Claire Payne, Ph.D.

Research Professor, Cell Biology and Anatomy
Investigator, Center for Toxicology
Research Professor, Arizona Research Lab

Cell Biology and Anatomy

AHSC 6131
P.O. Box 245044
Tucson AZ 85724-5044
Phone: 626-2870
E-mail: cpayne@u.arizona.edu

EDUCATION:

State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNY), 1971 (Ph.D.)

HONORS/AWARDS:

Twelve invited speaker engagements at the state and national levels.
Invited speaker at international symposium on neurons and paraneurons, Niigata, Japan, 1988.

84 referred scientific publications, one book chapter, 3 national conference proceedings and two feature articles.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESEARCH INTEREST:

In general, development of in vitro models to study programmed cell death or "cell suicide." Specific research includes:

1. "Mechanisms of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity to Virally-Infected Cells." "Effect of Interferons and Interleukins on Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Damage to the DNA of Virally-Infected Target Cells."
2. "The Role of Ubiguitin in Protein Degradation During Programmed Cell Death in vitro."

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:

Mechanisms of cell death by apoptosis (programmed cell death or cell suicide), using two systems, an Epstein-Barr virus-infected cell line that is killed by human natural killer cells and lethally irradiated lymphocytes; the role of ubiquitin and other degradative proteins, heat shock proteins, inhibitors of DNA synthesis and ADP-ribosylation and hormonal modulation of the kinetics of apoptosis; mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer cells.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH RESEARCH:

Hands-on experience with the tools of molecular biology and cell biology. Students can study DNA damage using gel electrophoresis and examine the morphology of cell death through an electron microscope.

Last updated: 6/26/2007