"There's no success like failure and failure's no success at all"

- Bob Dylan, and hypothesis-driven experiments

Courses Taught​

Professional Information

Student Research Opportunities​

• Inquire here if you are interested in any of the following research positions. 

1. Protein Targeting to Mitochondria
   • Most all mitochondrial proteins are encoded in the nucleus and must be properly synthesized and imported to be fully functional.
   • The goal of this project is to identify the mechanisms involved in the import of mitochondrial proteins.
   • Current Students
     • This project currently needs 2 students.
   • Former Students
     • Kathy Gebbie (Zoology); Fall 2005 - Spring 2006
     • Zach Neyhard (Adolescent Ed, Biology); Spring 2007 - Fall 2007 
2. Physiological and proteomic assessment of children with cardiovascular changes due to exposure of environmental toxicants
   • Various environmental toxicants have been shown to correlate with hypertension and cardiovascular reactivity children.
   • The goals of this project are
     • To determine the role of vasotone mediators and oxidant stress.
     • To characterize the plasma proteome of children with various toxicant levels.
   • In collaboration with Dr. Brooks Gump (Department of Psychology, SUNY Oswego) and Dr. Kestas Bendinskas (Department of Chemistry, SUNY Oswego). 
   • Current Students
     • Robert Birdsall (Chemistry); Fall 2006 - present
     • Kristen Roosa (Biology); Summer 2007 - present
     • Eric Yeager (Zoology); Summer 2008 - present 
   • Former Students
     • Amy Boleto (Biology); Spring 2007
     • Jenna Burgess (Zoology); Summer 2008 - Fall 2008 
     • Thea Hassan (Biology); Summer 2007 - Spring 2008 
     • Greg Miller (Biochemistry); Spring 2006 - Spring 2008 
     • Nicole Wicksell (Biology); Fall 2005
   • Funded by an NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award Grant (R15) and the MERCK/AAAS Undergraduate Research Program
3. Development of a GHB-specific Detection Assay
   • The date-rape drug GHB has been used recreationally and to intoxicate victims of robbery and rape.
   • The goal of this project is to develop an assay that can be used to detect GHB in liquids such as alcoholic beverages and bodily fluids.
   • In collaboration with Dr. Kestas Bendinskas (Department of Chemistry, SUNY Oswego).
   • Current Students
     • Andrew Banyikwa (Chemistry); Spring 2008 - present 
     • Paul MacMahon (Biochemistry); Summer 2007 - present
     • Tabitha Maier (Chemistry); Summer 2008 - present 
   • Former Students
     • Jennifer Bushey (Zoology); Spring 2005
     • Dan Crosset (Biology); Summer 2007 - Fall 2007  
     • Dan Dempsey (Chemistry); Spring 2005 - Spring 2007 
     • Tia Hendershott (Biology); Summer 2006 - Spring 2007 
     • Patricia Sattelberg (Biochemistry); Fall 2005 - Spring 2007
   • Partially funded by the MERCK/AAAS Undergraduate Research Program
4. Any project that a student wants to use molecular, cellular, or biochemical techniques to answer questions on a topic of their choosing.  I highly encourage students to develop their own projects.

Publications​

Bosch, W.C., J.L Hester, V.M. MacEntee, J.A. MacKenzie, T.M. Morey, J.T. Nichols, P.A. Pacitti, B.A. Shaffer, P.B. Tomascak, S.P. Weber and R.R. Young (2008) Beyond Lip-service: An Operational Definition of "Learning-centered College." Innovative Higher Education, 33(2):83-98. 

MacKenzie, J.A. and R.M. Payne (2007)  Mitochondrial Protein Import and Human Health and Disease.  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1772(5):509-523.

MacKenzie, J.A. and R.M. Payne (2006)  Preparation of Ribosomes Loaded with Truncated Nascent Proteins to Study Ribosome Binding to Mitochondria.  Mitochondrion, 6(2):67-75.

MacKenzie, J.A. and R.M. Payne (2004)  Ribosomes Specifically Bind to Mammalian Mitochondria via Protease-Sensitive Proteins on the Outer Membrane.  Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279(11):9803-9810.

Del Gazio, V.B., J.A. MacKenzie and R.M. Payne (2003)  Targeting of Proteins to Mitochondria using TAT.  Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 80(1-2):170-180.

Conference Contributions/Abstracts
(Denotes *Undergraduate or **Graduate Research Student)

Birdsall, R.**, K. Bendinskas, J.A. MacKenzie and B.B. Gump, (August 17, 2008) Proteomic study of lead and mercury exposure in children. 236th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. (Poster presented by R.B.)

MacMahon, P*, K. Bendinskas and J.A. MacKenzie (April 19, 2008) Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Detection of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB).  Presented at the Northeast Regional Undergraduate and Graduate Student Sigma Xi Poster Conference, Ithaca, NY.  (Poster presented by P.M.).

Gump, B.B., R. Birdsall**, K. Bendinskas and J.A. MacKenzie (March 15, 2008) A negative association between socioeconomic status (SES) and blood cadmium (Cd) in children: Exploring potential risks for future ill health using proteomics. Annual Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, 2008, Baltimore, MD. (Poster presented by by B.B.G.). 

Crossett, D.J.*, K. Bendinskas and J.A. MacKenzie (November 3, 2007) Single-Step Enzymatic GHB-Detection Assay. Presented at the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference, Orlando, FL. (Poster presented by D.J.C.). 

Birdsall R.**, K. Bendinskas and J.A. MacKenzie (April 21, 2007) Comparative Analysis of Preparation Techniques for Proteomic Research.  Presented at the Northeast Regional Undergraduate and Graduate Student Sigma Xi Poster Conference, Ithaca, NY.  (Poster presented by R.B.).

Sattelberg, P.*, J.A. MacKenzie and K. Bendinskas (November 4, 2006) Purification of Succinic Semialdehyde Reductase.  Presented at the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference, Detroit, MI. (Poster presented by P.S.)

Bendinskas, K., B.D. Chepko-Sade and J.A. MacKenzie  (September 29, 2006) Learning by Doing: Chemistry-Biology Research as a Merck-AAAS Scholar.  Presented at the Second Annual Oswego Symposium on Learning and Teaching, Oswego, NY. (Poster Presentation)

MacKenzie, J.A. and R.M. Payne (April 5, 2006) Ribosome-Nascent Chain and Mitochondria Preparation to Study Ribosome-Mitochondria Interactions.  Presented at Experimental Biology 2006, San Francisco, CA.  (Poster Presentation)

Payne, R.M. and J.A. MacKenzie  (May 6, 2002)  Evidence of a Novel Receptor Mediating Ribosome Binding to Mitochondria.  Presented at 2002 Pediatric Academic Societies' Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.  (Poster presented by R.M.P.) Pediatric Research 51(4):36A.

MacKenzie, J.A. and R.M. Payne  (April 22, 2002)  Evidence of a Ribosome Receptor in Mammalian Mitochondria.  Presented at Experimental Biology 2002, New Orleans, LA. (Poster Presentation) FASEB J. 16(4):A163.

MacKenzie, J.A. and R.M. Payne  (March 31 - April 2, 2001)  A Novel Mechanism for Protein Targeting to Mammalian Mitochondria.  Presented at Experimental Biology 2001, Orlando, FL.  (Oral and Poster Presentation) FASEB J. 15(5):A881.

Funding

1. NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant "Acquisition of an Ultracentrifuge for Research and Undergraduate Teaching"
   • Primary Investigator: James A. MacKenzie
     • Co-PIs: Timothy Braun, Webe Kadima
     • Senior Personnel: Kestas Bendinskas
   • Funding: $73,618 for 2007-2009 
2. NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award Grant (R15) “Lead and Vascular Reactivity to Acute Stress in Children”
   • Primary Investigator: Brooks Gump
     • Co-PIs: James A. MacKenzie, Kestas Bendinskas
   • Funding: $205,741 for 2007-2009
3. MERCK-AAAS Undergraduate Research Program
   • Primary Investigator: Kestas Bendinskas
     • Co-PI: James A. MacKenzie
   • Funding: $60,000 for 2006-2008 
4. UUP Professional Development Grant
   • Primary Investigator: James A. MacKenzie
   • Funding: $250 for 2005-2006
5. SUNY Oswego New Faculty Development Grant
   • Primary Investigator: James A. MacKenzie
   • Funding: $2,000 for 2005-2006

Professional Associations

1. American Association for the Advancement of Science     (1998-2000, 2004-present)
2. Sigma Xi     (2004-present)
3. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology     (2006-present)

Links of Interest​

Report dead links to jmackenz@oswego.edu