Our Research The Merkler Research Laboratory is currently interested in the fatty acid amides: a fascinating and diverse family of molecules whose functions range from neurotransmission, to circadian rhythm mediation, to insect cuticle sclerotization.
Our research focuses on identification and characterization of the fatty acid amides (lipidomics), in-depth examination of the enzymes responsible for fatty acid amide biosynthesis (enzymology and structural biology), and changes in the fatty acid amidome after targeted enzyme knock-out (subtraction lipidomics). Through this, students in the Merkler lab are exposed to a wide range of topics of both a biological nature, such as insect ethology, and a chemical nature, such as organic synthesis, and everything in between. |
|
Dr. David J MerklerDavid J. Merkler obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University in 1985 and completed postdoctoral fellowships in enzymology at Temple University School of Medicine (1985-1987) and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1987-1989).
His next position was as Senior Scientist at Unigene Laboratories, Inc., involved in the in vitro production of a peptide hormone, calcitonin. In 1995, he moved back to academia as a professor of chemistry and biochemistry—first at Duquesne University (1995-1999), and then the University of South Florida (1999-present). Dr. Merkler currently teaches general and advanced biochemistry with the respective labs at the University of South Florida. He also teaches biochemistry abroad every summer in Florence, Italy. 
|
|