Curriculum vitae

Wade H. Powell
Professor of Biology
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH  43022


EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
GRANTS AND AWARDS
PUBLICATIONS
PRESENTATIONS

EDUCATION

B.S.      Davidson CollegeBiology     1987

             Off campus study: Duke University Marine Laboratory   Marine Ecology    1985 (fall)

M.S.     East Tennessee State UniversityBiological Sciences   1991

Ph.D.   Emory UniversityBiochemistry and Molecular Biology   1997
 
 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND APPOINTMENTS

Headmaster and Science Teacher         12/87 - 6/89
Ideleri Secondary School.  Maragoli, Kenya, East Africa.

Graduate Student (M.S. level)         9/89-7/91
East Tennessee State University, Department of Biological Sciences
Thesis:  Hormonal Influences on the Secretion of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide by Rainbow Trout Cardiocytes.
Advisor: Hugh A. Miller III

Graduate Student (Ph.D. level)         9/91-5/97
Emory University, Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Thesis:  Biochemical and Molecular Genetic Studies of the RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complex.
Advisor: Daniel Reines

Postdoctoral Scholar/Fellow         5/97-7/00
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department
Topics:  Aryl hydrocarbon signal transduction in marine animals; Hypoxia physiology in fishes.
Advisor: Mark E. Hahn

Assistant Professor of Biology          7/00-6/06
Kenyon College

Associate Professor of Biology           7/06-6/13

Professor of Biology           7/13-now

GRANTS AND AWARDS

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH. 2018-2021. 2 R15 ES011130 06: Aryl hydrocarbon interactions in a frog model of dioxin toxicity.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH. 2014-2017. 2 R15 ES011130 05: Aryl hydrocarbon multiplicity in a frog model of dioxin toxicity.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,  NIH.  2010 - 2014.  2 R15-ES011130 04: Low-affinity aryl hydrocarbon receptors from the frog Xenopus laevis.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,  NIH.  2007 - 2010.  2 R15-ES011130 03: Multiple low-affinity aryl hydrocarbon receptors from the frog Xenopus laevis.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,  NIH.  2004 - 2007.  2 R15-ES011130 02:  Mechanisms of Dioxin Insensitivity in Developing Frogs.

Trustee Teaching Excellence Award, Kenyon College. 2006

Robert J. Tomsich Science Award, Kenyon College. 2004.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,  NIH.  2001 - 2004.  1 R15-ES011130 01:  Dioxin Sensitivity of an Amphibian Toxicity Test Model.

Reinhart Coastal Research Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1999-2000.  Research Grant: Physiological Consequences of Multiple Environmental Stresses to Estuarine Fish:  Dioxin-like Compounds and Hypoxia.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH. 1997-2000. 1 F32-ES05800 01-03 (National Research Service Award):  Aryl Hydrocarbon Signal Transduction Mechanisms in Fish.

Sigma Xi Research Grant-in-Aid, 1990. Hormonal Influences on the Secretion of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide by Rainbow Trout Cardiocytes.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Ideleri Secondary School. Maragoli, Kenya. East Africa. 1987-1989
Courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Algebra/Trigonometry (High School level)

East Tennessee State University, Department of Biological Sciences. 1989-1991
Courses: Introductory Biology Laboratory I and II (undergraduate level).

Emory University, 1992.
Course: Laboratory Methods in Biochemistry (Graduate level; TA)
Completed TATTO (Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunity), a training program for TA’s.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1998 and 1999.
Undergraduate Honors Thesis advisor for guest student from Haverford College at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Kenyon College, Fall 2000 – now.
Courses (all undergraduate level):
Biology 109-110, Introduction to Experimental Biology
Biology 111, Introduction to Experimental Molecular Biology
Biology 113, From Cell to Organism
Biology 114, Genetics and Development of Organisms
Biology 211, Health Service and Biomedical Analysis
Biology 263, Molecular Biology and Genomics
Biology 264, Gene Manipulation
Biology 333, Environmental Toxicology
Biology 385/6, Research in Biology
Biology 398, Junior Honors
Biology 497, Senior Honors

PUBLICATIONS (undergraduate co-authors underlined)


Han DT, Zhao W, and Powell WH (2022). Dioxin Disrupts Thyroid Hormone and Glucocorticoid Induction of klf9, a Master Regulator of Frog Metamorphosis. Toxicol Sci in press

Sarah A KazzazSara Giani TagliabueDiana G FranksMichael S DenisonMark E HahnLaura BonatiWade H Powell (2020) An aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the caecilian Gymnopis multiplicata suggests low dioxin affinity in the ancestor of all three amphibian orders. Gen Comp Emdocrinol  299:113592. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2020./113592.


*Taft, JD, *Colonnetta MM, Schafter RE, Plick N, Powell WH (2018) Dioxin exposure alters molecular and morphological responses to thyroid hormone in Xenopus laevis cultured cells and prometamorphic tadpoles Toxicol Sci. 161(1):196-206. PMID:29294139  *co-first authors

Freeburg SH, Engelbrecht E, Powell WH (2017) Subfunctionalization of Paralogous Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors from the Frog Xenopus laevis: Distinct Target Genes and Differential Responses to Specific Agonists in a Single Cell Type. Toxicol Sci. 155(2):337-347. PMID:27994169

Shoots, J, D Fraccalvieri, DG Franks MS Denison, ME Hahn, L Bonati, and WH Powell (2015) An Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor from the Salamander Ambystoma mexicanum Exhibits Low Sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Env. Sci. Technol. 49(11):6993-7001. PMID:25941739.

Odio, C, SA Holzman, MS Denison, D Fraccalvieri, L Bonati, DG Franks, ME Hahn, and WH Powell (2013). Specific Ligand Binding Domain Residues Confer Low Dioxin Responsiveness to AHR1β of Xenopus laevis. Biochemistry 52:1746-1754. PMID: 23394719

Iwamoto, DV, CM Kurylo, KM Schorling, and WH Powell (2012). Induction of Cytochrome P450 Family 1 mRNAs and Activities in a Cell Line from the Frog Xenopus laevis. Aquat. Toxicol. 114-115:165-172. PMID: 22446828

Laub LB, BD Jones, WH Powell (2010) Responsiveness of a Xenopus laevis cell line to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Chem Biol Interact. 183(1):202-11 PMID: 19799885

AL Zimmermann, EA King, E Dengler, SR Scogin, and WH Powell (2008) An Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor from Xenopus laevis: Function, Expression and Role in Dioxin Responsiveness during Frog Development. Toxicol. Sci. ToxSci 104:124-134 . PMID: 18385208

Philips, B.H., T.C. Susman, and W.H. Powell. (2006) Differences in elimination of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin during Xenopus laevis development. Marine Environmental Research, 62:S34-S37. PMID: 16697456

Lavine, J.A., A.J. Rowatt, T. Klimova, A.J. Whitington, E. Dengler, C. Beck, and W.H. Powell (2005) Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors in the frog Xenopus laevis: Two AHR1 paralogs exhibit low affinity for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Toxicol. Sci. 88:62-70. PMID: 15958654.

Powell, W.H., H.G. Morrison, E. J. Weil, S.I. Karchner, M.L. Sogin, J.J. Stegeman, and M.E. Hahn (2004) Cloning and characterization of the CYP1A promoter from the Atlantic killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus. Marine Environmental Research 58(2-5):119-124. PMID: 15178023

Rowatt, A.J., J.J. DePowell, and W.H. Powell (2003) ARNT gene multiplicity in amphibians: Characterization of ARNT2 from the frog Xenopus laevis. J. Exp. Zool. B:  Molecular and Developmental Evolution 300B:48 - 57. PMID: 14984034

Karchner, S.I., D.G. Franks, W.H. Powell, and M.E. Hahn (2002)  Regulatory interactions among three members of the vertebrate aryl hydrocarbon receptor family:  AHR repressor, AHR1, and AHR2.  J. Biol. Chem., 277:6949-6959.

Powell, W.H. and M.E. Hahn (2002)  Identification and Functional Characterization of Hypoxia-inducible factor 2a from the marine teleost, Fundulus heteroclitus:  Interaction of HIF-2a with two ARNT2 splice variants.  J. Exp. Zool.:  Molecular and Developmental Evolution 294:17-29.

Butler, R.A., M.L. Kelley, W.H. Powell, M.E. Hahn, and R.J. Van Beneden (2001) An aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) homologue from the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria:  Evidence that invertebrate AHR homologues lack 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and b-naphthoflavone binding.  Gene 278:223-234.

Powell, W.H., R. Bright, S.M. Bello, and M.E. Hahn (2000) Developmental and tissue-specific expression of AHR1, AHR2, and ARNT2 in dioxin-sensitive and -resistant populations of the marine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus.  Toxicol. Sci. 57:229-239.

Powell, W.H. and M.E. Hahn (2000)  Evolution of aryl hydrocarbon signaling proteins:  Diversity of ARNT isoforms in fish.  Mar. Env. Res., 50:39-44.

Karchner, S.I., W. H. Powell, and M.E. Hahn (1999).  Functional characterization of two aryl hydrocarbon receptors in the marine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus.  J. Biol. Chem., 274:33814-33824.

Powell, W. H., S. I. Karchner, R. Bright, and M. E. Hahn (1999).  Functional diversity of vertebrate ARNT proteins:  Identification of ARNT2 as the predominant form of ARNT in the marine teleost, Fundulus heteroclitus.  Arch. Biochem. Biophys.  361(1):156-163.

Powell, W., J. C. Lennon, P. Elsevier, and D. Reines (1997).  Glutamic acid-371 of the barnase homology domain in RNA polymerase II is not required for SII-activated RNA cleavage.  Mol. Gen. Genet.  253(4):507-511.

Powell, W., B. Bartholomew, and D. Reines (1996).  Elongation factor SII contacts the 3' end of RNA in the RNA polymerase II elongation complex.  J. Biol. Chem.  271:22301-22304.

Powell, W. and D. Reines (1996).  Mutations in the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II cause 6-azauracil sensitivity in yeast and increased transcriptional arrest in vitro.  J. Biol. Chem.  271:6866-6873.

Conaway, R. C., D. Reines, K. P. Garrett, W. Powell, and J. W. Conaway (1996).  Purification of RNA polymerase II general transcription factors from rat liver.  Meth. Enzymol.  273:194-207.

Gu, W., W. Powell, J. Mote, Jr., and D. Reines (1993).  Nascent RNA cleavage by arrested RNA polymerase II does not require upstream translocation of the elongation complex on DNA.  J. Biol. Chem.  268:25604-25616.

Reines, D., P. Ghanouni, W. Gu, J. Mote, Jr., and W. Powell (1993).  Transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II:  Mechanisms of SII activation.  Cell. Mol. Biol. Res.  39:331-338.

Powell, W. H. and H. A. Miller III (1992).  Dexamethasone stimulates release of an ANP-like substance from rainbow trout cardiocytes.  Am. J. Physiol.  263:R447-R451.
 
 

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS/ABSTRACTS  (undergraduate co-authors underlined)


Freeburg, S., E. Engelbrecht, and WH Powell. CYP1A6 Induction by TCDD is more Sensitive to TALEN Mutagenesis of AHR1b than AHR1a in the Xenopus laevis Cell line XLK-WG. Society of Toxicology, San Diego, CA March 2015.

Koenecke, MM, JD Taft, and WH Powell. Interactions between Thyroid Hormone and Dioxin Signaling in the Frog Xenopus laevis. Society of Toxicology, San Diego, CA March 2015.

Powell, WH. Molecular Biology Lab Class as a Vehicle for Teaching Environmental Toxicology. Society of Toxicology, San Diego, CA March 2015.

Taft, J.D., M.M. Koenecke, and W.H. Powell. Co-exposure to Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Thyroid Receptor Agonists Enhances Induction of Responsive Genes in Cultured Frog Cells and Prometamorphic Frogs. Seventeenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in marine Organisms (PRIMO17), Faro, Portugal May 2013.

Taft, J.D. and W.H. Powell. Co-exposure to Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Thyroid Receptor Agonists Enhances Induction of Responsive Genes in Cultured Frog Cells and Prometamorphic Frogs. Society of Toxicology, San Antonio, TX March 2013

C. Odio, S.A. Holzman, M.S. Denison, L.Bonati, W.H. Powell. Specific amino acid residues within the ligand binding domain confer low responsiveness to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) from the frog Xenopus laevis Sixteenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO16), Long Beach, CA May 2011.

C. Odio, S.A. Holzman, M.S. Denison, L.Bonati, W.H. Powell. Specific amino acid residues within the ligand binding domain confer low responsiveness to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) from the frog Xenopus laevis. Society of Toxicology, Washington, DC, March 2011.

Sarah A. Holzman, Camila Odio, Michael S. Denison, Laura Bonati, and Wade H. Powell. Structural determinants of low responsiveness to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) from the frog Xenopus laevis. Fifteenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO15) , Bordeaux, France, May 2009.

Laub, Leo B. Jones, Brian D. Powell, Wade H. Responsiveness of a Xenopus laevis cell line to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligand 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ). Fifteenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO15) , Bordeaux, France, May 2009.

Holzman, SA and WH Powell. Unique structural determinants confer low TCDD responsiveness to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the frog Xenopus laevis. Society of Toxicology, Seattle, WA, March 2008.

Laub, LB, BD Jones, and WH Powell. Responsiveness of a Xenopus laevis cell line to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ). Society of Toxicology, Seattle, WA, March 2008.

Spahlinger, D.M., E.A. King, B.D. Jones, and W.H. Powell. Stage-specific effects of TCDD on gene expression patterns during development of the frog Xenopus laevis. Fourteenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO14), Florianopolis, SC Brazil, May 2007.

Zimmermann, A.L., E.A. King, S.R. Scogin, and W.H. Powell. Characterization of an Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor from the frog Xenopus laevis. Fourteenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO14), Florianopolis, SC Brazil, May 2007.

Spahlinger, D.M., E.A. King, B.D. Jones, and W.H. Powell. Stage-specific effects of TCDD on gene expression patterns during development of the frog Xenopus laevis. Society of Toxicology, Charlotte, NC, March 2007.

Zimmermann, A.L., E.A. King, S.R. Scogin, and W.H. Powell. Characterization of an Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor from the frog Xenopus laevis. Society of Toxicology, Charlotte, NC, March 2007.

Philips, B.H., E. Dengler, T.C. Susman, and W.H. Powell. Mechanisms of dioxin insensitivity vary during development of the frog Xenopus laevis. Thirteenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO13), Alessandria, Italy June 2005.

Dengler, E, BH Philips, TC Susman, AJ Rowatt, and WH Powell. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression precedes CYP1A inducibility by dioxin during Xenopus laevis development. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Portland, OR November 2004.

Lavine, J. A., B.H. Philips, T.C. Susman, A.J. Rowatt, A.J. Whitington, T. Klimova, and W.H. Powell. Molecular mechanisms of dioxin insensitivity in Xenopus laevis embryos and tadpoles. Society of Toxicology, Baltimore, MD March 2004.

Powell, W.H., T. Klimova, A.J. Rowatt, and T.C. Susman. Multiple molecular mechanisms underlie dioxin insensitivity in the frog, Xenopus laevis. Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Austin, TX November 2003.

Powell, W.H., C. Beck, J.J. DePowell, M.E. Hahn, T. Klimova, A.J. Rowatt, and T.C. Susman. Multiple molecular mechanisms underlie dioxin insensitivity in the frog, Xenopus laevis. Twelfth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO12), Safety Harbor, FL, May 2003.

Beck, C.
, J.J. DePowell, and W.H. Powell.  Characterization of aryl hydrocarbon signaling proteins from Xenopus laevis.  Society of Toxicology, Nashville, TN  March, 2002.

Powell, W.H., B. Dooley, and M.E. Hahn.  Interactive effects of hypoxia and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) during development in Fundulus heteroclitus.  Eleventh International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO11), Plymouth, England  July 2001.

Powell, W.H. and M.E. Hahn.  Hypoxia inducible factors in Fundulus heteroclitus:  Cloning and characterization of cDNAs encoding HIF-2a and an alternatively spliced form of ARNT2.  Eleventh International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO11), Plymouth, England  July 2001.

Butler, R.A., M.L. Kelley, W.H. Powell, M.E. Hahn, Gardner, G.R. and R.J. Van Beneden.  An aryl hydrocarbon receptor homologue from the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria.  Eleventh International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO11), Plymouth, England  July 2001.

Wiesner, L., W. Powell, S. Karchner, D.G. Franks. E. Cooper, M. Hahn, E. Kauschke.  cDNA cloning of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) homologs in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis).  Eleventh International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO11), Plymouth, England  July 2001.

Karchner, S.I., W.H. Powell, R. Bright, and M.E. Hahn.  Characterization of the AHR Repressor in dioxin-resistant Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus).  Eleventh International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO11), Plymouth, England  July 2001.

Hahn, M.E., Powell, W.H., Bright, R., Bello, S.M., Stegeman, J.J., Karchner, S.I.  Mechanisms of Adaptation to Dioxin-like Compounds.   Society for Ecological Toxicology and Chemistry, Nashville, TN  November 2000.

Butler, R.B., Kelley, M.L., Powell, W.H., Hahn, M.E., Van Benden, R.J.  An Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Homologue from the Soft-Shell Clam, Mya arenaria.  Society for Ecological Toxicology and Chemistry, Nashville, TN  November 2000.

Bright, R., W.H. Powell, and M.E. Hahn.  Differential expression of aryl hydrocarbon signaling proteins in a fish model of dioxin resistance.  Society of Toxicology, Philadelphia, PA  March 2000.

Powell, W.H. and M.E. Hahn.  Evolution of aryl hydrocarbon signaling proteins:  Diversity of ARNT isoforms among fish species.  Tenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO10), Williamsburg, VA  April 1999.

Karchner, S. I., W. H. Powell, and M. E. Hahn.  Functional characterization of two AH receptors in the marine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus:  TCDD and DNA binding and tissue-specific expression.  Tenth International Symposium on Pollution Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO10), Williamsburg, VA  April 1999.

Powell, W. H., S. I. Karchner, R. Bright, and M. E. Hahn.  Functional diversity of vertebrate ARNT proteins:  ARNT2 is the predominant form of ARNT in the marine teleost, Fundulus heteroclitus.  Society of Toxicology, New Orleans, LA, March 1999.

Powell, W. H., S. I. Karchner, and M. E. Hahn.  Aryl hydrocarbon signaling components in Fundulus heteroclitus:  A phylogenetic perspective.  Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Charlotte, NC  November, 1998.

Powell, W. H., H. G. Morrison, E. J. Weil, S. I. Karchner, M. L. Sogin, M. E. Hahn, J. J. Stegeman.  Cloning of cDNA and promoter sequences of Cytochrome P4501A from killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus).  Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Charlotte, NC  November, 1998.

Powell, W. H., S. I. Karchner, and M. E. Hahn.  Aryl hydrocarbon signaling components in Fundulus heteroclitus:  A phylogenetic perspective.  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Workshop on Unique Marine/Freshwater Models for Environmental Health Research, Research Triangle Park, NC  April, 1998.

Powell, W., J. C. Lennon, and D. Reines.  Mutations in the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II cause 6-azauracil sensitivity in yeast and in vitro transcriptional defects.  Keystone Symposium on Transcription Mechanisms, Taos, NM  March, 1996.

Powell, W. H. and H. A. Miller III.  Dexamethasone stimulates release of an ANP-like substance from rainbow trout cardiocytes.  American Society of Cell Biology, San Diego, CA  December, 1990.



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