Dr. Ashli E. Brown

Assistant Research Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Education:

University of South Florida B.A. in Biology, 1993.

University of South Florida Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2003.

University of South Florida Adjunct Professor/ Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2004.

United States Department of Agriculture Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2004-2006.

Areas of Research:

Rising fuel costs, energy security and environmental concerns are the driving force for the development of alternative fuels from renewable sources. Biodiesel, fatty acid alkyl esters, has become more attractive due to its environmental benefits and the fact that it is made from renewable resources. Currently, boidiesel is commercially made by alkali-catalyzed transesterification of an oil or fat with an alcohol. Although this process is efficient in terms of reaction time, the chemical approach to synthesize biodiesels has drawbacks, such as difficulty in the recovery of glycerol and the energy intensive nature of the process. Therefore, the production of enzymatic biodiesels by lipase-catalyzed reactions under mild conditions is of commercial interest. In order to identify the optimal conditions for the lipase-catalyzed transesterification, it is essential to understand the kinetics of this reaction. An optimized enzymatic synthesis of biodiesels will improve the conversion yield and reduce the cost of production.

Recent Publications:

Brown, A. E., Grossman, S. H. (2004) The Mechanism and Modes of Inhibition of Arginine Kinase from the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 57(4): 166-177.

Brown, A. E., France, R. M., Grossman, S. H. (2004) Purification and Characterization of Arginine Kinase From the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 56(2): 51-60.

Wright-Webber, B., Held, B., Brown, A. E., Grossman, S. H., (2006) Immunological and Physical Comparison of Monomeric and Dimeric Phosphagen Kinases: Some Evolutionary Implications. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1760: 364-371.

In Press:

Brown, A. E., Aldrich, J. R., Riddick, E. W., Holmes, W. E. (2006) The Identification of (-)-B-Caryophyllene as a Gender Specific Turpene Produced by the Multi-colored Asian Lady Beetle. Journal of Chemical Ecology.

Communication Links

Phone: (662) 325-2640
Fax: (662) 325-8664
Internet: ab506@msstate.edu