Faculty Profiles

Katherine J. Franz
Katherine J. Franz
Alexander F. Hehmeyer Professor of Chemistry
Office: 
2103 French Science Center, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708
Phone: 
(919) 660-1541
katherine.franz@duke.edu
Franz Research Group
Research Interests: 

Research in the Franz group is involved in elucidating the structural and functional consequences of metal ion coordination in biological systems. We are particularly interested in understanding the coordination chemistry utilized by biology to manage essential yet toxic species like copper and iron. Understanding these principles further guides our development of new chemical tools to manipulate biological metal ion location, speciation, and reactivity for potential therapeutic benefit. We use a combination of synthesis, spectroscopy, and biochemistry in our work. Please visit our group website to learn more about our research.

Overview

Education:

Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2000

B.A., Wellesley College 1995

Research Areas:
Biomolecular Structure and Function, Inorganic

Kielar, F, Helsel, ME, Wang, Q, and Franz, KJ. "Prochelator BHAPI protects cells against paraquat-induced damage by ROS-triggered iron chelation." Metallomics 4.9 (August 2012): 899-909. Full Text

Rubino, JT, and Franz, KJ. "Coordination chemistry of copper proteins: how nature handles a toxic cargo for essential function." J Inorg Biochem 107.1 (February 2012): 129-143. (Review) Full Text

Hyman, LM, and Franz, KJ. "A Cell-Permeable Fluorescent Prochelator Responds to Hydrogen Peroxide and Metal Ions by Decreasing Fluorescence." Inorganica Chim Acta 380 (January 15, 2012): 125-134. Full Text

Franz, KJ. "Application of inorganic chemistry for non-cancer therapeutics." Dalton Transactions 41.21 (2012): 6333-6334. Full Text

Leed, MGD, Wolkow, N, Pham, DM, Daniel, CL, Dunaief, JL, and Franz, KJ. "Prochelators triggered by hydrogen peroxide provide hexadentate iron coordination to impede oxidative stress." J Inorg Biochem 105.9 (September 2011): 1161-1172. Full Text

Haas, KL, Putterman, AB, White, DR, Thiele, DJ, and Franz, KJ. "Model peptides provide new insights into the role of histidine residues as potential ligands in human cellular copper acquisition via Ctr1." J Am Chem Soc 133.12 (March 30, 2011): 4427-4437. Full Text

Ciesienski, KL, and Franz, KJ. "Keys for unlocking photolabile metal-containing cages." Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 50.4 (January 24, 2011): 814-824. (Review) Full Text

Rubino, JT, Chenkin, MP, Keller, M, Riggs-Gelasco, P, and Franz, KJ. "A comparison of methionine, histidine and cysteine in copper(I)-binding peptides reveals differences relevant to copper uptake by organisms in diverse environments." Metallomics 3.1 (January 2011): 61-73.

Rubino, JT, Chenkin, MP, Keller, M, Riggs-Gelasco, P, and Franz, KJ. "A comparison of methionine, histidine and cysteine in copper(I)-binding peptides reveals differences relevant to copper uptake by organisms in diverse environments." Metallomics 3.1 (January 2011): 61-73. Full Text

Ciesienski, KL, Haas, KL, and Franz, KJ. "Development of next-generation photolabile copper cages with improved copper binding properties." Dalton Trans 39.40 (October 28, 2010): 9538-9546. Full Text

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