Dan Smith

Education

• B.S., Elizabethtown College, 1986
• M.S., Bucknell University, 1988
• Ph.D., Iowa State University, 1992

Memberships & Associations

• American Chemical Society

I currently have two active research projects.

Project 1

The first project being investigated in my laboratory is the sequencing of  DNA from domestic pigeons.  The goal of the research is to define genes in domestic pigeons that affect their physical appearance (phenotype), specifically their feather color.  Prior work in my laboratory has resulted in the development of protocols for isolating pigeon total DNA, total RNA, and mRNA from pigment producing cells (melanocytes).  These protocols have enabled my research group to sequence DNA coding for a variety of genes known to be associated with color in other organisms.

Photos of pigeon phenotypes

For an excellent primer on pigeon genetics visit Ron Huntley’s page on Rare Color Homing Pigeons

 Project 2

The second project being investigated in my laboratory involves the synthesis of new organometallic reagents with the view toward developing unique catalysts. Past research has shown that osmium porphyrin complexes have some unique abilities to stabilize intermediates and thus facilitate unusual catalytic reactions.  I am attempting to synthesize new osmium porphyrin complexes that contain alkyl, alkylidene and alkylidyne moieties.  These new organometallic molecules will be tested for the potential use as catalysts.

 Osmium porphyrin

Publications

• Kurtz, Stuart; Nguyen, Nhu-Thinh;Smith, Daniel A.; Fondon, John Indiana Academy of Science March 26 2016, ” Pigmentation Genetics of Domestic Pigeons: Pink-Eyed Dilute”.

   

• Smith, Daniel A.; Swartley, Jacob Indiana Academy of Science March 26 2016, ” Domestic Pigeons: The Dilution Series”.

   

• Guernsey, M. W.;  Ritscher,L.;Miller, M. A.; Smith, D. A.; Schoneberg, T.; Shapiro, M. T, (2013) A Val85Met Mutation in Melanocortin-1 Receptor Is Associated with Reductions in Eumelanic Pigmentation and Cell Surface Expression in Domestic Rock Pigeons (Columba livia). PLoS ONE 8(8): e74475. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074475.PLoS ONE 2013 Guernsey

   

• Presentation to the pigeon genetics group at Louisville National Pigeon show. “Color Genetics of Homing Pigeons, MC1R. October 2007.

   

• Hamaker, C. G.; Djukic,J.-P.; Smith, D. A.; Woo, L. K. “Mechanism of Cyclopropanation Reactions Mediated by (5,10,15,20-tetra-p-tolylporphyrinato) osmium(II) Complexes.” Organometallics, 2001, 20, 5189-5199.

   

• Sessler, J. L.; Smith, D. A.; Miller, R.; Ross, K; Wright, M.; Hemmi, G. W.; Dow, W. C. “Texaphyrin Metal Complex Mediated Ester Hydrolysis”  US Patent 5559207, Issue date 9/24/1996.

   

• Sessler, J. L.; Burrell, A. K.; Furuta, H.; Hemmi, G. W.; Iverson, B. L.; Král, V.; Magda,   D. J.; Mody, T. D.; Shreder, K.; Smith D.; Weghorn, S. J. “Expanded Porphyrins, Receptors for Cationic Anionic and Neutral Substrates.” Transition Metals in Supramolecular Chemistry, NATO ASI Series; Fabbrizzi, L. and Poggi, A. Eds.; 1994, series C, Vol 448, 391-408; Kluwer, Dorderecht.

   

•  Djukic, J.-P.; Smith, D. A.; Young, V. G.; Woo, L. K. “Properties and Molecular   Structures of  Osmium (II) Porphyrin Carbene Complexes: (5,10,15,20-tetra-p-tolylporphyrinato)osmiumdi-p-tolylmethylidene and (5,10,15,20-tetra-p-tolyl porphyrinato)osmium (trimethylsilyl) methylidene.” Organometallics 1994, 13, 3020-3026.

   

• Iverson, B. L.; Shreder, K; Král, V.; Smith, D. A.; Smith, J.; Sessler, J. L. “Interactions of Expanded Porphyrins with Nucleic Acids.” Pure Appl. Chem. 1994, 66, 845-850.

   

• Smith, D. A.; Reynolds, D. N.; Woo, L. K. “Cyclopropanation Catalyzed by Osmium Porphyrin Complexes.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 2511.

   

• Woo, L. K.; Smith, D. A. “Synthesis of Osmiummeso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrin Carbene Complexes, (TTP)Os=CRR’ (R=H, R^’ = SiMe₃, CO₂Et; R, R’ = p-tolyl) Stereoselective, Catalytic Production of Olefins from Substituted Diazomethanes.”  Organometallics 1992, 11, 2344.

   

• Woo, L. K.; Smith, D. A.; Young, V. G. “Synthesis, Reactivity, and Characterization of   the First Donor-Stabilized Silylene Complexes of Osmium meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrin (TTP)Os=SiR₂-THF (R = Me, Et, iPr) and the Molecular Structure of (TTP)Os=SiR₂– THF.” Organometallics, 1991, 10, 3977.

   

• Kastner, M. E.; Smith, D. A.; Kuzmission, J. N.; Yearick, M. “Structural trans Effects in   some Bis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) Complexes.”  Inorg. Chim. Acta 1989, 158, 185.

   

• Cooper, J. N.; Smith, D. A.; Kastner, M. E. “The Space Group of cis-Bis(ethylenediamine)bisazido cobalt(III) Nitrate: Undergraduate Physical Inorganic Experiment.” J.  Chem. Educ. 1989, 66, 968.