced Biochemistry, Chemistry 363 (Spring 2004)
áBiochemistry II Laboratory, Biology 304 (Spring 2002)
2000-2001 Harvard
University, Division of Continuing Education
áHead teaching fellow for Dr. James Davis
for General Chemistry course.
1997-2000 Harvard
University, Division of Continuing Education
áTeaching assistant for Dr. James Davis for General Chemistry
recitation and laboratory sections in the Harvard Extension School
1996-1997 Harvard
University, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
áTeaching assistant for recitation sections of Organic
Chemistry 20 for Dr. Claude Wintner and for Organic Chemistry of Life 27 for
Dr. Gregory Verdine and Dr. Stuart Schreiber.
1995-1996 Loyola
College in Maryland
áPreliminary teaching experiences included tutoring at the
Learning Bank in Baltimore, which was a component of an academic course on
adult literacy, as well as tutoring in organic chemistry. Also a member of the College's
Curriculum Committee (1995-1996).
External
Grants
2005-2010 National Science Foundation, CAREER grant, $794,482
ÒCAREER: Alternative Mechanisms of HINT domain autoprocessing: An integrated undergraduate research and education programÓ
2003-2005 National Science Foundation, Major Research Instrumentation, $255,502
ÒAcquisition of Protein Purification and Analysis Equipment to Enhance Biochemical Research and Education at the College of the Holy CrossÓ
2003-2005 Research Corporation, Cottrell College Science Award, $58,028
ÒThe Mechanism and Molecular Evolution of Hedgehog Proteins and Related Auto-Processing DomainsÓ
2002-2004 Petroleum Research Fund (American Chemical Society), $35,000
Type GB, ÒThe Mechanism of Protein Splicing and the Molecular Evolution of Inteins.Ó
1997-2001 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellowship
1995-1996 Barry M. Goldwater Fellowship
Internal
Grants
2003 Research
and Publication Award, $1000
2002 Charles
and Rosanna Batchelor (Ford) Foundation Summer Fellowship (declined to accept
external funding)
Fellowships
2002 Charles
and Rosanna Batchelor (Ford) Foundation Faculty Fellowship
1997-2001 Howard Hughes
Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellowship
1996, 1997 National Science
Foundation Fellowship honorable mention
1994-1996 Barry M.
Goldwater Scholar
1994-1996
Datatel
Scholar
1992-1996 Marion Burk
Knott Scholarship, Maryland Distinguished Scholar
1992-1993 National
Merit Scholar, Byrd Scholar
Awards
1996 American
Institute of Chemists, D.C. chapter, chemistry award
1996 Award
for highest overall GPA, Loyola College in Maryland
1996 Chemistry
Medal, Loyola College in Maryland
1995 Phi
Beta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society)
1992-1996 Dean's
List, Loyola College in Maryland, all semesters
Publications
(Undergraduate co-authors indicated by asterisk)
Holy Cross publications:
18. Mills, K.V., Herrick, R.S., Ditzler, M.A., Nestor, L.P., Shafer, H., and Guilmette, L.W. (2008) An Introduction to Electrochemistry: A Two-week Discovery Chemistry Experiment. J. Chem. Educ. In press.
17. Herrick, R.S., Mills, K.V., and Nestor, L.P. (2008) Data Pooling in a Chemical Kinetics Experiment: The Aquation of a Series of Cobalt (III) Complexes. J. Chem. Educ. In press.
16. Mills, K.V. and Guilmette, L.W. (2007) Thermochemical Analysis of Neutralization Reactions: An Introductory Discovery Experiment. J. Chem. Educ. 84, 326-328.
15. Bellin, R.M. and Mills, K.V. (2007) The
Holy Cross Biochemistry Concentration: An Integrated Four-Year Program to
Develop Undergraduate Research Scholars. In Developing and Sustaining a
Research-Supportive Curriculum,
ed K.K. Karukstis and T.E. Elgren, Council on Undergraduate Research.
14. Mills, K.V., Connor, K.R., *Dorval,
D.M., and *Lewandowski, K.T. (2006) Protein Purification via
Temperature-Dependent, Intein-Mediated Cleavage from an Immobilized Metal
Affinity Resin. Anal. Biochem. 356, 86-93.
13. Mills, K.V., *Dorval, D.M.,
*Lewandowski, K.T. (2005) Kinetic analysis of the individual steps of protein
splicing for the Pyrococcus abyssi PolII
intein. J. Biol. Chem 280, 2714-2720.
12.
Mills, K.V., *Gareau, J.R., and *Garcia, A.M. (2005) Low-cost modification to
the Copacabana method for spreading transformation mixtures. BioTechniques 39, 188.
11.
Mills, K.V., Perler, F.B. (2005) The Mechanism of Intein-Based Protein
Splicing: Variations on a Theme. Protein & Peptide Letters, 12, 751-755.
10.
Mills, K.V. (2005) Protein Splicing. In Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology
and Molecular Medicine, Second
Edition, ed, RA Meyers,
241-265, Weinheim: Wiley-VCH.
9.
Mills, K.V., Paulus, H. (2005) Biochemical Mechanisms of Intein-Mediated
Protein Splicing. In Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology 16 (Homing Endonucleases and Inteins), ed. M. Belfort, 231-255,
Berlin: Springer Verlag.
8. Mills, K.V., *Manning, J.S., *Garcia, A.M., *Wuerdeman, L.A. (2004) Protein splicing of a Pyrococcus abyssi intein with a C-terminal glutamine. J. Biol. Chem. 279, 20685-20691.
7. Mills, K.V. (2004)
Self-Splicing Proteins. In: Handbook
of Proteolytic Enzymes, Second Edition, Vol. 2., ed. AJ Barrett, 2136-2140, London:
Academic Press, Elsevier Science.
6. Mills, KV. (2003) Post-Translational Control. In: Genetics, Vol. 3., ed. R Robinson, 178-182, New York: Macmillan Reference USA.
Pre-Holy
Cross Publications:
5. Mills, K.V.,
Paulus, H. (2001) Reversible
Inhibition of Protein Splicing by Zinc Ion. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 10832-10838.
4. Lew, B.M.,
Mills, K.V., Paulus, H. (1999) Characteristics of Protein Splicing in trans Mediated by a Semisynthetic Split
Intein. Biopolymers (Peptide Science) 51,
355-362.
3. Lew, B.M.,
Mills, K.V., Paulus, H. (1998) Protein Splicing in Vitro with a Semisynthetic
Two-Component Minimal Intein. J. Biol. Chem.273, 15887-15890.
2. Mills, K.V.,
Lew, B.M., Jiang, Sq, Paulus, H.
(1998) Protein splicing in trans by purified N- and C- terminal fragments of the Mycobacterium
tuberculosis RecA intein.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 95, 3543-3548.
1. Broomfield,
C.A., Mills, K.V., Meier, B.M., Lockridge, O.A., and Millard, C.B. (1998) Reaction of human
butyrylcholinesterase (BchE) H117 enzymes with carbamates. In: Structure and Function of
Cholinesterases and Related Proteins, 223-226.
Abstracts
(recent)
*McGill, M.A., *OÕBrien, K.M., and Mills, K.V. (2008) The P. abyssi lon-b protease: Protein splicing activity and proteolysis by soluble fragments. FASEB J. in press.
*Kerrigan, A.M., *Powers, T.L., *Dorval, D.M., Reitter, J.N. and Mills, K.V. (2008) The dependence of three P. abyssi inteins on extein sequence for efficient protein splicing. FASEB J. in press.
Mills, K.V., Reitter, J.N., Connor, K.R., *Dorval, D.M., *Drago, M.J., *Lewandowski, K.T., and *Powers, T.L. (2008) Alternate mechanisms of protein splicing by non-canonical inteins. FASEB J. in press.
Mills,
K.V., Reitter, J.N., Connor, K.R., *Powers, T.L. and *Drago, M.J. (2007) Protein splicing of a
non-canonical intein from C. thermocellum. Abstracts
of Papers, 234th
ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, BIOL-237.
*McGill,
M.A., *OÕBrien, K.M., and Mills, K.V. (2007) Protein splicing and extein activity of the Pyrococcus
abyssi lon protease
intein. Protein Science 16-Sup 1, 162.
Mills, K.V., Reitter,
J.N., Connor, K.R., *Powers, T.L., *Drago, M.J., *Lewandowski, K.T., and
*Dorval, D.M. (2007) Alternative protein splicing mechanisms of inteins
from C. thermocellum and P.
abyssi. Protein
Science 16-Sup 1, 158.
*Dorval, D.M.,
Connor, K.R., and Mills, K.V. (2006) Catalysis of individual steps of protein
splicing of the Pyrococcus abyssi PolII
intein. FASEB J. 20, A40.
*Powers, T.L.,
*Drago, M.J., *Dorval, D.M., Connor, K.R., and Mills, K.V. (2006) Protein
splicing of a non-canonical Clostridium thermocellum intein with N-terminal Gln. FASEB J. 20, A964.
Mills, K.V.,
*Lewandowski, K.T., and *Dorval, D.M. (2005) The Mechanism of Protein Splicing
of the Pyrococcus abyssi
PolII intein. Protein Science 14-Sup 1, 87.
*Lewandowski,
K.T., *Dorval, D.M., and Mills, K.V. (2005) A Kinetic study of the protein
splicing mechanism of the Pyrococcus abyssi PolII intein. FASEB J. 19, A1401.
Mills, K.,
*Manning, J., *Garcia, A., *Wuerdeman, L. (2004) In vitro protein splicing of an intein with a
C-terminal glutamine from Pyrococcus abyssi.
FASEB J. 18, C276.
*Lewandowski,
K., *Wuerdeman, L., *Twomey, P., and Mills, K. (2004) Murine Sonic Hedgehog
proteins: Sub-cloning, over-expression in E. coli and affinity purification. FASEB J. 18, C277.
Selected
Professional Presentations
Trinity College,
Hartford, CT, May 20, 2008
Invited
Seminar: ÒNon-canonical protein splicing
IUBMB/ASBMB
2008, San Diego, CA April 8, 2009
Presented
poster: ÒAlternate mechanisms of protein splicing by non-canonical
inteinsÓ
Twenty-First
Symposium of the Protein Society, Boston, MA July 21-July 25, 2007
Presented
poster entitled ÒAlternative protein splicing mechanisms of inteins from
C. thermocellum and P. abyssiÓ
Worcester Polytechnic
Institute, Worcester, MA October 12, 2005
Invited
Seminar: ÒThe Mechanism of Protein Splicing: Inteins as Flexible EnzymesÓ
Nineteenth
Symposium of the Protein Society, Boston, MA July 30-August 3, 2005
Presented
poster entitled ÒThe Mechanism of Protein Splicing of the Pyrococcus abyssi PolII inteinÓ
IUBMB/ASBMB
2004, Boston, MA June 15, 2004
Presented
two posters: ÒIn vitro protein splicing of an intein with a
C-terminal glutamine from Pyrococcus abyssi.Ó and ÒMurine Sonic Hedgehog proteins:
Sub-cloning, over-expression in E. coli and affinity purification.Ó
Clark
University, Worcester, MA April 1, 2002
Invited
Seminar: ÒMaking protein splicing an efficient trans-action.Ó
New England
Biolabs, Beverly, MA October 11, 2001
Invited
Seminar: ÒProtein Splicing in Trans
by Intein SegmentsÓ
Gordon Research
Conference, Biological Regulation Mechanisms
Holderness, NH,
July 30-August 4, 2000
Invited
Seminar: "Role of Intein Structure in Protein trans Splicing."
Presented
poster entitled: "Role of Intein Structure in Protein trans Splicing and
Inhibition by Zinc."
Thirteenth
Symposium of the Protein Society, Boston, MA, July 24-28, 1999
Presented
poster entitled: "Protein Splicing in Trans: Characteristics of a
Semisynthetic
Split Intein."
Student
Research Mentoring
Adam Nadelson
(Biology Õ10, NSF)
Daniel York (Biology/Biochemistry Õ10, NSF)
Adam Kerrigan
(Biology Õ09, NSF)
Melissa McGill (Biology/Biochemistry Õ08, NSF)
Jennifer Winslow (Biology Õ09, NSF)
Deirdre M.
Dorval (Biology Õ06, NSF)
Melissa McGill (Biology/Biochemistry Õ08, NSF)
Kathryn OÕBrien (Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ08, NSF)
Matthew Drago (Biology/Biochemistry Õ07, NSF)
Deirdre M.
Dorval (Biology Õ06, Research Corporation)
Taryn Powers (Biology Õ07, NSF)
Deirdre M.
Dorval (Biology Õ06, Research Corporation)
Katherine Lewandowski (Biology/Biochemistry Õ05, Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Trust)
Jaclyn Gareau
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ04, Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Trust)
Katherine
Lewandowski (Biology/Biochemistry Õ05, Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Trust)
Alicia M. Garcia
(Biology Õ03, Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Trust)
Jennifer S.
Manning (Chemistry Õ03, Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Trust)
Timothy D. Quinn
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ04, Pfizer, PREPARE)
Lisa A. Wuerdeman (Chemistry Õ03, Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Trust)
Adam Kerrigan
(Biology Õ09)
Chemistry
Research II
Adam Nadelson
(Biology Õ10, NSF)
Chemistry
Research I
Ann Schufreider
(Chemistry Õ09)
Jennifer Winslow
(Biology Õ09)
Chemistry
Research II
Daniel York (Biology/Biochemistry Õ10, NSF)
Chemistry
Research I
Adam Kerrigan
(Biology Õ09)
Chemistry
Research I
Melissa McGill
(Biology/Biochemistry Õ08)
Chemistry Research II/Biochemistry
Thesis
Kathryn OÕBrien
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ08)
Chemistry Research II/Biochemistry
Thesis
Ann Schufreider
(Chemistry Õ09)
Jennifer Winslow
(Biology Õ09)
Chemistry
Research I
Matthew Drago
(Biology/Biochemistry Õ07)
College
Honors/Biochemistry Thesis
Melissa McGill
(Biology/Biochemistry Õ08)
Chemistry Research I
Kathryn OÕBrien
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ08)
Chemistry Research I
Taryn Powers
(Biology Õ07)
Chemistry
Research II
2005-2006
Deirdre Dorval
(Biology Õ06)
College
Honors
Matthew Drago
(Biology/Biochemistry Õ07)
Chemistry
Research I
Taryn Powers (Biology
Õ07)
Chemistry
Research I
2004-2005
Deirdre Dorval
(Biology Õ06)
Chemistry
Research I
Katherine
Lewandowski (Biology/Biochemistry Õ05)
Chemistry
Research II/Biochemistry Thesis
2003-2004
Jaclyn Gareau
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ04)
Chemistry
Research II/Biochemistry Thesis/Departmental Honors
Kathleen Leahy
(Mathematics Õ04)
College
Honors (on-campus advisor)
Katherine
Lewandowski (Biology/Biochemistry Õ05)
Chemistry
Research I
Timothy Quinn
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ04)
Chemistry
Research II/Biochemistry Thesis/Departmental Honors
2002-2003
Alicia Garcia
(Biology Õ03)
College
Honors
Jaclyn Gareau
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ04)
Chemistry
Research I
Timothy Quinn
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ04)
Chemistry
Research I
Jennifer S. Manning
(Chemistry Õ03)
Chemistry
Research I
Ralph M. Millilo
(Biology Õ03) with Prof. R. Bertin
Biology
Research/Biochemistry Thesis
Lisa Wuerdeman
(Chemistry Õ03)
Chemistry
Research I
2001-2002
Beth Ambrose
(Chemistry Õ02)
Chemistry
Research I
Patrick Twomey
(Chemistry/Biochemistry Õ02)
Chemistry
Research I/Biochemistry Thesis
Jennifer S.
Manning (Chemistry Õ03)
Unofficial
Chemistry Research
Lisa Wuerdeman
(Chemistry Õ03)
Unofficial
Chemistry Research
Katherine
Beckwith (Biology Õ03), 2003
Selected
College Service
2007 ÒBeing a Holy Cross StudentÓ Gateways Session Leader
2004-2006 Academic Affairs Council, Priorities Committee
2004-2006 Curricular Review Steering Committee
2001-present Biochemistry Concentration, Co-Chair
2002-2003, 2004-2007 Committee for Graduate Studies and Fellowships
2002-2003 Curricular Goals Committee: Acquisition, integration and application of knowledge
2006, 2007 Presidential Service Award Selection Committee
2002 Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium, co-chair
2002-2004, 2007 Summer Gateways Advisor
2002-present Founder/organizer of summer biomolecular
summer student research student journal club
2004 Presented talk on ÒMad Cows and Cannibals: The
Biochemistry of Diseases of Protein MisfoldingÓ for
summer research program
2004-2006 PAL host for Atoms and Molecules
2005 Ad hoc Classroom of the Future committee
2003-2006 Organized student group trip to MIT Center for Cancer
Research Annual Symposium
2002-2007 Founded/organized annual summer student/faculty softball
game series (w/ G. Roberts)
Selected
Department Service
2004-present General Chemistry laboratory faculty director
2005-2007 New Chemistry building planning, committees for Material Management, General Chemistry lab, Biochemistry research and Non-synthetic Research
2001-2002 Cross and Crucibles faculty advisor
2001,02,05.07 Participated in Fall ParentÕs Weekend Open House
2004 Hosted prospective student department session
2003,04,07 Hosted departmental Gateways browsing sessions
2001-present Hiring committees for seven faculty and two lab coordinators
2001-present Biochemistry coordinator
2001-present Hosted
prospective student summer visits to the department
Selected
Community Service
2006 Seminar to post-doc association at UMass Medical School on career options in liberal arts colleges
2005 Participated as panelist in Science faculty forum by Consortium on High
Achievement and Success, Mt. Holyoke College
2005 Presented talk to Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Odyssey Series
2005 Panelist for HHMI-Boston area alumni group career options discussion
2001-2002 United Way Fund Drive Department Coordinator
2002 Relay
for Disaster Relief participant
Professional
Membership
2000-present American Chemical Society, Biological Chemistry Division
2000-present American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2005-present Protein Society
2001-present Council on Undergraduate Research
1995-present Phi Beta Kappa
1995-present Alpha
Sigma Nu (National Jesuit Honor Society)