Prof. Dr. Feride Severcan

Professor of Biophysics

Dept. of Biological Sciences

Middle East Technical University

06531 Ankara

Turkey

www.metu.edu.tr

Tel: 90-312-2105166 (office); 90-312-2103103 (secretary)

90-533-5768975 (cellular)

Fax: 90-312-2101289

feride@metu.edu.tr

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (METU)

The Middle East Technical University is devoted to the pursuit and application of knowledge for the social, cultural, economic, scientific and technological development of our society and mankind through achievements in teaching, research and community service that are of highest international standards. The University strives to be a university of the first rank in an international context. To this end, the University seeks to be a dynamic institution aiming at excellence that will attract both the best teaching and research staff and the highest quality students.

METU is one of Turkey's most competitive universities. Each year, among the students taking the National University Entrance Examination, over 1/3 of the 1000 applicants with the highest scores attend METU. Due to the high demand towards METU is so great, most of our departments accept only the top 1% of the approximately 1.5 million applicants taking the National University Entrance Examination. Over 40% of METU's students go on to graduate school.Nearly 19,000 students are registered to METU in an academic year. Approximately 25% of these are enrolled in graduate programs. Each year, between 800 to 1200 students with various academic degrees from nearly 50 different foreign countries attend METU. Undergraduate and graduate students from a number of countries attend METU as "Special Students" or "Exchange Students" for a semester or a year. METU currently has active Student Exchange Programs with several foreign universities.

METU has 37 undergraduate programs within 5 faculties. Additionally, there are 5 Graduate Schools with 78 programs and a "School of Foreign Languages" which includes the English Preparatory Department.

METU strives to maintain a high standard of education by international standards. Several departments in the Engineering Faculty have been evaluated, at METU's request, by the "Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)" and their programs were given approval by this Board. Because of METU's effort to maintain international standards, the "Faculty of Engineering" was awarded in 1977 the "Silver Badge of Honor" by the "UNESCO International Center for Engineering Education" and the "Meritorious Achievement Award in Accreditation Activities" by the "American Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers".
            The campus area is 4500 hectares and the forest area is 3043 hectares, including Lake Eymir, about 20 kilometers from the centrum of Ankara. The lake is available to METU students for rowing, fishing, picnicking and general recreational activities. Bus service is provided from the METU main campus and locations in the city to the lake.

PROPOSAL

Molecular mechanism of system disordes induced by metabolic diseases: Effect of several drugs on the treatment of organ disorders.

Prof. Dr. Feride Severcan (Project Coordinator)

Dept. of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, 06531, Ankara-Turkey

Tel: 90-312-2105166; Fax: 90-312-2101289; E-Mail: feride@metu.edu.tr

Web address of METU: www.metu.edu.tr

Summary:

The effect of diabetes mellitus on the content, structure and function of cell components such as  lipids, proteins and nucleic acids,  in body fluids obtained from normal and diabetic patients and on different organs of diabetic animal models will be investigated at molecular level by Fourier transform infrared ( FTIR) spectroscopy inconjuction with FTIR microscopy and  differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition to this, biochemical blood parameters including antioxidant enzyme levels will be determined. The effects of experimental diabetes on elevated glucose and free radicalson the NO-mediated relaxation of isolated the esophageal smooth muscle (tunica muscularis mucosae), lower esophageal sphincter, ileum and duodenum smooth muscle strips   will be studies using in vitro muscle technique.Effect of genotypes on the development of diabetes will be examined. Electrophysiological studies will also be performed to better understand the effect of diabetes on cardiovascular disorders. Neural networks will be used to improve data analysis in FTIR spectroscopy and to classify FTIR spectra and electrophysiological signals for the diagnosis of diabetes. Furthermore, the effect of several drugs such as different antioxidants on body fluids, erythrocyte membranes in human patients and different organ disorders in radiated and unirradiated animal models will be investigated.

Introduction:

It has been known that diabetic patients have a tendency towards cardiovascular system disorders, including congestive heart insufficiency, hypertension, atherosclerosis, micro- and macro- angiopathy and together with these, various smooth muscle functions have been negatively affected by this disease. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that, there are mortalities due to diabetic cardiomyopathy. Although functional disorders of heart have been determined both clinically and experimentally, the mechanisms behind these pathologies have not been completely understood yet. It is known that, diabetes mellitus leads to the changes in fluidity and molecular dynamics of the membranes of sarcolemma and other organelles, and to the inhibition of several ionic channels, pumps and to the exchange mechanisms, which are present in membranes as well as alterations in cardiac electrophysiology. In recent years, the effect of diabetes on membranes of blood cells, like erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets, have been studied extensively. However, the effects of this disease on the molecular structure and dynamics, and also function of heart and liver tissue homogenates and cell membranes have not been investigated in detail yet. A kind of myopathy in heart of diabetic people and also in animal models is defined which is called diabetic cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, osteoporosis is one of the most important complications of diabetes, especially insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type I). Diabetes mellitus can affect bone formation and resorption by creating several metabolic irregularities in acid-base, calcium-phosphate balances. However, in diabetic bone tissues; the changes in the concentration, distribution and type of carbonate and phosphate groups and the effects of these changes on the crystallinity of bone mineral structure have not been reported yet. In most diabetic patients, the motor functioning of the esophagus is impaired. Esophageal dismotility is found in the majority of diabetic patients with periferal or autonomic neuropathy. As in all of the gastrointestinal system, the extrinsic control of the motility of esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is maintained by the sympathetic and the parasymphatetic nervous system; and its intrinsic control is maintained by the enteric nervous system. Intrinsic nervous system plays a major role in the ethiopathogenesis of GIS motility disorders induced by diabetes mellitus.

  Free radicals are generated in biological systems as a result of exposure to a wide variety of external factors including some drugs, pollutants, heavy metals, heat, UV or visible light, and other forms of ionizing radiation. The generation of these reactive species in an uncontrolled fashion causes significant reversible or irreversible damage to a wide range of biological molecules including DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Many of these processes are chain reactions with a single initiating radical species which is propagated to a large number of target molecules. One of their main target is biological membranes by causing lipid peroxidation which ends up with the damage of cells. So there is a considerable interest in the reactions of these species, the damage they induce on membranes and their relationship in the physiology and pathology of a variety of diseases and processes including cancer, arthritis, ageing and heart disease. In combatting the harmful effects of free radical tissue damage, it is vital that antioxidant defense mechanisms are localized at the sites of potential damage and that they are primed to maximum effectiveness. Vitamin E is minor but ubiquitous component present among the lipid constituents of cell membranes and lipoproteins. Vitamin C is a soluble vitamin but both vitamins prevent the oxidation of cellular constituents acting as antioxidants. GSH and GSH-associated enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, GSTs, superoxide dismutase and catalase are the major enzymes which protect the cell against free radical damage. Though the individual protective roles of those systems were known, there was no study in literature emphasizing on the collective roles of those systems.

 Description of the project

In the first part of the present study, diabetes will be induced in rats by intraperitonial application of streptozotosin, which impairs the function of pancreatic beta cells, thereby prevents the secretion of insulin. To investigate diabetic cardiomyopathy under STZ-induced diabetes, different electrophysiological techniques will be used. We will use Langendorrff system for monitoring heart contractile force, heart rate and its derivatives. Intracellular microelectrode technique will measure membrane potential changes and action potential from small heart strips. Ionic channel currents such as Ca, K, will be measured by patch-clamp technique. For Intracellular pH and Ca measurements microflourometric technique will be used. For molecular studies, the soft tissues like liver and heart; and the hard tissues like bone (tibia and femur) will be investigated. For this purpose, FTIR  spectroscopy and FTIR microscopy will be used to obtain detailed information about the effects of diabetes on different biological systems. FTIR spectroscopy is an excellent technique to monitor, simultaneously, the structural, functional and compositional changes in specific functional groups belonging to lipids, proteins, polysaccarides, and nucleic acids in biological systems. FTIR microscopy, which has been extensively used in recent years for imaging, reveals the detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of soft and hard tissues in a short time by using very small amounts of samples. In the present work, FTIR microscopy will provide us to monitor the pathological regions induced by diabetes in different section of the tissues. The results of diabetic tissues and membranes will be compared with the results of nondiabetic ones to understand the effect of diabetes at molecular level. The effect of diabetes on antioxidant enzymes will be determined. All these experiments will be performed for normal and irradiated diabetic samples.

In the content of molecular studies, population genetic studies will also be performed: Glyoxylase I (Glo I), which catalyses the conversion of methylglyoxal to S-D lactoyl glutathione is a dimeric enzyme having two alleles. A human can be in one of the three possible genotypes (GloI 11, GloI 12, GloI 22) with respect to Glo I locus. It has been shown that GloI 22 genotype has a significantly higher frequency in insulin independent   (type II) diabetic patients compared to control. In the proposed study association of GloI genotypes with diabetics (type I and II) in Turkish population will be confirmed and the risk of diabetes for GloI  genotypes will be determined. Futhermore, blood and saliva samples of three genotypes in typeI, typeII diabetics and  normal group will be examined comparatively by FTIR spectroscopy. Ease in the induction of diabetes in lab animals, their GloI based genotypes and their FTIR spectra will also be studied. The study will give information about the mechanism of diabetes.

The effects of experimental diabetes on the nicotine–induced relaxation of the esophageal smooth muscle (tunica muscularis mucosae), lower esophageal sphincter, ileum and duodenum smooth muscle will be investigated. In addition, the effect of glucose on nicotine-induced relaxant responses will be determined by incubating isolated rat ileum, duodenum, tunica muscularis mucosae and lower esophageal sphincter smooth muscle in control (11 mM) or elevated (44 mM)  glucose for 6 h to mimic euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions. The role of free radicals on the changed responses of gastrointestinal smooth muscles will be examined with free radical scavengers.

Since antioxidants have a protective role in oxidative stress induced diseases, in the second part of the project, the effect of different antioxidants as drugs on the treatment of the damages induced by diabetes mellitus will be investigated.

Neural networks will be used to improve data analysis in FTIR spectroscopy and to classify FTIR spectra and electrophysiological signals for the diagnosis of diabetes.

Group Members

Prof. Dr. Feride Severcan: METU- Biophysical Studies

Prof. Dr. İnci Togan: METU- Population Genetic and Statisctical Studies

Prof. Dr. Tülin Güray: METU-Biochemical Studies

Prof.Dr.Mete Severcan: METU-Bioinformatics

Prof.Dr. Belma Turan: Ankara University-Electrophysiological Studies

Prof.Dr. Faruk Zorlu: Hacettepe University-Radiation Oncology

Prof.Dr. Sevgi Bayari: Hacettepe University-Biophysical Studies

Prof. Dr. Nadide Kazancı: Ege University-Biophysical Studies

Assist. Prof. Senay Baysal: Ege University-Biochemical Studies

Prof. Dr. Tijen Utkan: Kocaeli University-Pharmacalogical Studies

Assist. Prof. Kıvanc Ergen: Kocaeli University-Biophysical Studies

Assist Prof: Firuzan Yıldız: Kocaeli University-Pharmacological Studies

Dr. Kübra Paskaloğlu-Marmara University-Pharmacological Studies

Handan Boyar (M.Sc.)- METU- Biophysical Studies

Neslihan Toyran Al-Otaibi (M.Sc, Research Assistant)-METU-Biophysical Studies

Güvenç Görgülü (M.Sc, Teaching Assistant)-METU-Biochemical and Biophysical Studies

Ayça Doğan (M.Sc-Lecturer)-Kocaeli University-Biophysical Studies

Gülgün Çakmak (M.Sc)-METU-Biophysical Studies

Sevgi Türker(M.Sc-Teaching Assistant)-METU-Biophysical Studies

Evren Koban (M.Sc-Research Assistant)- METU- Population Genetic Studies

And several B.S and M.S students

SHORT CV s of  GROUP MEMBERS

Feride SEVERCAN (Prof. Dr,) : Gender: Female, Dept.of Biological Sciences, METU. E-mail: feride@metu.edu.tr.  B.S. in Ankara University, Turkey, M.S. in Rochester Univ., U.S.A.; Ph.D. in Hacettepe Univ., Ankara, Turkey. Post Doctoral study in Stanford University and San Francisco State University. Lecturer in San Francisco State University. Research Associate in Perugia University, Italy. Visiting Scientists in U.C. Santa Cruz, USA,  Bath Univ: U.K., De Montford Univ., U.K  BATTELLE, USA. Research Interests: Molecular investigation of normal and pathological tissues using spectroscopic techniques. Protein Structure-function  and stability, drug-lipid  and protein-lipid interactions. Ecotoxicology. . Publications: more than 60 journal articles and over 100 presentations.  Recent Selectes Publications: Cakmak G., Togan I., and Severcan F. “FT-IR spectroscopic analysis of rainbow trout liver exposed to nonylphenol”  Applied Spectroscopy, 2003  (in press); Severcan F. and Haris P., “The main unfolding and aggregation of PCS is preceded by the unfolding of a minor structure at lower temperature” Biopolymers, 2003 inpress,; Toyran N. and Severcan F., “Competitive effect of vitamin D₂ and Ca²⁺ on phospholipid model membranes: An FTIR study” Chemistry and Physics of Lipids , inpress.; Boyar H. and Severcan F., “ FTIR spectroscopic investigation of diabetic rat bone tissues”,  Spectroscopy,  2003 in press; Severcan  et al, “FTIR spectroscopic investigation of rat heart crude membranes”.Spectroscopy, 2003, in press; Severcan et al, “Tamoxifen destabilises model membranes at high concentrations” Bioscience Reports , 20, 177-184, 2000; Toyran N. and Severcan F., “Infrared spectroscopic studies on the dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayer interactions with calcium phosphate: Effect of vitamin D₂”, Spectroscopy, 16, 399-408, 2002.; Kazancı N., Toyran N., Haris I. P., Severcan F., “Vitamin D₂ at high and low concentrations exert opposing effects on molecular order and dynamics of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes”, Spectroscopy, 15, 47-55, 2001. Severcan  M., Severcan^, F. and Haris I.P, “Estimation of protein secondary structure from FTIR spectra usıng neural networks”, J. Molecular Structure,  565-566, 383-387, 2001. Severcan F., Kazancı, N., and Zorlu, F., “Tamoxifen destabilises model membranes at high concentrations” Bioscience Reports , 20, 177-184, 2000.; Turan B., Bayarı S., Balçık C., Severcan F. and Akkaş N, “A biomechanical and spectroscopic study of bone from rats with selenium deficiency and toxicity”, Biometals,  2000, 13, 113-121.; Severcan F., Toyran N., Kaptan N., and Turan B., “FTIR study of the effect of diabetes on rat liver and heart tissues in the C-H region", Talanta, 53, 55-59, 2000.

Inci Togan (Prof.Dr): Gender: Female. E-mail: togan@metu.edu.tr.  B.Sc. Physics, METU, Turkey; M.A. Biophysics, The Johns Hopkins University, U.S.A.; Ph.D. Biological Sciences, METU,Turkey. Schoolarships: The Fulbright Scholarship for Res. Award in USA,1997;The Scholarship of ESEP by Royal Society of England ,1988 International Projects: “Concerted Action in Trout” EUproject (1998-2000). British Council, Cardiff-ODTÜ joint project on genetic diversity of sheep, (2000-). ECONOGENE, EU project (2001-). Research Interests: Population genetics of human, domestic sheep, trout, dogs; Biostatistics; Ecotoxicology. Recent Publ.: Rainbow trout livers exposed to nonylphenol display extensive structural and compositional changes on infrared spectroscopy App. Spectro. in pr.; Turkish population data on the CTTV STR loci J. For. Sci.,in pr.; Alkylphenol concentrations in two rivers of Turkey Env. Tox. and Phar.,in pr.;Developmental genetics and physiology of sex differentiation in vertebrates (review) Env.  Tox., in pr.; DNA diversity and population admixture in Anatolia Am. J. of Phy. Anth.115: 144-, 2001.

Mete SEVERCAN (Prof. Dr) : Gender: Male. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, METU. E-mail: severcan@metu.edu.tr. B.S. in Electrical Engineering, METU, Turkey; M.S. in Electrical Engineering, METU Turkey; Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, USA. Research Associate in Stanford University, USA, Associate Professor in UC Berkeley, USA and San Francisco State University, Research Associate in Perugia University, Italy. Visiting Professor in BATTELLE, USA Schoolarships: NATO, Fulbright; ICTP, Italy,  British Councli and Royal Society (U.K); Research Interests: Image Processing, Computer Vision, Telecommunications,Bioinformatics. Recent Projects: 1-“Protein Secondary Structure Determination from FTIR Data” Royal Society Exchange Grant, 2001-2003 2- Consultancy  on Infrared Imaging Systems and Image Processing, ASELSAN, 1996-2001. 3- “Biophysical Studies of Protein Structure, Function and Stability (Protein secondary structure prediction using neural networks)” British Council Academic Link Project, 1997-2000.. Recent Publ.: M. Severcan, F. Severcan, P. Haris, “Estimation of protein secondary structure from FTIR spectra using neural networks”, Journal of Molecular Structure, Vol. 565-566, pp383-387, May 2001.

Tülin Güray (Prof. Dr) : Gender: Female.  Dept.of Biology, METU. E-mail: guray@metu.edu.tr Research Interests: Purification, characterization and kinetics of enzymes, free radicals, antioxidants and polymorphism. Recent Projects: 1- The investigation of the relationship between the reactions of N-Acetylation and human breast. 2- The study of relationship between N-Acetyltransferase and glutation S-transferase teta polymorphism with breast cancer.. Selected  Publ.: T.Güray and T.Güvenç:”Characterization of sheep liver N-acetyltransferase”. Biochem. Arch.,13, 107-111 , 1997. .T.Güray and T.Güvenç:”Sheep tissue acetyl coenzyme A-dependent arylamine N-acetyltransferases.”Comp.Biochem. and Physiol., Vol.118C,No3,305-310, 1997.; F.Severcan, Z.Yazıcı and T.Güray:”Interaction of vitamin E-acetate with human erythrocyte membranes." Chem Phys Lipids, vol.101 (Editors F.Paltauf and H.H.O. Schmid) Elsevier Publishing, Amesterdam. pp.176-177, 1999. Y.S. Geylan, S.Dizbay (Sak) and  T.Güray. “Arylamine N-acetyltransferase activities in human breast cancer tissues"” Neoplasma, 48, No. 2, p.108-111, 2001.

Belma Turan (Prof.Dr): Gender: Female. Dept. Biophysics, School of Medicine, Ankara Univ. E-Mail: belma.turan@medicine.ankara.edu.tr Research interest: Effect of antioxidants on the electophysiology of experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy: Potential use of antioxidants on oxidant stress induced dysfunction of heart in diabetes. Research Experience: 1- Cardiac electrophysiology: Pathch-clamp, intracellular Ca²⁺ signalling, Ca²⁺- and K⁺- ionic channels, 2- Diabetes- and Oxidant- induced alterations in heart function: Electrophysiological    investigations. 3- Antioxidant effect on altered heart functions. Publications: More than 50 journal articles and over 100 presentations. Selected publications: Ayaz M., et al. Protective effect of selenium treatment on diabetes-induced myocardial structural alterations. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 2002; 89(3): 215-226. Sayar K., et al. Effect of dietary selenium intake on -adrenergic response of L-type Ca-current and -adrenoceptor-adenylate cyclase coupling in rat heart. J. Nutrition, 2000, 130; 733-740.  

Faruk Zorlu (Prof. Dr): Gender: Male. Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Medical School. Hacettepe University,Ankara. Turkey. E-mail: farukzorlu@hotmail.com. M.D. Ankara Univ, Turkey; Ph.D. Hacettepe University. Research Interests: Radiation Oncology; Selected Publication: Malignancy in Behçet’s Disease: Report of thirteen cases and a review of the literature, Clinical Rheumatology, 11: 875-880, 2001; Tamoxifen destabilises model membranes at high concentrations, Bioscience Reports , 20, 177-184, 2000;Accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy for supratentorial malignant gliomas, Radiotherapy and Oncology 56, 233-238, 2000;Radiotherapy in the management of pituitory adenomas, Radiotherapy and Oncology, 52: 233-237, 1999; Basal cell carcinoma developing in a case of medulloblastoma associated with Gorlin’s Syndrome, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 5(2): 187-191, 1998; Radiotherapy in the management of agressive fibromatosis, The British Journal of Radiology, 62: 854-856, 1989.

Tijen UTKAN (Prof. Dr): Gender: Female, Address: Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Department of Pharmacology, Sopali, 41900 Derince-Kocaeli/TURKEY, Tel: +90 262 233 59 80 / 1187; Fax: +90 262 233 54 87; E-mail: tijenutkan@hotmail.com Research Interest: Diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal pharmacology, impotence. Recent Publications: 1- Utkan et al. Blood pressure and vascular reactivity to endothelin-1, phenylephrine, serotonin, KCl and  acetylcholine following chronic alcohol consumption in vitro. Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology, 15: 157-165, 2001. 2- Utkan et al., Chronic ethanol consumption impairs  adrenoceptor-and purinoceptor-mediated relaxations of isolated rat detrusor smooth muscle. British Journal of International, 88: 278-283, 2001.3- Utkan. et al., Effects of the spesific phosphodiesterase inhibitors
on alloxan induced diabetic rabbit cavernous tissue in vitro. Int J Impot Res.2001,13(1):24-30.
4. Utkan  Et al. Impaired conraction  and relaxation in the aorta of streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Pharmacology. 1998, 56(4):207-215

H. Kübra Paskaloglu (Dr.) Gender: female Marmara University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology Haydarpasa, ISTANBUL, TURKEY, Mobile Phone : 0532 364 31 83; E-mail: kpaskaloglu@ixir.com B.S.: M.Ü. Faculty of Pharmacy; M. Sc.and Ph.D degree, M.Ü. Health Sciences Enstitute, Dept. Of Pharmacology, Ph.D., M.Ü.  Health Sciences Enstitute, Dept. Of Pharmacology. Ph.D thesis titled: Investigation of the effects of melatonin treatment on streptozotocin induced diabetic rat smooth muscles

and cavernous tissues in vitro" Research Interest: Farmakokinetics, Diabetes Mellitus and treatment,Gastrointestinal diseases. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION: 1. Protective Effect of Famotidine, Omeprazole and Melatonin Against Acetylsalicylic Acid-Induced Gastric Damage in Rats, Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 46(2): 318-330,2001. 2. Melatonin Protects Against Gentamicin-induced Nephrotoxicity In Rats, Journal of Pineal Research, 32:231-236,2002. 3. The Effects of Melatonin on Ischemia-Reperfusion Induced Changes In Rat Corpus Cavernosum. The Journal of Urology,167:2624-2627,2002. 4. Comparison of the Protective Effects of Lansoprazole and Omeprazole Against AcetylSalicylic Acid-Induced Gastric Damage In Rats. FABAD Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 27:77-84,2002. 

Füruzan YILDIZ (Assist.Prof.) Gender: Female   Kocaeli University Medical Faculty Department of Pharmacology, Sopali, 41900 Derince-Kocaeli/TURKEY, mail: firuzanyildiz@superonline.com B.S., M.S. PhD in Pharmacology Hacettepe University Faculty of Pharmacy; Research Interest: Diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal pharmacology, Publications: 1- Impaired esophageal reactivity in adriamycin-inducedratesophageal atresia: An in vitro study. Journal of Pediatric Surgery,36(10)October: 1569-1573, 2001.2- Blood pressure and vascular reactivity to endothelin-1, phenylephrine, serotonin, KCl and acetylcholine following chronic alcohol consumption in vitro.Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology, 15: 157-165, 2001.3- Chronic ethanol consumption impairs adrenoceptor-and purinoceptor-mediated relaxations of isolated rat detrusor smooth muscle. British Journal of International, 88: 278-283, 2001.  

Nadide Kazancı (Prof. Dr.):  Gender: Female. Dept. of Physics, Ege University, Izmir. Turkey. E-mail: kazanci@sci.ege.edu.tr. B.Sc. Physics, Ege Univ, Turkey; M.S. Physics, Ege Univ, Turkey; Ph.D. Physics, Ege Univ, Turkey; Research Interests: Biophysical studies of biological membranes and tissues. Selected Publications: Vitamin D₂ at high and low concentrations exert opposing effects on molecular order and dynamics of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes, Spectroscopy, 15: 47-55, 2001; Tamoxifen increases membrane fluidity at high concentrations, Bioscience Reports, 20 (3): 177-184, 2000; Some peculiarities of nematic-isotropic liquid phase transitions in monomorphic and ploymorphic mesogens,  Material Research Bull. 1892: 1-15, 2002 .

Şenay Hamarat Baysal (Assistant Prof): Gender: Female. Department of Biochemistry. Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.  B.Sc. Chemistry-Biochemistry, Ege Univ, Turkey; M.S. Chemistry-Biochemistry, Ege Univ., Turkey; Ph.D. Biochemistry, Ege Univ.,Turkey. Research Interests: Biochemistry of Enzymes; Antioxidant enzymes. Selected Publication: In vitro study of urease/AlaDH enzyme system encapsulated ınto human Erytrocytes and research into its medical applications, Artif Cells Blood Subst. Imm. Biotech, 30:3, 2002; Encapsulation of PEG-urease/PEG-AlaDH Enzyme systems in erythrocytes, Artif Cells Blood Subst. Imm. Biotech, 28:3, 2001; Immobilization of urease on activated PEG, Artif Cells Blood Subst. Imm. Biotech, 24, 3: 273-278, 1996.

Sevgi Bayarı (Prof.Dr.) Gender: Female. Addres: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Education. Dept. of Physics. 06532, Beytepe, Ankara.E-Mail:Bayari@hacettepe.edu.tr: Research Interest: application of FTIR spectroscopy to biological tissues. Computer simulation of small molecules. Selected publications:İde, S. Topaclı, A. and Bayarı,. S 1996  The Crystal and Molecular Structure of an Antidepressant Drug (Isocarboxazid) , Crystal Res. Technol. 31(2) , p.187-195;  Severcan F.and Bayarı S.and Karahan, D. 1999 FTIR and turbitity study of fish oil-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine model membrane interactions, J.Mol.Struct. 480-481, 413-416Turan, B., Bayarı,S. Balcık,C. Severcan,F. and Akkas, N.  2000, A biomechenical and spectroscopic study of bone from rats with selenium deficieny and toxicity, Biometals, 13(2), 113-121Bayarı S,  Ataç A. and  Yurdakul Ş. (2003), Coordination behaviour of nicotinamide: an  infrared spectroscopic study, J.Molecular Structure (accepted)

Kıvanc Ergen (Assist. Prof.). Gender: Male. Kocaeli University Medical Faculty,Biophysics DepartmentSopali, 41900 Derince-Kocaeli/TURKEY,Tel.: +90 262 233 59 80-1700; Fax: +90 262 233 54 61 E-Mail: akergen@superonline.com

Medical Doctor-1992, PhD in Biophysics-1999, Research Interest ( Medical Biophysics, Protein Synthesis Thesis Title: Stuructural Studies on Active Sites of Elongation factor

Neslihan Toyran Al-Otaibi: Gender: Female, E-mail: toyran@metu.edu.tr Education: B.Sc. (1997) and M.Sc. (1997-99) Dept. of Biology, Middle East Technical University Ankara, Turkey Ph.D. Student since 1999 in Faculty of Science, Dept. of Biology, Middle East Technical University Ankara, Turkey. (Expected date of graduation: May 2003). Title: Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopic investigation of different pathological systems (Diabetes mellitus and hypoperfusion) with various treatment methods. Academic Work and Experience: Visiting researcher in Biophysical Structural Analysis Laboratory, at Robert-Koch Institute, Berlin-Germany for a period of 6 months with a scholarship from TÜBİTAK.  RecentPublications: 1- Toyran, N. and Severcan F., “Competitive Effect of Vitamin D₂ and Ca²⁺ on Phospholipid Model Membranes: An FTIR Study”, 2002, In press in Chemistry and Physics of Lipids. 2- Toyran N. and Severcan F., “Infrared spectroscopic studies on the dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayer interactions with calcium phosphate: Effect of vitamin D₂”, Spectroscopy, 16, 399-408, 2002., 3. Kazancı N., Toyran N., Haris I. P., Severcan F., “Vitamin D₂ at high and low concentrations exert opposing effects on molecular order and dynamics of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes”, Spectroscopy, 15, 47-55, 2001, 4. Severcan, F., Toyran, N., Kaptan, N. and Turan, B., Fourier Transform “Infrared Study of the Effect of Diabetes on Rat Heart and Liver Tissues”, Talanta, 53: 55-59 (2000).

Handan BOYAR: Gender: Female,  Address: METU, Dept. of Biology İnönü Bulv. 06531 Ankara /Turkey.  E-mail: boyarh@yahoo.com Education: B.Sc. (1992) Middle East Technical University, Department of Biology, Ankara, Turkey. M.Sc. (1995) Middle East Technical University, Department of Biology, Ankara, Turkey  Title of the Thesis: “Interaction of estrogen and tamoxifen with phosholipid membranes: An FTIR study” Ph D.: October 1998- Expected  date of graduation: June 2003. Middle East Techn. Univ., Dept. of Biology, Ankara “Biophysical investigation of the effects of antioxidants on normal and diabetic rat bone tissues at molecular level.” Recent Publications  1- Boyar,H. Turan,B  Severcan, F. “FTIR spectroscopic investigation of mineral structure in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat femur and tibia, Spectroscopy, 2003, in press. 2- Boyar, H., Severcan, F. “ Tamoxifen-Model Memmbrane Interactions: an FTIR Study” Journal of Molecular Structure, 1997, 408/409: 265-268. 3- Boyar, H., Severcan, F. ˝Oestrogen-Phosholipid Membrane Interactions: An FTIR Study˝ Journal of Molecular Structure, 1997, 408/409, 269-272.

Gülgün ÇAKMAK, Gender: Female, Address: Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 06531, Ankara, TURKEY. e-mail: gulguncakmak@yahoo.com Education: B.S. : 1997, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Departmet of Biology, Anakara, Turkey. M.S. : June 2001, Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology. Title of the Thesis: “ Spectroscopic Analysis of the Livers in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Exposed to Nonylphenol”  Recent Publications: 1) Çakmak, G., Uğuz, C., Togan, İ. and Severcan, F. “FT-IR Spectroscopic Analysis of  Rainbow Trout Liver Exposed to Nonylphenol” Applied Spectroscopy, 2003, in press. 2)Çakmak, G., Uğuz, C., Togan, İ. and Severcan, F. “FT-IR Spectroscopic Analysis of the Livers in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Exposed to Nonylphenol” XIII^th National Biophysics Congress,   5-7 September 2001, Eskişehir, Turkey. (Oral Presentation)

Sevgi TÜRKER, Gender: Female,  E-mail: sturker@metu.edu.tr Address: Middle East Technical University, Department of Biology, 06531, Ankara, TURKEY. Education: B.Sc. (1998) Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University,  Turkey;  MSc. (1999-2002) Biophysics, METU, Turkey; Ph.D. Student since 2002 in Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, METU, Ankara, Turkey. (Expected date of graduation: 2006). Publications : (2002) Poster Presentation in International Congress of Biophysics, Research Subject: Applications of FT-IR Spectroscopy on Different Biological Systems.

Güvenç GÖRGÜLÜ: Gender: Male B.Sc. (1994) Faculty of Education, Marmara University,  Turkey; MSc. (1995-1997) Biochemistry Süleyman Demirel Uni., Turkey; Ph.D Student since 1998 in Department of Biochemistry METU, Türkiye, (Expected date of graduation: September 2003). Title: The Effects of Antioxidants on the Structure and Function of Some Rat Tissues and Membranes. Research Interests: Antioxidants, diabetes Academic Work and Experience: (1997)  Participation Enzymology Summer School, Türkiye; (2002) Participation  Proteomics Summer School, Turkey. Publications: (1997) Poster Presentation in the 1^st Congress Of Free Radicals & Antioxidants, Turkey; (1997) Poster Presentation in Gevher Nesibe Medical Days; (2002) Poster Presentation in International Congress of Biophysics Microsomal Lipid Peroxidation.

Ayca Dogan: Gender: Female,  E-mail: aycci@yahoo.com Adress: Kocaeli University Hereke Omer Ismet Uzunyol MYO Marshall Campus, Kocaeli, TURKEY. I. Education: : B.Sc. (1996) Department of Biology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey; M.Sc. (1998-2001) Department of Biotechnology, METU Ankara, Turkey. Academic Work and Experience: Instructor since 2002 in Kocaeli University University Hereke Omer Ismet Uzunyol MYO Marshall Campus, Kocaeli, Turkey. Internship on MonoclonalAntibodies and Elisa techniques in the  Department of Biotechnology of Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (1996). Project on Chromosome Bands in Gazi University (1995). Publications:  1- A.Dogan ,“The Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Hazelnut Tissue at Molecular Level Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy”, MS. Thesis 2001

Evren KOBAN, Gender: Female -mail: evrenkoban@yahoo.com Adress: Middle East Technical University, Department of Biology, 06531, Ankara, TURKEY.                 Education: Ph.D. Student since 2001 in Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Middle East Technical University Ankara, Turkey. Research Int.: Population genetics, biodiversity and conservation. Projects participated: VHAG 1396 (on brown trout), TOGTAG/TARP-1811 (on rainbow trout),  VHAG-1553 and TBAG-2127 (both on sheep) which are all supported by the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council; British Council, Cardiff-ODTÜ joint project on genetic diversity of sheep, (2000-); ECONOGENE, EU project (2001-). Experience: Research scholar in Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) in 2000, UC Davis, California, USA to study population genetics and diversity in Turkish sheep dogs. Visiting scholar (from the British Council Turkey) in School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK to study population genetics and biodiversity of Anatolian sheep.