12434-Kimble-Hill, Ann
Faculty

Ann C. Kimble-Hill, PhD, MENG

Assistant Research Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Address
Medical Science, Room MS4079B
ankimble@iu.edu

Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Bio

My approach to biophysics is to integrate principles from physics, physical chemistry and chemical/mechanical engineering to define mechanisms that drive important biochemical processes. To that end, my laboratory works in two parallel areas, structure and function of both membrane proteins and lipids, correlating the information gained in both approaches to give insight for future manipulation of cellular signaling pathways. The following is a summary of my research training, as well as specifics that I plan to carry forward in the questions that currently interest me.

Research Training
Characterizing lipid phases that sequester membrane proteins for signal transduction. As a doctoral student under Dr. Christoph Naumann (IUPUI Chemistry), I learned how to use fluid flow dynamics of membrane proteins and lipids to ascertain structurally related function. Here we used protein lateral diffusion measured by single molecule techniques and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to describe lipid affinity as a function of both the protein (function, structure, and activation by binding to agonist or antagonists) and lipid (fluidity/acyl chain packing, phase) (Siegel, Kimble-Hill et al. 2011). As a result, we were able to use confocal microscopy, single molecule fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy to characterize the effect of reducing substrate related steric hindrances on membranes on lipid lateral mobility and bilayer morphology (Minner, Herring et al. 2013).

Describing the lipid platform that drives proteo-bicelle crystallization. As a postdoctoral fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, I learned small angle neutron and x-ray scattering techniques as applied to understanding the lipidic platform necessary for proteo-bicelle crystallization. We endeavored to determine whether the bicelle solution will change from ribbon-like lamellar structure to a cubic and/or micelle structure with the addition of OG or DM. We used small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to show that the bicelle structure changes as a function of OG/DM content, temperature, and total lyotrope concentration (Kimble-Hill, Singh et al. 2009).

Modulating aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. As a part of my postdoctoral training with Dr. Tom Hurley (IUSM Biochemistry), my work was focused on determining new ways to selectively modulate the function of ALDH family members. We utilized absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize the effect of small molecules on the function as well as x-ray diffraction of protein crystals to determine protein specific functional groups, as well as globular structural elements, which play a role in selective changes in functional behavior (Khanna, Chen et al. 2011, Parajuli, Kimble-Hill et al. 2011, Kimble-Hill, Parajuli et al. 2014). In combining information from a library of similar compounds, we reported structure activity relationships that give insight on how to optimize compounds to selectively modulate protein behavior in specific disease states.

Defining the molecular basis for Angiomotin (Amot) selective lipid affinity. I was awarded a K01 award from the National Cancer Institute that allowed me to develop an independent research program, which led to a current collaboration with Dr. Clark Wells (IUSM Biochemistry) to understand the role of Amot lipid binding in ductal cell hyperplasia/tumor genesis as Amot family members directly control the apical membrane organization and transcriptional cofactors sequestration to regulate cell growth. In this project, I have developed several lipid-based assays (fluorescence resonance energy transfer, lipid sedimentation, fluorescence spectroscopy, small angle scattering) for describing characterizing membrane binding, fusion, and reorganization events. Additionally, we have made inroads into determining the atomistic structure of these family members using a combination of computational modeling, SAXS and wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements.

Additionally, I serve as the program coordinator for the IUPUI Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program. As a Visiting Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, I mentor students in multiple undergraduate research programs including Life-Health Science Internship Program (LHSI), Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), Diversity Scholars Research Program (DSRP), American Chemical Society Project Seed, Biology/Chemistry Department capstone classes, and Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP).

Titles & Appointments

  • Assistant Research Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • Education
    2009 RES Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine
    2008 RES Postdoctoral Fellowship, Material Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory
    2008 PhD Purdue University
    2003 MENG University of Illinois at Chicago
    2000 BSE University of Michigan
  • Research

    The overall goal of my research program will be to utilize biophysical methods to understand signaling events in cells, particularly proteins that interact with lipids in disease states, by employing proteomic, kinetic, and biophysical techniques for the manipulation of signaling pathways/effects. The end result will be a collection of new targets for drug discovery. The central question of my research program can be surmised as: how can we modulate membrane protein interactions with lipids thereby affecting signaling events?  My research program would bring a unique expertise to your department, small angle scattering, which could be used to study globular structures as well as conformational changes related to functional interactions.


    The current research interest revolves around studying the molecular basis through which Amot ACCH domains associate with membrane surfaces and therefore establish the link between Amot control of cellular polarity and cellular proliferation and migration.  The Amot family of adaptor proteins directly integrate the signaling that controls cellular differentiation and cell growth (Wells, Fawcett et al. 2006; Ranahan, Han et al. 2011; Zhao, Li et al. 2011). Amot family members directly bind the core polarity proteins that control the organization of the apical domain of epithelial cells as well as Yap, a transcriptional co-activator that appears to be the key factor in cell growth regulation (Wells, Fawcett et al. 2006; Zhao, Li et al. 2011). An essential property of all Amot proteins is a domain that preferentially binds phosphoinositol lipids (ACCH domain) and is predicted to be conserved in all metazoans (Heller, Adu-Gyamfi et al. 2010). This study defines the biophysical properties that govern the binding of the Amot ACCH domain to phosphoinositol lipids in membranes, and the consequential effects on membrane deformation and vesicle joining (aggregation or fusion). By coupling structural and in vitro biophysical studies of specific domains and protein-lipid interactions, we learn how the protein specifically recognizes and reorganizes cellular membranes.

  • Publications
    Development of selective inhibitors for aldehyde dehydrogenases based on substituted indole-2,3-diones.
    Kimble-Hill AC; Parajuli B; Chen CH; Mochly-Rosen D; Hurley TD; Journal of medicinal chemistry 2014 Jan 31
    Phase coexistence in single-lipid membranes induced by buffering agents.
    Johnson MA; Seifert S; Petrache HI; Kimble-Hill AC; Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids 2014 Aug 13
    Native ligands change integrin sequestering but not oligomerization in raft-mimicking lipid mixtures.
    Siegel AP; Kimble-Hill A; Garg S; Jordan R; Naumann CA; Biophysical journal 2011 Oct 5
    Discovery of novel regulators of aldehyde dehydrogenase isoenzymes.
    Parajuli B; Kimble-Hill AC; Khanna M; Ivanova Y; Meroueh S; Hurley TD; Chemico-biological interactions 2011 Feb 22
  • Professional Organizations
    American Chemical Society
    Biophysical Society

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