Prof. Gale M. Strasburg

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Michigan State University
Food Science and Human Nutrition
ChairAppointed: 2005

Mailing Address

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
204 G.M. Trout Bldg.
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1224
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (517) 355-8474, ext. 100
Fax: (517) 353-8963
stragale@msu.edu

Qualifications

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Muscle Biology, 1981.
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Muscle Biology, 1976.
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Biochemistry, 1974.

Expertise and Research Interests

My research is focused in two areas: muscle biochemistry and chemistry of lipid oxidation. Our objectives in the muscle area are to define the mechanisms of regulation of calcium release in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Muscle contraction is triggered when calcium is released from an intracellular storage organelle (the sarcoplasmic reticulum) to the muscle cytoplasm via a calcium channel protein, sometimes referred to as the ryanodine receptor. This channel protein consists of four identical 565-kilodalton subunits; its activity is governed by interaction with voltage sensor protein in the T-tubule membrane, and the channel activity is further modulated by various ligands including calmodulin, FK-506 binding protein, calcium, magnesium, and adenine nucleotides. The role of calmodulin in regulation of channel activity is of particular interest to us. We have shown that this intracellular calcium-binding protein binds to the channel protein with a stoichiometry of one calmodulin per subunit at both low calcium concentrations corresponding to that of resting muscle, and at high calcium levels which correspond to those encountered during muscle contraction. We are attempting to further define the role of calmodulin in regulation of channel activity by identification calmodulin binding sites in the native channel protein amino acid sequence, using chemical crosslinking methods, proteolysis, isolation of crosslinked peptides, and identification of crosslinked products by Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry.

Mutations in the SR calcium channel lead to altered channel activity and are associated with muscle diseases such as malignant hyperthermia and central core disease in humans. One of the mutations associated with human malignant hyperthermia is also observed in pigs, making these animals more susceptible to environmental stresses and resulting in premature death of the animals following mating, crowding, shipping, etc. Stress-susceptible pigs are more likely to produce poor quality meat (poor color, texture, and water-holding capacity) as a result of accelerated post-mortem muscle metabolism. Identification of the mutation has now made it possible to use a genetic test to identify carriers of the mutation and thus to restrict breeding to normal animals. The stress-susceptible pig continues to serve as a useful animal model for the human form of malignant hyperthermia, and we are presently investigating whether there are differences in regulation of the calcium channel protein by calmodulin between normal and stress-susceptible pigs.

In recent years, there has been increasing incidence of meat quality problems in the turkey industry which are remarkably similar to those experienced in the pork industry. We are presently using ryanodine bindingmethods to investigate whether there are differences in affinity of ryanodine receptors of turkeys for tritium-labeled ryanodine, which would be suggestive of a mutation in the channel protein, and thus might account for these observations.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Antioxidants, Biochemistry, Food Chemistry, Meat and Meat Products, Membranes, Muscle Structure Or Function, Proteins and Macromolecules.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

English: (Fluent, Fluent, Fluent)

Memberships

American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Chemical Society
American Meat Science Association
American Society for Nutrition
Biophysical Society
Institute of Food Technologists

Honors and Awards

1982-1984, National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Boston Biomedical Research Institute
1981-1982, Research Fellow, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Boston Biomedical Research Institute

Previous Positions

2004-2005, Acting Chairperson, Michigan State University, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Food Science and Human Nutrition
2000-2006, Professor, Michigan State University, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Food Science and Human Nutrition
1998-1998, Visiting Associate Professor, The Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Medicine, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
1994-2000, Associate Professor, Michigan State University, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Food Science and Human Nutrition
1988-1994, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Food Science and Human Nutrition
1986-1988, Lecturer, University of Minnesota, Biochemistry
1984-1988, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Minnesota, Veterinary Biology
1981-1984, Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston Biomedical Research Institute, Muscle Research

Patents

Genetic Test for PSE-Susceptible Turkeys, Patent Number: 7432057, 2008, United States of America.
Method for inhibiting inflammation using bioflavonoids, Patent Number: 6576271, 2003, United States of America.
Method for the use of cherry isolates providing antioxidant phytoceutical or nutraceutical benefits, Patent Number: 6623743, 2003, United States of America.
Method for inhibiting cyclooxygenase and inflammation using cherry bioflavonoids, Patent Number: 6194469, 2001, United States of America.
Tart cherry compounds that have antioxidant activity and uses thereof, Patent Number: 06150408, 2000, United States of America.
Compositions for inhibiting oxidation, Patent Number: 05993881, 1999, United States of America.
Method and compositions for inhibiting oxidation, Patent Number: 05985636, 1999, United States of America.

Funding Received

  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Identification, Differential Expression, and Mapping of Muscle Genes From Genetically Selected Turkeys, $890,000, 2005 to 2009.
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Identification of Molecular Mechanisms of Stress Resistance in Turkeys to Improve Meat Quality, $357,000, 2005 to 2008.
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Genetic Defect in Pale, Soft, Exudative Turkey Meat, $190,000, 2001 to 2004.
  • Muscular Dystrophy Association: Ryanodine Receptor Calmodulin Binding Abnormalities, $161,842, 1997 to 2000.
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Biochemical Characterization of Pale, Soft, Exudative Turkey, $250,000, 1997 to 2000.

Publications

  • Reed KM, Mendoza KM, Juneja B, Fahrenkrug SC, Velleman S, Chiang W, Strasburg GM (Dec 2008) Characterization of expressed sequence tags from turkey skeletal muscle., Animal genetics, 39 (6), 635-44 Abstract
  • Mendoza KM, Chiang W, Strasburg GM, Reed KM (Jun 2008) Characterization of a cardiac complementary deoxyribonucleic acid library from the Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)., Poultry science, 87 (6), 1165-70 Abstract
  • Chiang W, Byrem T, Zhang H, Strasburg G (2007) Binding property of avian skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor isoforms with dihydropyridine receptor and calmodulin., Journal of muscle research and cell motility, 28 (1), 59-66 Abstract
  • Chiang W, Allison CP, Linz JE, Strasburg GM, Identification of two alphaRYR alleles and characterization of alphaRYR transcript variants in turkey skeletal muscle, Gene, 330, 177-84, April 2004 Abstract
  • Chang YC, Almy EA, Blamer GA, Gray JI, Frost JW, Strasburg GM, Antioxidant activity of 3-dehydroshikimic acid in liposomes, emulsions, and bulk oil, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(9), 2753-7, April 2003 Abstract
  • Shin HS, Strasburg GM, Gray JI, A model system study of the inhibition of heterocyclic aromatic amine formation by organosulfur compounds, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(26), 7684-90, December 2002 Abstract
  • Shin IS, Rodgers WJ, Gomaa EA, Strasburg GM, Gray JI, Inhibition of heterocyclic aromatic amine formation in fried ground beef patties by garlic and selected garlic-related sulfur compounds, Journal of Food Protection, 65(11), 1766-70, November 2002 Abstract
  • Djuric Z, Potter DW, Taffe BG, Strasburg GM, Comparison of iron-catalyzed DNA and lipid oxidation, Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology, 15(2), 114-9, 2001 Abstract
  • Fruen BR, Bardy JM, Byrem TM, Strasburg GM, Louis CF, Differential Ca(2+) sensitivity of skeletal and cardiac muscle ryanodine receptors in the presence of calmodulin, American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology, 279(3), C724-33, September 2000 Abstract
  • Rodney GG, Williams BY, Strasburg GM, Beckingham K, Hamilton SL, Regulation of RYR1 activity by Ca(2+) and calmodulin, Biochemistry, 39(26), 7807-12, July 2000 Abstract
  • Kelm MA, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, DeWitt DL, Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase inhibitory phenolic compounds from Ocimum sanctum Linn, Phytomedicine : International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology., 7(1), 7-13, March 2000 Abstract
  • Wang H, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, Booren AM, Gray I, Dewitt DL, Cyclooxygenase active bioflavonoids from Balaton tart cherry and their structure activity relationships, Phytomedicine : International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology., 7(1), 15-9, March 2000 Abstract
  • Arora A, Byrem TM, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, Modulation of liposomal membrane fluidity by flavonoids and isoflavonoids, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 373(1), 102-9, Jan 2000 Abstract
  • Moore CP, Rodney G, Zhang JZ, Santacruz-Toloza L, Strasburg G, Hamilton SL, Apocalmodulin and Ca2+ calmodulin bind to the same region on the skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel, Biochemistry, 38(26), 8532-7, June 1999 Abstract
  • Wang LJ, Byrem TM, Zarosley J, Booren AM, Strasburg GM, Skeletal muscle calcium channel ryanodine binding activity in genetically unimproved and commercial turkey populations, Poultry Science, 78(5), 792-7, May 1999 Abstract
  • Wang H, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, Chang YC, Booren AM, Gray JI, DeWitt DL, Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of anthocyanins and their aglycon, cyanidin, from tart cherries, Journal of Natural Products, 62(2), 294-6, February 1999 Abstract
  • Byrem TM, Pestka JJ, Chu FS, Strasburg GM, Analysis and pharmacokinetics of cyclopiazonic acid in market weight pigs, Journal of Animal Science, 77(1), 173-9, Jan 1999 Abstract
  • Byrem TM, Booren AM, Hill GM, Chu FS, Strasburg GM, The effect of cyclopiazonic acid on the development of pale, soft, and exudative pork from pigs of defined malignant hyperthermia genotype, Journal of Animal Science, 77(1), 166-72, Jan 1999 Abstract
  • Wang H, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, Booren AM, Gray JI, Novel antioxidant compounds from tart cherries (Prunus cerasus), Journal of Natural Products, 62(1), 86-8, Jan 1999 Abstract
  • Zhang JZ, Wu Y, Williams BY, Rodney G, Mandel F, Strasburg GM, Hamilton SL, Oxidation of the skeletal muscle Ca2 release channel alters calmodulin binding, American Journal of Physiology, 276(1 Pt 1), C46-53, Jan 1999 Abstract
  • Arora A, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, Antioxidant activities of isoflavones and their biological metabolites in a liposomal system, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 356(2), 133-41, August 1998 Abstract
  • Arora A, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, Structure-activity relationships for antioxidant activities of a series of flavonoids in a liposomal system, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 24(9), 1355-63, June 1998 Abstract
  • Mornet D, Bonet-Kerrache A, Strasburg GM, Patchell VB, Perry SV, Huber PA, Marston SB, Slatter DA, Evans JS, Levine BA, The binding of distinct segments of actin to multiple sites in the C-terminus of caldesmon: comparative aspects of actin interaction with troponin-I and caldesmon, Biochemistry, 34(6), 1893-901, February 1995 Abstract
  • Chang CH, Grant AL, Strasburg GM, Bergen WG, Merkel RA, Helferich WG, RNA transcription in porcine skeletal muscle nuclei during postnatal development, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 206(2), 162-8, June 1994 Abstract
  • Yang HC, Reedy MM, Burke CL, Strasburg GM, Calmodulin interaction with the skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium channel protein, Biochemistry, 33(2), 518-25, January 1994 Abstract
  • Slatter DA, Levine BA, Patchall VB, Wang AC, Reedy M, Strasburg GM, Interaction of the cytoplasmic domain of phospholamban with calmodulin, Biochemical Society Transactions, 21 ( Pt 3)(3), 265S, August 1993 Abstract
  • Strasburg GM, Hanson TP, Ouyang HX, Louis CF, Localization and functional role of the calmodulin-binding domain of phospholamban in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 1149(2), 249-59, July 1993 Abstract
  • Gao Y, Levine BA, Mornet D, Slatter DA, Strasburg GM, Interaction of calmodulin with phospholamban and caldesmon: comparative studies by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 1160(1), 22-34, November 1992 Abstract
  • Tao T, Gowell E, Strasburg GM, Gergely J, Leavis PC, Ca2 dependence of the distance between Cys-98 of troponin C and Cys-133 of troponin I in the ternary troponin complex. Resonance energy transfer measurements, Biochemistry, 28(14), 5902-8, July 1989 Abstract
  • Strasburg GM, Hogan M, Birmachu W, Thomas DD, Louis CF, Site-specific derivatives of wheat germ calmodulin. Interactions with troponin and sarcoplasmic reticulum [published erratum appears in J Biol Chem 1988 Aug 25;263(24):12161], Journal of Biological Chemistry, 263(1), 542-8, January 1988 Abstract
  • Bazzi MD, Lampe PD, Strasburg GM, Nelsestuen GL, Phosphorylation of troponin I by protein kinase C: mechanism of inhibition by calmodulin and troponin C, Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 931(3), 339-46, December 1987 Abstract
  • Strasburg GM, Leavis PC, Gergely J, Troponin-C-mediated calcium-sensitive changes in the conformation of troponin I detected by pyrene excimer fluorescence, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 260(1), 366-70, January 1985 Abstract
  • Strasburg GM, Greaser ML, Sundaralingam M, X-ray diffraction studies of troponin-C crystals from rabbit and chicken skeletal muscles, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 255(8), 3806-8, April 1980 Abstract
  • Strasburg GM, Greaser ML, The native subunit pattern of tropomyosin, Febs Letters, 72(1), 11-4, December 1976 Abstract

Profile Details

Last Verified: 12/14/2008

COS Expertise ID #666946
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