Michael H. Gelb

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Professor Michael H. Gelb [1957-] is an award-winning biochemist and chemist specializing in enzymes and particularly those of medical significance. He is the Harry and Catherine Jaynne Boand Endowed Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Washington in Seattle. He also teaches Honors Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Enzymology.

Gelb studied chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, Davis before taking a Ph.D under Stephen G. Sligar at Yale University on aspects of the catalytic mechanism of cytochrome P450. Granted an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship, he then investigated mechanism-based inactivators of serine proteases and developed fluorinated ketones as tight-binding inhibitors of several classes of proteases, working with Robert H. Abeles at Brandeis University.

Since 1985 Gelb has been a faculty member at the University of Washington in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Gelb's awards include:

  • Harry and Catherine Jaynne Boand Endowed Professor of Chemistry (2008-)
  • Merit Award from the National Institutes of Health (2007-)
  • Medicines for Malaria Venture Project of the Year (2002).
  • Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry (1993).
  • ICI Pharmaceuticals Award for Excellence in Chemistry (1993).
  • Alfred P. Sloan Fellow.
  • Merck New Faculty Development Award (1986).
  • American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (1983-85).


The Gelb laboratory uses a number of techniques in molecular and cellular biochemistry as well as synthetic organic chemistry to study enzymatic processes of biomedical significance. Major accomplishments from the Gelb laboratory include: 1) The discovery of protein isoprenylation in the late 1980s (together with Professor John Glomset)[1][2][3]; 2) The development of methods to analyze enzymes that work on membrane surfaces (together with Professors Mahendra Jain and Otto Berg)[4][5]; 3) The development of Isotope Coded Affinity Tag reagents for quantitative proteomics (together with Professors Ruedi Aebersold and Frank Turecek)[6][7]; 4) The development of tandem mass spectrometry for newborn screening of enzyme deficiency diseases (together with Professors Frank Turecek and C. Ronald Scott).[8][9] Routine newborn screening of lysosomal storage diseases using technology developed in the Gelb laboratory was brought into use in New York state in 2006 and in Illinois in 2008. Plans are underway to expand screening in other regions of the USA and in several other countries.


His current research interests include: 1) Studying the function and regulation of a group of enzymes called phospholipase A2 that are involved in lipid mediator biosynthesis related to inflammation; 2) Anti-malaria and anti-trypanosome drug discovery; 3) New technology for the newborn screening of enzyme deficiency diseases including lysosomal storage diseases.

In his spare time Gelb enjoys surfing, playing classical guitar and muscle cars.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Farnsworth CC, Gelb MH, Glomset JA "Identification of geranylgeranyl-modified proteins in HeLa cells." Science. 1990;247:320-2
  2. ^ Farnsworth CC, Wolda SL, Gelb MH, Glomset JA "Human lamin B contains a farnesylated cysteine residue." J Biol Chem. 1989; 264:20422-9.
  3. ^ Schafer WR, Rine J "Protein prenylation: genes, enzymes, targets, and functions." Annu Rev Genet. 1992;26:209-37
  4. ^ Gelb MH, Jain MK, Hanel AM, Berg OG. "Interfacial enzymology of glycerolipid hydrolases: lessons from secreted phospholipases A2." Annu Rev Biochem. 1995; 64: 653-88.
  5. ^ Jain MK, Berg OG "Coupling of the i-face and the active site of phospholipase A2 for interfacial activation." Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2006; 10:473-9
  6. ^ Gygi SP, Rist B, Gerber SA, Turecek F, Gelb MH, Aebersold R. "Quantitative analysis of complex protein mixtures using isotope-coded affinity tags." Nat Biotechnol. 1999; 17:994-9.
  7. ^ Turecek F. "Mass spectrometry in coupling with affinity capture-release and isotope-coded affinity tags for quantitative protein analysis. J Mass Spectrom." 2002; 37:1-14
  8. ^ Li Y, Scott CR, Chamoles NA, Ghavami A, Pinto BM, Turecek F, Gelb MH."Direct multiplex assay of lysosomal enzymes in dried blood spots for newborn screening." Clin Chem. 2004; 50:1785-96.
  9. ^ Millington DS "Newborn screening for lysosomal storage disorders." Clin Chem. 2005; 51:808-9


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