Welcome to John M. Buchner's Web Page

I am currently a graduate student in the lab of Anna Karls at UGA. I have recently proposed in my written and oral exam "...to determine the structure and biochemical mechanism of Piv, a novel DNA invertase that controls the expression of type-4 pili in Moraxella lacunata. Previously described DNA invertases are tyrosine or serine recombinases of the l-integrase family or the Hin/Resolvase family. Piv, however, shares amino acid homology to transposases of the IS110/IS492 family of transposable elements. Modeling of Piv's secondary and tertiary structure revealed homology to the ribonuclease H-like motif of DDE-motif transposases but with the potential for a unique arrangement of catalytic residues. Though the reactions catalyzed by tyrosine recombinases, serine recombinases and DDE-motif transposases appear similar, the intermediates and products are distinct." I will be developing of in vitro and in vivo assays, generating mutant proteins, and crystallizing Piv. And that's what I do as a graduate student.

Phase Variation mediated by Piv. The invR/L, sub1 and * are sites of Piv activity.

Here's a paper we've published and I'm on it.

But Who am I?

Briefly, I was born in West Allis, WI in the mid-70's, and lived there until fifth grade (Jefferson Grade School), when, as a family we moved out to New Berlin. Finishing my education at Cleveland Grade School, took me to New Berlin West High School, where I graduated as part of the class of 1992. But, I didn't go through the ceremony with my classmates. I spent 1991-1992 living in Senlis, France, and returned to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and obtain a degree in bacteriology. Finishing that after 9 semesters, I moved to Atlanta, worked three different jobs, and had a great time playing rugby with the Atlanta Renegades Rugby Club. Dr. Karls, then at Emory University, offered to take me with her to UGA, I accepted, and here I am today.

There are few details I've skipped over in the middle to prevent embarrassment, mostly to myself, but if you think you know me, or are interested in my work, email me.

Otherwise, on this page, you can look at what I've done for homework for a class I took my first year as a graduate student. Well, it isn't exactly this. I took down the parts of it because the required plug in never got updated, and last worked with Netscape 4.7. I am proud of it though, if you use chime, and want to see that part, email me.