EducationEducation
B.S., Chemistry, Arkansas State University
M.S., Biochemistry, University of Mississippi
Ph.D., Radiation Chemistry, University of Mississippi
Postdoctoral, Florida State University ('72-'73)
Awards
Burlington-Nothern Faculty Achievement Award, 1988
Listed in American Men and Women of Science.
Research Interests
RF absorbing (conductive) polymers and chemiluminescent dosimeters for measuring microwave/acoustic energy deposition in pulsed microwave-irradiated targets.
Development of bioconjugation methods for labeling antibodies with isotopes of bismuth, copper and boron (NIH funded).
Experimenting with low frequency and very low frequency radio waves.
Aerial photography of the seep bogs of Southeastern Oklahoma. Dr. Wright's interest in flying dates to the early 1940's.
Military history (avocation).
Book Published
J.R. Wright, W.A. Hendrickson, S. Osaki and G.T. James, 1986, "Physical Methods for Inorganic Biochemistry", Volume 5 of "Biochemistry of the Elements" (E. Frieden, series Ed.), Plenum Press, New York.
Recent Publications
V.M. Russo, J. Williamson, K. Roberts, J.R. Wright and N. Maness, 1998, '13C-nmr Spectroscopy to Monitor Sugars
in Pith of Internodes of a sh2 Corn at Developmental Stages', HortScience, 33, p980-.
L. Maddox, M. Reeves, K. Wood, K. Roberts, J. Studer, J. Wetzel, T. Smith, K. Whittington, J. L. Alls, J. E. Parker,
E. Holwitt, J. L. Kiel and J. R. Wright, 1998, "Acoustic wave dosimetry based on diazotized luminol solutions",
Microchemical Journal, 58, p209-.
John R. Wright, Johnathan Kiel, Eric Holwitt, Joel T. Smith, Kenny Roberts, Joe Studer, Cassie McLemore, Keri Campbell,
Brenda Russo and Kris Wood, 1998, "Preliminary Characterization of a Polymer Prepared by Diazotization of
3-Amino-L-tyrosine", Polymer Preprints (ACS), 39(1), p365-.
J. L. Kiel, R. L. Seaman, S. P. Mathur, J. E. Parker, J. R. Wright, J. L. Alls, and P. Morales, "Pulsed Microwave
Induced Light, Sound, and Electrical Discharge Enhanced by a Biopolymer", 1999, Bioelectromagnetics, 20, p216-.
B. D. Parent, J. Huddleston, M. Keeler, K. Roberts, Anthony Waldroup, R. Abernathy, W. Cooper and J. R. Wright,
1999, "An easily biotinylated, high molecular weight component of bovine skim milk, which binds the radionuclide
207 Bi", Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci., 79, p1-.
S. Hertzler, R. Brown, M. Wilkett, R. Boyd, M. Ellexson, C. Chambers, C. Plunkett and J. R. Wright, 2000, "A
labeling method and purely colorimetric immunoassay based on poly-DL-lysine and a pigmented copper cluster",
Microchem. J., 64, p21-.
The following are brief outlines of the two biochemistry courses taught by Dr. Wright. Students taking these subjects receive expanded syllabus outlines.
Biochemistry (CHEM 4115), which has a lab
Unit 1 - Addresses the physical concepts of order and disorder, information, functional molecules, removal
of uncertainty; also bioenergetics and non-equilibrium systems, and selective binding as a basis for molecular
machines.
Unit 2 - Focuses on protein primary and space-filling (functionally active) structures, enzymes (both simple and complex and how they may be inhibited), isoenzymes, zymogen activation, muscle proteins, membrane proteins and connective tissue proteins.
Unit 3 - Treats basic metabolic concepts. This unit focuses on a specific group of metabolic pathways: acetogenins, isoprenoids and steroids. The student should become familiar with basic metabolic concepts while learning the descriptive biochemistry of these important compounds. Medically-relevant subjects such as drug structure and activity, control mechanisms, etc. are well-illustrated in this unit.
Unit 4 - Examines the nucleic acids, e.g., how the structural genes coded in DNA are transcribed to m-RNA and ultimately translated to protein. This unit also compares the way genes are coded in eykaryotes, bacteria and viruses.
The labs not only familiarize students with biochemical methods (electrophoresis, centrifuge separations, etc.) but also examine biochemical phenomena.
Metabolism (CHEM/BIOL 4193), without a lab
This course elaborates upon intermediary metabolism, beginning where unit 3 of the first course (CHEM 4115)
ended. Organic chemistry is an absolute prerequisite for this course because the content emphasizes chemical structure
and reaction mechanisms. Medical aspects of intermediary metabolism are included in the course, especially those
cases where medicinal substances interact with enzymes.
Unit 1 - Focuses on how biochemical pathways are determined: e.g., the structural chemistry of precursors, intermediates and products (by 2D-nmr, mass spectroscopy, etc.; the purely chemical methods) and isotopic labeling methods - including trapping experiments - that are used to detect specific intermediates and the order of the biosynthesis.
Unit 2 - Examines carbohydrates and related substances (photosynthesis, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, the pentose phosphate path and the Krebs cycle; also pyruvate dehydrogenase. This unit includes cellulose and glycogen structures and metabolism.
Unit 3 - Begins with lipid biosynthesis and catabolism and functional biomembrane lipids. The biosyntheses of the various amino acids and the porphyrin class of substances are also examined in this unit. A fair amount of comparative biochemistry is involved since some of the biosyntheses are accomplished by the plant kingdom.
Unit 4 - Treats nuceotide biosynthesis, from simple precursors to the ribo- and deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (DNA and RNA polymerase functions are treated in the first course, above). There is also a final portion on selected hormones.
Dr. Wright also teaches an astronomy course (general education):
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Last modified: October 28, 2002
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