Mary Lou Caspers
Mary Lou Caspers
Professor of Chemistry
Degrees
- Ph. D., Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 1977
- B.S., Chemistry, University of Detroit, 1972
Biography
After being an undergraduate student at the University of Detroit, Caspers was very pleased to join the faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry after completing her Ph.D. Caspers was the first woman faculty member in the Department. She has enjoyed working with undergraduate students in a small, Catholic university and has celebrated their successes over the years.
Research Interests:
Brain enzymes and neurochemistry, in general; Kinetics of the Sodium-Potassium ATPase, pectinase and polygalacturonase
Teaching Experience:
She has taught the upper division biochemistry courses as well as chemistry for nursing students and the first freshman chemistry laboratory course. In addition, She has taught a neurochemistry course for our graduate students and senior undergraduate students. She has had several publications related to innovative teaching methods (listed below).
Publications:
Brown, R.K., Caspers, M.L., Lull, J.M., Vinogradov, S.N., Felgenhauer, K. and Nekic, M. (1977). Carrier Ampholyte Distribution in Isoelectric Focusing. J. Chromatogr. 131, 223-232.
Brown, R.K., Caspers, M.L. and Vinogradov, S.N. (1977). Carrier Ampholyte Distribution. In Electrofocusing and Isotachophoresis (Radola, B.J. and Graesslin, D. Eds.) Walter DeGrutyer and Co., Berlin-New York, pp 87-96.
Caspers, M.L., Posey, Y. and Brown, R.K. (1977). Separator Isoelectric Focusing - An Improved Method of Protein Analysis and Purification. Anal. Biochem. 79, 166-180.
Caspers, M.L. and Chrambach, A. (1977). Natural pH Gradients Formed by Amino Acids: Ampholyte Distribution, Time Course, Use in Electrofocusing of Protein, Relation to pH Gradients in Isotachophoresis, Separator Effects. Anal. Biochem. 81, 23-39.
Caspers, M.L. and Siegel, G.J. (1980). Inhibition by Lead of Human Erythrocyte (Na+ + K+)-Adenosine Triphosphatase Associated with Binding of 210Pb to Membrane Fragments. Biochim. et. Biophy. Acta, 600, 27-35.
Caspers, M.L. (1980). Book Review: Electrophoresis: A Survey of Techniques and Applications. Part A. Techniques, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 102, 7408.
Caspers, M.L. (1982). Inhibition by Lead of Phenylethanolamine-N-Methyltransferase. Biochem. Pharmacol., 31, 1985-1988.
Caspers, M.L. and Diglio, C.A. (1984). Expression of g-Glutamyltranspeptidase in a Transformed Rat Cerebral Endothelial Cell Line. Biochim. et Biophy. Acta, 803, 1-6.
Unni, L.K. and Caspers, M.L. (1984). Inhibition of Bovine Plasma Amine Oxidase by Lead. Biochem. Pharmacol. 33, 2149-2151.
Unni, L.K. and Caspers, M.L. (1985). Inhibition of Bovine Brain Monoamine Oxidase by Lead. Biochem. Pharmacol. 34, 2563-2566.
Grammas, P., Caspers, M.L., Diglio, C.A., Giacomelli, F. and Weiner, J. (1985). Regulation of Cerebrovascular Gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase by Adrenergic and Cholinergic Agonists. Biochem. Pharmacol. 34, 4177-4179.
Caspers, M.L., Schwartz, R.D., Labarca, R. and Paul, S.M. (1987). Autoradiographic Visualization and Characterization of [3H]-Ouabain Binding to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of Rat Brain and Pineal. Brain Res. 409, 335-342.
Caspers, M.L. and Grammas, P. (1988). The Effect of Fatty Acids on [3H]-Ouabain Binding to Cerebromicrovascular (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. J. Neurochem., 50, 1215-1219.
Hart, M.A., Swisher, J.A. and Caspers, M.L. (1989). Alterations in Plasma Amino Acids and Hepatic Enzymes in the 4-Pentenoic Acid Model of Reye's Syndrome. Biochem. Pharmacol. 38, 1696-1698.
Caspers, M.L., Kwaiser, T.M. and Grammas, P. (1990). Control of [3H]Ouabain Binding to Cerebromicrovascular (Na++K+)-ATPase by Metal Ions and Proteins. Biochem. Pharmacol. 39, 1891-1895.
Grammas, P. and Caspers, M.L. (1991). The Effect of Aluminum on Muscarinic Receptors in Isolated Cerebral Microvessels. Res. Commun. Pathol. Pharmacol. 72, 69-79.
Grammas, P., Kwaiser, T.M. and Caspers, M.L. (1992). Regulation of Amino Acid Uptake into Cerebral Microvessels. Neuropharmacol. 31, 409-412.
Caspers, M.L. (1992). Book Review: Frontiers in Supramolecular Organic Chemistry and Photochemistry, J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 30, 593.
Caspers, M.L., Bussone, M., Dow, M.J., Ulanski II, L.J. and Grammas, P. (1993). Effects of Acute Hypertension and Fatty Acids on the Cerebromicrovascular (Na++K+)-ATPase. Brain Res. 602, 215-220.
Caspers, M.L., Kwaiser, T.M., Dow, M.J., Fu, M.J. and Grammas, P. (1993). Control of the (Na++K+)-ATPase under Normal and Pathological Conditions. Mol. Chem. Neuropathol. 19, 65-81.
Caspers, M.L., Dow, M.J., Fu, M.J., Jacques, P.S. and Kwaiser, T.M. (1994). Aluminum-Induced Alterations in [3H]Ouabain Binding and ATP Hydrolysis Catalyzed by the Synaptosomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Mol. Chem. Neuropathol., 22, 43-55.
Caspers, M.L. (1994). Biopolymers: Prospects for the Future. In: 25th Anniversary Symposium of the Polymer Institute (Frisch, K.C. and Eldred, E.W., Eds.) Technomic Publishing Co., Lancaster, pp 257-166.
Schroeder, T.M. and Caspers, M.L. (1996). Kinetics of Aluminum-Induced Inhibition of Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase in Vitro. Biochem. Pharmacol., 52, 927-931.
Rossi, N.F., O’Leary, D.S., Scislo, T.J., Caspers, M.L. and Chen, H. (1997) Central Endothelin 1 Regulation of Arterial Pressure and Arginine Vasopressin Secretion via the AV3V Region. Kidney Internatl. 52, Suppl. 61, S22-S26.
Roberts-Kirchhoff, E.S. and Caspers, M.L. (2001) Dialogues as Teaching Tools in the Biochemical Sciences. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Ed. 29, 225-228.
Caspers, M.L. and Roberts-Kirchhoff, E.S. (2003) An Undergraduate Laboratory Course with an Emphasis on a Research Experience. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Ed. 31, 303-307.
Caspers, M.L. and Roberts-Kirchhoff, E.S. (2003) Incorporation of Ethical and Societal Issues in Biochemistry into a Senior Seminar Course. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Ed. 31, 298-302.
Grants and Awards:
1972 American Chemical Society Award for Achievement in Chemistry, University of Detroit
1972 Kappa Beta Gamma Senior Scholarship Award for Graduating Woman with highest scholastic average, University of Detroit
1974-1975 Member, Graduate Fellowship & Scholarship Committee, Wayne State University
1976-1977 Recipient, University Graduate Fellowship, Wayne State University
1977-1978 Muscular Dystrophy Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (declined to take position at University of Detroit)
1978 (summer) Visiting Research Investigator in Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School
1978-1981 American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund Grant, "The Effect of Lead on the Enzymatic Synthesis and Degradation of Certain Neurotransmitters"
1981 National Reye's Syndrome Foundation, Michigan Region Grant, “Development and Evaluation of Suitable Reye's Animal Model"
1982 National Science Foundation Travel Award to attend 12th International Congress of Biochemistry, Perth, Western Australia
1983-1984 Sigma Delta Epsilon, Graduate Women in Science, Eloise Gerry Fellowship, "Determination of Catecholamines and Metabolites in Brain Preparations from a Reye's Syndrome Animal Model"
1984-1985 Guest Researcher for Academic Year, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD
1986 Nominated for University of Detroit President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research
1986 Keynote Speaker, University of Detroit, Engineering & Science College Honors Convocation
1986 University of Detroit-Faculty Development Award, "Lead Poisoning and the Blood-Brain Barrier"
1986 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Travel Award to attend 14th International Congress of Biochemistry in Prague, Czechoslovakia
1988-1991 NIH research grant, "Control of Cerebrovascular (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in Hypertension"
1990-1992 American Health Assistance Foundation research grant, "Aluminum and (Na++K+)-ATPase Control in Aging Neurons"
1990 University of Detroit, College of Engineering & Science, Teacher of the Year
1990 Invited Speaker, Fifth International Symposium, "Molecular Sciences in Neurodegeneration and Regeneration" Biochemistry and Biophysics of Stroke, Neurotrama and Other Neurological Disorders, Bristol, England
1991-1992 Sigma Tau S.p.A., Italy research grant, "Effect of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on the Synaptosomal (Na++K+)-ATPase"
1993-1995 American Federation for Aging Research research grant, "Influence of Estrogen on High Affinity Choline Uptake during Aging"
1993-1995 Sigma Tau S.p.A., Italy research grant, "Effect of Propionyl-L-Carnitine on the Synaptosomal (Na++K+)-ATPase”
1993-1996 University of Detroit Mercy Center of Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science, EPA research grant "Alterations in Blood Cell Enzymes following Exposure to Aluminum"
1995 University President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research
1995 Award of Appreciation from Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience for dedication to undergraduate education in neuroscience
1995 NSF Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Grant “Use of a Personal Densitometer for the Mini-Project Approach to Curriculum Enrichment in the Undergraduate Biochemistry and Physiology Laboratories”
1995 Camille and Henry Dreyfus Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences “Incorporation of Mini-Research Projects into the Undergraduate Biochemistry Laboratory”
1995 Pfizer Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Mentor - fellowship awarded to Jamira Jones to work in M.L.C.’s laboratory
2000 NSF Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Grant “Improving Undergraduate Chemistry by Incorporation of NMR Spectroscopy Across the Chemistry Curriculum” (co-principal investigator)
1999 Pfizer Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Mentor – fellowship awarded to Tanvi Desai to work in M.L.C.’s laboratory
2001 University of Detroit Mercy Distinguished Faculty Award
2002 Jesuit 100 Association Magis Award
2002, 2003 Awards of Appreciation from Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience for dedication to undergraduate education and service to the organization
2004 University of Detroit Mercy, College of Engineering and Science Cornerstone Award
2004 Educator of the Year, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
2004 Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience FUN Fellow Award - Honoring ten years of Membership in the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (Served as Councilor, Chair of Travel Award Committee and Secretary)
2008 Recipient of UDM Jesuit 100 Association, Faculty Summer Stipend for Course Development – developed “Food Chemistry” course for non-science majors