Dr. Linda Roberts

University of Vermont, BA Biology, 1984

Washington State University, PhD Biochemistry and Biophysics, 1990

Chemistry 6B, 106, 161, 160A, 160B, 162, 164

Apolipoprotein A-I is the major protein component of high density lipoprotein (HDL, the "good" cholesterol).  It plays an important role in lowering the risk for coronary artery disease.  We are exploring the structural features of human and non-human apolipoprotein in order to understand its lipid-binding mechanisms.  We use the tools of molecular biology to create specific mutations and evaluate the effect of the mutations using a variety of biophysical methods. 

For current students and their projects, click here .

Lagerstedt, J.O., Cavigiolio, G., Roberts, L.M., Hong, H.S., Jin, L.W., Fitzgerald, P.G., Oda, M.N., Voss, J.C.  Mapping the Structural Transition in an Amyloidogenic Apolipoprotein A-I.  2007.  Biochemistry 46, 9693-9699.

Developing Experimental Design and Trouble-shooting Skills in an Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory.  Roberts, L.M. 2001. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 29, 10-15.

The Lipid-Free Structure of Apolipoprotein A-I: Effects of Amino-Terminal Deletions. Rogers, D.P., Roberts, L.M., Lebowitz, J., Anantharamaiah, G.M., Engler, J.A., Brouillete, C.G. 1998. Biochemistry 37, 11714-11725 .

Structural Analysis of Apolipoprotein A-I: Effect of Amino- and Carboxyl-Terminal Deletions on the Lipid-Free Structure. Rogers, D.P., Roberts, L.M., Lebowitz, J., Engler, J.A., Brouillette, C.G. 1998. Biochemistry 37, 945-955.

Structural Analysis of Apolipoprotein A-I: Limited Proteolysis of Methionine-Reduced and -Oxidized Lipid-Free and Lipid-Bound Human Apo A-I. Roberts, L.M., Ray, M.J., Shih, T.-W., Hayden, E., Reader, M.M., Brouillette, C.G. 1997. Biochemistry36 , 7615-7624.

Truncation of the Amino Terminus of Human Apolipoprotein A-I Substantially Alters Only the Lipid-Free Conformation. Rogers, D.P., Brouillette, C.G., Engler, J.A., Tendian, S.W., Roberts, L.M., Mishra, V., Anantharamaiah, G.M., Lund-Katz, S., Phillips, M.C., Ray, M.J. 1997. Biochemistry36 , 288-300.

Structural Changes Accompanying Chloroform-Induced Contraction of the Filamentous Phage fd. Roberts, L.M., Dunker, A.K. 1993. Biochemistry32 , 10479-10488.

A Model for fd Phage Penetration and Assembly. Dunker, A.K., Ensign, L.D., Arnold, G.E., Roberts, L.M. 1991. FEBS Letters 292, 271-274.

Proposed Molten Globule Intermediate in fd Phage Penetration and Assembly. Dunker, A.K., Ensign, L.D., Arnold, G.E., Roberts, L.M. 1991. FEBS Letters 292, 275-278.

Limited Proteolysis of Amyloidogenic Lipid-Bound Apolipoprotein A-I Implicates Lipid-Free Protein in Amyloid Formation.  S. Hilt*, L.M. Roberts, J.O. Lagerstedt, M.N. Oda, J.C. Voss.  22nd Symposium of the Protein Society, San Diego, CA.  (Silvia Hilt won an undergraduate poster award.) The Structural Transition Between Lipid-free and Lipid-bound States of Apolipoprotein A-I is Controlled by Residues 1-23.  J. Case*, S. R. Randall, T. Postiglione*, J.O. Lagerstedt, L.M. Roberts.  2008 CSUPERB Annual Meeting, Oakland, CA.

Limited Proteolysis of Amyloidogenic Lipid-Bound Apolipoprotein A-I Implicates Lipid-Free Protein in Amyloid Formation.  S. Hilt*, L.M. Roberts, J.O. Lagerstedt, J.C. Voss.   2008 CSUPERB Annual Meeting, Oakland, CA.

Developing Experimental Design and Trouble-shooting Skills in an Advanced Biochemistry Lab.  Roberts, L.M., McReynolds, K., McCarthy, M.  Protein Society Meeting.  Boston, MA.  2005.

Lipid-free Structure and Lipid-Binding etc. etc. Roberts, L.M., Shasky, J.M, Tendian, S.W.  Protein Society Meeting. Boston, MA. 2005.

Infectivity of Phage fd I-forms and S-forms to E. Coli Cells.  Smith, M., Roberts, L.M.  CSUPERB Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Pomona, CA.  2002.

Insertion Competency of Filamentous Phage fd.  Sean, P., Robertson, S.A., Wells, J.A., Contreras, A., Roberts, L.M.  Protein Society Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.  2001.

Characterization of High Density Lipoproteins Containing Apolipoprotein A-I Deletion Mutants.  Smyth, N., Almaraz, R., Galvan-Rueckert, F., Engler, J.A., Brouillette, C.G., Roberts, L.M.  ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA.  2000.

An Insertion Competent Conformation of the Filamentous Phage fd:  Fusion of I-forms With Lipid Vesicles.  Robertson, S.A., Roberts, L.M.  ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA.  2000.

Localization of Bacteriophage DNA Following Fusion of Phage with Lipid Vesicles.  Wells, J., Contreras, A., Mercer, V., Roberts, L.M.  Undergraduate ACS Meeting, Hayward, CA.  2000.

Chemical Modification of Tryptophan and Tyrosine Residues: Effect on Apolipoprotein A-I Conformation. Slack, D., McGann, S.J., Moore, L., Greene, S., Mymka, M., Woolsey, C., Roberts, L.M. 9th Annual ACS Undergraduate Research Symposium , U.C. Santa Cruz.  1997.

Apolipoprotein A-I: A Naturally Occurring Molten Globule. Roberts, L.M., Rogers, D.P., Engler, J.A., Brouillette, C.G. Protein Science 5, supp 1:79.  1996.

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