Biological Sciences at UMBC

JULIA B. WOLF

Instructor
M.S., Biological Sciences, UMBC, 1983

jwolf@umbc.edu; FAX (410) 455-3875; Voice (410) 455-2146/3581

Teaching & Research Interests - Applied Molecular Biology:

I am the instructor for the Advanced Molecular Biology laboratory courses that are the key components of the nine-month Master's Degree Program in Applied Molecular Biology. The laboratory courses are designed to teach students how to work in a molecular biology research laboratory in preparation for an industrial or academic laboratory position or advanced graduate work. Students learn basic and advanced molecular techniques in the context of research projects as well as designing experimental strategies and controls, and keeping a laboratory notebook. We have weekly lab meetings to discuss strategies, data, and current journal articles. Over the years, we have worked on many different research projects including:

Cloning, expression, and binding site determination of the C. elegans transcription factor, egl-18.

Optimization of codon usage for expression of the human NKX3.1 gene in E. coli using gene assembly PCR.

Cloning, expression and functional analysis of the human RGR protein in COS cells.

Comparative sequence analysis of the catsup gene in sister Drosophila species.

Construction of mutant and epitope-tagged variants of the nitA gene from Volvox for use in transformation.

Construction of MHC Class II-expressing and her2 antigen-expressing retroviral constructs for use in breast cancer vaccine research

Development of methods for detecting SNP's in genomic samples of bird species using real-time PCR

Determination of ddc expression levels in Drosophila melanogaster in response to wounding

Cloning and characterization of a neuronal cytoskeleton protein from lobster

Cloning of carbonic anhydrase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Construction of vectors for production of IL-1-beta in mouse tumor cells

Generation of cell lines expressing a number of different heterologous proteins

The isolation and characterization of rhodopsin and other opsins from both striped bass
and dolphin

The expression, purification and functional analysis of rhodopsin-expressing COS cells

The generation of polyclonal antisera against crayfish and Dictostylium proteins.

Continuing Education

My interests also lie in Science Education and, in particular, biotechnology and recombinant DNA at the high school level. I have taught workshops in biotechnology as part of high school teacher professional development for many years, most of these workshops were funded by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and others were part of the Maryland Governor's Academy for Math and Science. All of these workshops are "hands-on" experience in recombinant DNA. Additionally, I have taught Advanced Recombinant DNA methods for scientist and other science-related professionals during the summer.

Selected Publications and Patents

Wolf, J. B., 2003. Inefficient translation and replication. Human Molecular Biology Laboratory Manual: Book Review. Heredity. 91. 438-439.

Deutch, A. D., David V. A. and J. B. Wolf. 1994. Enhanced Gene Expression in Response to Lactation Signals. U. S. Patent # 5,320,952.

Leonard W. J., J. B. Wolf, and. N. F. Halden. Dec 17, 1991. Assay for Mycoplasma Fermentans. U.S. Patent #5073486.

Leonard W. J., N. F. Halden, and J. B. Wolf. 1990. Novel Restriction Endonuclease. U. S. Patent # 7,169,487.

Halden, N. F., J. B. Wolf and W. J. Leonard. 1989. Identification of a Novel Site Specific Endonuclease Produced by Mycoplasma fermentans: Discovered While Characterizing DNA Binding Proteins in T-lymphocyte Cell Lines. Nucleic Acids Research, 17:3491-3499.

Cross, S. L., M. B. Feinberg, J. B. Wolf, N. J. Holbrook, F. Wong-Staal, W. J. Leonard. 1987. Regulation of the Human Interleukin-2 Receptor Alpha Chain Promoter: Activation of a Nonfunctional Promoter by the Transactivator Gene of HTLV-I. Cell, 49:47-56.