Katrina Miranda

Degrees and Appointments 

• B.S. Chemistry, 1989, Northern Arizona University
• Ph.D. Chemistry, 1996, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Postdoctoral Fellow, 1996-1998, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
• Cancer Research Fellow, 1998-2002, National Cancer Institute, NIH

Specialties: Bioanalytical, Bioinorganic, Chemical Biology, Metabolism, Signaling, and Regulation, Protein and Membrane Biochemistry, Spectroscopy/Molecular Structure, Synthesis/Synthetic Methods Development

Research Description

Cell survival, development, replication, repair and adaptation depend on the ability to sense and respond to acute and chronic environmental changes. One mechanism by which cells detect, communicate and adjust to changing conditions involves chemical modifications to proteins, DNA and lipids. A subset of these modifications is mediated by small, redox active molecules, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced by reduction of molecular oxygen, and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which typically originate from and are more oxidized than nitric oxide (NO). Redox signaling is a major component of intracellular communication, immune response and wound healing but can also contribute to chemical stress and cell death when dysregulated.