Dual Ph.D. scientist in Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry (5/2004) and Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (12/2024).
email:
EDUCATION
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (received 12/2024)
National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow.
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Ph.D. in Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry (received 5/2004)
Pace University, Pleasantville, NY
B.S. in Biochemistry.
SKILLS
Enzymology: Skilled in protein overexpression and purification techniques (e.g. ion exchange, affinity resin, hydrophobic interaction, size exclusion); proficient with SDS-PAGE gels, ELISA assays; experienced with in vitro protein activity assay techniques and kinetics, knowledge of automated purification equipment (i.e. experience with AKTA FPLC systems); experience analyzing RNA polymerase transcription assays via PAGE sequencing gels, knowledge of RNA polymerase kinetics and techniques. Experience with Western Blots. Experienced with Graphpad/Prism software and enzyme kinetics.
Molecular Biology: proficient with Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR), site-directed mutagenesis, and colony pcr. Knowledgeable about heat shock and electroporation transformations, cloning, and ligation independent cloning. Experienced with growing E.coli for protein over-expression purposes. Proficient with running agarose and polyacrylamide gels. Experienced with Nucleic Acid (DNA/RNA) purification techniques.
Organic Synthesis: Strong knowledge of organic synthetic methods; expertise in labile β-lactam syntheses and amino acid chemistry; knowledge of sugar and glycosidic/glycopeptide syntheses; strong insight into medicinal chemistry techniques and methods; familiarity with solid phase peptide synthesis; knowledge of molecular modeling software; database/literature searches; instrumentation proficiencies include: 1H/13C NMR, LC/ESI-MS, HPLC, UV, IR, GC.
Natural Products: Experience with natural products isolation and purification of labile/unstable β-lactam metabolites; experience with isolation/characterization of products produced in purified protein assays, expertise of β-lactam antibiotic biosyntheses; well-versed with bacterial cell wall biosynthesis; strong knowledge of primary and secondary metabolite biosynthesis.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
September 2015 – December 2024
Stony Brook University, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Program, Stony Brook, NY
Advisor: Miguel Garcia-Diaz
Doctoral Thesis: Mitochondrial Transcription: A click-chemistry derived detection methodology forgoing the use of radiation in in vitro analyses
· Developed a new detection method for in vitro mitochondrial transcription involving the click-chemistry methodology forgoing radiation use in assays.
· Purified the pertinent mitochondrial transcription proteins, development of in vitro assay tests, and modification and enhancement of existing experimental procedures.
· Developed assays for in vitro mitochondrial transcription elongation and RNA processing reactions.
· Mentored junior scientists, maintained equipment, and oversaw lab operations.
July 2007 – September 2015
Following my NCI postdoctoral appointment, I took time to address a personal health matter while maintaining part-time employment to support my transition back to academia, culminating in my second Ph.D. degree which was obtained at Stony Brook University.
April 2006 – July 2007
The National Cancer Institute, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Frederick, MD
Postdoctoral Advisor: Jeffrey Gildersleeve
· Produced peptide fragments by solid-phase peptide synthesis.
· Determined the levels of epimerization of amino acid derivatives during the coupling stage on the SPS resin.
May 2004 – April 2006
Harvard University, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cambridge, MA
Postdoctoral Advisor: Professor Daniel Kahne
· Synthesized intermediates and helped elucidate the biosynthetic pathway for the aminocoumarin antibiotics.
· Elucidated the activity of rifalazil against rifampicin resistant RNA polymerase mutants and studied effects on transcription and abortive initiation products.
September 1997 - December 2003
The Johns Hopkins University, Department of Chemistry, Baltimore, MD
Doctoral Degree Advisor: Professor Craig A. Townsend
Doctoral Thesis: The Elucidation of the Carbapenem Antibiotic Biosynthetic Pathway
· Elucidated the carbapenem β-lactam antibiotic biosynthetic pathway in Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 and Pectobacterium carotovorum.
· Produced the first successful syntheses of the (3S,5S)- and (3S,5R)-carbapenam-3-carboxylic acids.
· The carbapenam-3-carboxylic acids have previously been attempted to be isolated either by total synthesis or from fermentation, unsuccessfully, by several research groups.
· Purified the essential biosynthetic proteins and developed in vitro assay tests
June 1996 - June 1997
Pace University, Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Pleasantville, NY
Undergraduate Advisor: Professor Anthony W. Salotto
· Determined the effects of endcapping (non-, single, and double) on silanol normal phase HPLC columns and the retention and symmetry effects of functional groups on a variety of polar normal phase columns.
AWARDS
- Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Dissertation Fellowship
- Stony Brook University Presidential Dissertation Scholar
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
- IMSD-MERGE Graduate Scholar in the Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Department, Stony Brook University
- The Sarah and Adolph Roseman Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding accomplishment in Chemistry, The Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University
- President, “Best Graduate Student Government Association in the Nation,” National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS)
- The Board of Trustee’s Award, Pace University's Highest Undergraduate Commencement Award, presented to the student whose positive contributions to University life and whose academic accomplishments exemplify the highest level of achievement attainable for an undergraduate
- Outstanding Service and Dedication Award, American Chemical Society - New York Section
- Biochemistry Major Commencement Award, Pace University
- Beta Beta Beta Biological National Honor Society, Upsilon Alpha Chapter, member
- President's Scholarship, Pace University
OTHER EXPERIENCE
President, Graduate Representative Organization, The Johns Hopkins University, 1999 - 2001
- Developed leadership and budgetary management skills; increased organization's annual operating budget by 92%
- Successfully advocated for several institutional policy changes effecting Hopkins graduate students
- Created several social, academic, and extracurricular programs for Hopkins graduate students
- Established the first endowment in the nation to provide a graduate student managed funding source
- Named "Best Graduate Student Government Association in the Nation - 2001" the highest honor from the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students
GRADUATE ACTIVITIES (JOHNS HOPKINS)
- President, Graduate Student Council, The Johns Hopkins University, 1999 - 2001
- Entertainment Committee Chairperson, Graduate Student Council, The Johns Hopkins University, 1998 - 1999
- Chemistry Department Representative, Graduate Student Council, The Johns Hopkins University, 1997 – 1998
UNDERGRADUATE ACTIVITIES
- President of the Pace University Student Activities Programming Board, 1994 - 1996
- Vice-President of the Pace University Chemical Society, ACS Chapter, 1996 - 1997
- News Editor, Pace University student newspaper, new morning, 1997
- ex-officio member, Pace University Board of Trustees, 1997
- Pace University Senate student member, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, 1996 - 1997
- Chairman of the Student Affiliates Program of the 31st Annual Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, 1997
PUBLICATIONS
11) Stapon, A. Garcia-Diaz, M. “Mitochondrial Transcription: A click-chemistry derived detection methodology forgoing the use of radiation in in vitro analyses,” submitted June 2025.
10) Yin, X., Popa, H., Stapon, A., Bouda, E., Garcia-Diaz, M. "Fidelity of Ribonucleotide Incorporation by the SARS-CoV-2 Replication Complex," J. Mol. Biol. 2023; 435: 1-13.
9) Bouda, E.; Stapon, A.; Garcia-Diaz, M. "Mechanisms of mammalian mitochondrial transcription," Protein Science. 2019; 28: 1594–1605.
8) Garneau-Tsodikova, S.; Stapon, A.; Kahne, D.; Walsh, C.T.; “Installation of the Pyrrolyl-2-carboxy pharmacophore by CouN1 and CouN7 in the late biosynthetic steps of the aminocoumarin antibiotics clorobiocin and coumermycin A1,” Biochemistry, 2006, 45, 8568 – 8578.
7) Gerratana, B.; Arnett, S. O.; Stapon, A.; Townsend, C. A. “Carboxymethylproline Synthase from Pectobacterium carotorova: A Multi-faceted Member of the Crotonase Superfamily,” Biochemistry, 2004, 43, 15936 - 15945.
6) Stapon, A.; Li. R.; Townsend, C. A. “Synthesis of (3S,5R)-carbapenam-3-carboxylic acid and its role in carbapenem biosynthesis and the stereoinversion problem,” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 15746 - 15747.
5) Stapon, A.; Li, R.; Townsend, C. A. “Carbapenem Biosynthesis: Confirmation of Stereochemical Assignments and the Role of Car C in the Ring Stereoinversion Process from L-Proline,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 8486 - 8493.
4) Gerratana, B.; Stapon, A.; Townsend, C. A. “Inhibition and Alternate Substrate Studies on the Mechanism of Carbapenam Synthetase from Erwinia carotovora,” Biochemistry, 2003, 42, 7836 - 7847.
3) Miller, M. T.; Gerratana, B.; Stapon, A.; Townsend, C. A.; Rosenzweig, A. C. “Crystal Structure of Carbapenam Synthetase (CarA),” J. Biol. Chem, 2003, 278, 40996 - 41002.
2) Li, R.; Stapon, A.; Blanchfield, J. T.; Townsend, C. A. “Three Unusual Reactions Mediate Carbapenam and Carbapenem Biosynthesis,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 9296 - 9297. *see: Chem. & Eng. News 2000, 40, 45 and inNovations, 2002, 15, 2 - 6.
1) Jones, P. B.; Parrish, N. M.; Houston, T. A.; Stapon, A.; Bansal, N. P.; Dick, J. A.; Townsend, C. A. “A New Class of Antituberculosis Agents,” J. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 3304 – 3314.
Last edited by Tony Stapon on July 23, 2025