Hikmat Daghestani

Contact Information:

Email: hnd3@pitt.edu

Education
B.S. in Physics, Allegheny College (Aug. 2002. - May. 2006)
Ph. D Candidate in Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Program, University of Pittsburgh, USA (Sep. 2006 - Present)


Awards
Molecular Pharmacology & Chemical Biology Program Fellowship (2009)
European Union Marie Curie Training Fellowship in the UK (2008)
Richard L. Brown Physics Prize (2006)
Shanbrom Summer Research Fund (2005)
Outstanding Junior Physics Major Prize (2005)
Merck/AAAS Undergraduate Research Grant (2004)

Research:
My research involves characterizing the structure of cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain 1 (>380 kDa) using a combination of chemical labeling, hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, and computational biology. Cytoplasmic dynein is an important motor protein that translocates in a retrograde manner along microtubules to transport various cargoes throughout the cell. Several of these cargoes have been associated with diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and HIV, making cytoplasmic dynein an important target to study. Part of my research also involves identifying compounds that interact with cytoplasmic dynein to be used as inhibitors or activators. I have also done work investigating the use of biosensor surfaces (dual polarization interferometry and resonant mirror) to assemble microtubules and further characterize their interactions with microtubule-perturbing agents. Microtubules are responsible for several important functions including maintaining cell structure, signaling, and cell division, particularly during mitosis, by physically separating chromosomes and orienting the plane of cleavage. These roles are a function of microtubule dynamics, the relative rates of assembly and disassembly at both the plus and minus ends of the microtubules. Increased microtubule dynamics is a hallmark of cancer cells, which makes microtubules a target for several anti-tumor therapeutics.

PhD Advisor:
Dr. Billy W. Day

Research Advisor:
Dr. Billy W. Day
Dr. Saleem Khan
Dr. Eckard Munck

Publications:
Hikmat N. Daghestani, David G. Fernig, and Billy W. Day. (2009). Evaluation of Biosensor Surfaces for the Detection of Microtubule-Perturbing Agents. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 25(1): 136-141.

Posters and Presentations:
Hikmat N. Daghestani, Brianne S. Raccor, Mark S. Gostock, Neville J. Freeman, and Billy W. Day. (2008). Characterization of the Interaction of Various Agents with Tubulin/Microtubules by Dual Polarization Interferometry. 31st National Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, ACS, Pittsburgh, PA

Presentation Title: “Evaluation of Microtubule-Perturbing Agents using Dual Polarization Interferometry” (2009). Biophysical Characterization Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA