Research Interests Education Positions Held Professional Experience Courses Students Funding Publications
| RESEARCH
INTERESTS: (Molecular Immunology) In jawed vertebrates, adaptive immune responses are mediated by T and B lymphocytes. Displayed on the surface of these cells are highly diverse receptor proteins, which allow specific recognition of the vast array of antigens that an organism normally encounters. I am interested in lymphocyte development, the molecular events occurring at the DNA level that generate antigen receptor diversity, and their impacts on genomic stability and the development of lymphoid tumors. Ongoing projects in the lab include the following: Role of DNApkcs in V(D)J recombination. V(D)J
recombination
assembles the genes encoding the antigen binding portions of antigen
receptors
during lymphocyte development. This is a DNA cut and paste, mix
and
match process in which individual gene segments are brought together in
different combinations to generate a variety of receptors. This
process
requires a lymphocyte-specific DNA cutting nuclease (consisting of
RAG-1
and RAG-2 proteins), and ubiquitous DNA double strand-break repair
proteins that help to reseal the breaks. One of these ubiquitous
proteins,
the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKCS),
is essential for proper processing of V(D)J recombination intermediates
and subsequent lymphocyte development. By examining the
functional
capabilities of mutant versions of this protein, we hope to gain a
clearer
understanding of how its structural and catalytic roles are integrated
during the recombination reaction. Other research interests involve comparative studies of these events in different organisms and the analysis of constraints on V(D)J recombination in different cell types. We have initiated two new projects: Effects of environmental contaminants on lymphocyte development and activation in developing frogs. We are examining effects of oil processing contaminants on lymphocyte development and activation in animals treated in the laboratory and collected in the field from clean vs. contaminated bayous in Southeast Louisiana. We would like to determine if frogs developing in the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons suffer from lymphocyte immunodeficiencies that can be traced to the interuption of lymphocyte developmental or differentiative processes as measured by altered gene expression, lymphocyte numbers, subsets, or proliferative capacity. This project was initiated in conjunction with the Western Lake Pontchartrain Basin Research Program. Studies of constraints on antigen receptor gene
rearrangement.This
project involves analysis of gene rearrangement status in different
cell types
taken from inducible RAG transgenic mice. Activation of RAG
expression may also be induced in cells ex vivo after treatment with
various
activators
of intracellular signalling pathways in an effort to understand those
that
promote immunoglobulin and T cell receptor variable region gene
accessibility
in certain cell types but not others. These studies relate to
genomic stability and the development of leukemias and lymphomas that
arise during V(D)J recombination. |
| (Other Projects) Collaboration with Dr. John O'Reilly: Studies involve site-directed mutagenesis and structure-function analysis of human sodium channels. This project is funded by an NIH Area Grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and has recently been renewed for 2008-2011. |
*Graduate and Undergraduate Research Opportunities!!!
EDUCATION:1986-1993 Ph.D. Immunology, University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Worcester, MA., Immunology Program, Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.
Dissertation: "Regulation of IgA class switch recombination in the I.29u B cell lymphoma by cytokines and inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase."
1979-1983 A.B. Biology, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME.
2006-present Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA.2000-2006 Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA.1997-2000 Associate Research Scientist Section of Immunobiology,
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.1993-1997 Postdoctoral Fellow, Section of Immunobiology,
Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT.1988-1993 Graduate Research Assistant Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology,
University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Worcester, MA.1983-1986 Laboratory Technician in Histocompatibility Testing Lab
2000-present Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA., Department of Biological Sciences.
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
Analysis of phosphorylation targets of DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit
during V(D)J recombination, constraints on V(D)J recombination in inducible RAG transgenic mice,
lymphocyte development in frogs and potential effects of environmental contaminants, and Na+ channel site-
directed mutagenesis (collaboration with Dr. John O’Reilly).
1997-2000 Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT., Section of Immunobiology.
DNA recombination and repair in the developing immune system: Molecular and biochemical studies of
Lymphocyte receptor variable region gene assembly in vitro. (w/ David G. Schatz, Ph.D).
1993-1997 Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT., Section of Immunobiology.
Development of a system for inducible, tetracycline regulated gene expression in cultured cells and transgenic
mice. Application to studies of DNA recombination in developing lymphocytes. (w/David G. Schatz, Ph.D).
1988-1993 University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Worcester, MA.,
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.
DNA recombination in activated B cells: Studies of regulation of immunoglobulin heavy chain class switch
recombination by cytokines and inhibitors of DNA repair. (w/Janet Stavnezer, Ph.D).
1983-1986 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.,Histocombatibility Testing Lab.
Avoiding immune activation: Tissue matching for organ transplant and clinical immunology research.
Director: Thomas C. Fuller, Ph.D.
1982-1983 Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME., Department of Biology.
Angiogenisis in chick liver development. (w/Glenn K. Sherer, Ph.D).
COURSES TAUGHT:
2000-present Southeastern Louisiana University:
-Cell Biology: (3 credit hrs., Fall and Spring Semesters)
Semester Course,, Sophomore Level.
Text: Albert’s et al., Essential Cell Biology: An Introduction to the Molecular Biology
of the Cell. 2nd edition
-Immunology: (4 credit hrs., Fall Semester)
Semester Course, Upper level undergraduate/graduate lecture with laboratory.
Text: Kuby Immunology, 5th Edition.
-Virology : (4 credit hrs., Spring Semester)
Semester Course, Upper level undergraduate/graduate lecture w/seminar component.
Text: Voyles, The Biology of Viruses, 2nd Edition
-Biology Seminar: (1 credit hr., Fall and Spring Semesters, previously)
A majors course in general and research-focused areas of biology and presentation methods
in biological sciences. Text: Purves et al., Life: the Science of Biology, 6th Ed.
-Professional Aspects of Biology: (1 credit hour, Fall Semester 05)
A majors course involving student attendance at seminars presented by individuals in
various professional fields related to biology.
-General Biology Laboratory I: (1 credit hour).
TA Mentor for Jessica Mayfield (Fall 2004, Spring 2005)
TA Mentor for Jessica Chancey (Fall 2005)
Teaching Honors:: 2005-Received student nomination for and was chosen for Who’s Who Among American Teachers.
STUDENTS:
Student Research Assistants (and subsequent positions):
-Undergraduates:
Carl Gautier, pre-med, OSCAR student, biology major (Spring 2001-Spring 2002)
(LSU Medical School)
Dwayne Delrie, pre-med.student, chemistry major (Summer 2001-Spring 2002)
(Tulane Medical School)
Jason Eleser, OSCAR student, pre-med.student, biology major (Summer 2002-Spring 2003)
(LSU Medical School)
Amy Melancon, biology major, (Spring 2003), assisted Erica Perrer
(Medical Technology Certification Program)
Alicia Manuel, biology major (Fall 2003), assisted Catherine diBenedetto
(SLU Graduate Program in biology)
Daniel King, biology major (Fall 2003, Spring 2004), assisted Charles Nebel
(Private Environmental Testing Lab)
Jessica Sprague (Mayfield), biology major (Spring 2004),
(SLU Graduate Program in biology)
Chadney Glover, biology major (Summer 04), assisted Jessica Mayfield
(SLU Graduate Program in biology)
Jessica Chancey, OSCAR student, biology major (Fall 04, Spring 05)
(SLU Graduate Program in biology)
Elisha Barnes, Pre-med, biology major, assisted Jessica Klopf
(Medical School Applicant)
Margaret Stire, biology major (Fall 05)
Lanna Kuehler, biology major (Spring 06, collaboration w/ Dr. John O’Reilly)
Wendy Boysha, biology major (Spring 06)
Jameka Kemp, biology major (Summer 06, collaboration w/Dr. John O’Reilly)
Charlie Golmon. biology major (Spring 07, Summer 07, Fall 07, Spring 08)
Mindy Guidry, biology major (Fall 2007)
Greg Landry, biology major, (Spring 2008),
(LSU Health Sciences Center at Shrieveport, Graduate Program,
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neuroscience)
-Graduate Students:
Catherine diBenedetto-graduate student in biology (Masters Thesis Defended Jan 2004)
(Research Associate II, MannKind Corporation (Diabetes and Cancer Research,
Drug Discovery Department, Valencia, Ca.)
Charles Nebel, graduate student in biology (Non Thesis Masters Degree, Dec. 2005)
(SLU and Delgato Community College part-time Instructor, Volunteer in Shockett Lab (Spring 2005)
Erica Perrer, graduate student in biology, SLU graduate teaching scholarship recipient
(Non-Thesis Masters Degree, Spring 2005)
(Our Lady of the Lake College, Microbiology Lab Coordinator & Instructor)
(Delgato Community College, Instructor)
Jessica Mayfield, graduate student in biology
(Non-Thesis Masters Degree, Spring 2006)(Instructor, SLU Biology Dept.)
Jessica Klopf, graduate student in biology ((Non-Thesis Masters Degree, Spring 2006)
(Associate Scientist, Reliagene Technologies, Metarie LA.)
(Medical Research Technician, Dept. of Pharmacology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center)
Rebecca Wallace, (Non-Thesis Nasters Degree, Spring 2007)
Volunteered (Fall 2004) and worked in lab for graduate course credit (Spring 2005).
Jessica Chancey, graduate student in biology, SLU Graduate School Fellowship Recipient
(Masters Thesis Defended, April 2008) (Co-advisor, Dr. John O'Reilly)
(University of Alabama at Birmingham, Cellular & Molecular Biology Ph.D. Program)
2008-2011 NIH AREA Grant, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Role of Segment 6 in Heart Na Channel Slow Inactivation,
Competitive Renewal, ($186,895 for three years) (Collaborator with J. O’Reilly)
2007-2008 LEAD Grant, Southeastern Louisiana University, "Proteomics at Southeastern and Beyond", ($15,288).
2007-2008 Faculty Development Grant, Southeastern Louisiana University, "Inducible RAG Transgenic Mice: A Tool for
Analysis of Constraints on V(D)J Rearrangement in Primary Lymphocytes and Nonlymphoid Cells. I. A comparison
of cellular signals that activate V(D)J accessibility and rearrangement in fetal vs. adult nonlymphoid cells.”
(Continuation Request, $1,984 for 1 year)
2007 Southeastern Louisiana University Student Technology Fee Small Project Proposal: "New Sensor Board and Motor for
2006-2007 Faculty Development Grant, Southeastern Louisiana University, Validation of 2D Protein Gel
the Molecular Immunology Laboratory Incubator" ($1,853)
2006 Southeastern Louisiana University Student Technology Fee Small Project Proposal: “Technology-based teaching and
learning in biology.” (J. Bossart, F. Campo, P. Shockett, R. Valverde) ($5,000).
Analysis of DNAPKcs Phosphorylation Targets During V(D)J Recombination. ($980)
2005-2008 NIH AREA Grant, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Role of Segment 6 in Heart Na Channel Slow Inactivation,
($179,092 for three years) (Collaborator with J. O’Reilly)
2005 Southeastern Louisiana University Student Technology Fee Small Project Proposal:"Molecular Biology
Technology for Neurobiology and Immunology Laboratories" (w/J. O'Reilly) ($4,432.40).
2005 Southeastern Louisiana University Student Technology Fee Small Project Proposal: Enhanced Technology for
Neurobiology and Immunology Laboratories (w/J. O’Reilly) ($2,523).
2005 Southeastern Louisiana University Student Technology Fee Surplus Computer Proposal: For For 2 Pentium III
computers with monitors and printers.
2005-2006 Faculty Development Grant, Southeastern Louisiana University, "Inducible RAG Transgenic Mice: A Tool for
Analysis of constraints on V(D)J Rearrangement in Primary Lymphocytes and Nonlymphoid Cells. I. A
comparison of cellular signals that activate V(D)J accessibility and rearrangement in fetal vs. adult
nonlymphoid cells.” (Continuation Request, $1,310 for 1 year)
2004 SLU Student Technology Fee Small Project Proposal, "A white light conversion screen for visualization and
documentation of proteins on polyacrylamide gels using the BioRad ChemiDoc system." ($400)
2004 SLU Student Technology Fee Surplus Computer Proposal: For 2 Pentium III computers with monitors.
2004-2005 Faculty Development Grant, Southeastern Louisiana University, "Inducible RAG Transgenic Mice: A Tool for
Analysis of Constraints on V(D)J Rearrangement in Primary Lymphocytes and Nonlymphoid Cells. I. A
comparison of cellular signals that activate V(D)J accessibility and rearrangement in fetal vs. adult nonlymphoid cells.
($1,800).
2004-2006 EPA Western Lake Pontchartrain Basin Research Program, "Are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Stressors
for Lymphocyte Development or Activation in Frog Populations in Bayou Trepagnier?" ($100,000).
2002 Student Technology Fee Grant, Southeastern Louisiana University, "Biotechnology equipment for the new
Biological Sciences classroom and laboratory building", (w/C. Jackson) ($24,188)
2001 SLU Student Technology Fee Grant, "A Peltier Thermocycler for the Department of Biological Sciences"
(P. Shockett, G.Howard, G. Childers, and C. Jackson) ($4,842).
2001-2004 Louisiana Board of Regents Support Fund Grant, Research Competitiveness Subprogram. "Role of DNA-
dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit in coding end processing during V(D)J recombination"
($92,805 for 3 years)
2001-2002 Faculty Development Grant, Southeastern Louisiana University
"Diversity of receptors in the immune system: Role of the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit."
($1,960 for 1 year).
1995-1998 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Arthritis Foundation ($80,500 for 3 years).
1993-1995 Competitive Postdoctoral Traineeship, NIH Training Grant, Section of Immunobiology,
Yale University School of Medicine
1979-1983 Magna Cum Laude in Biology, Student Advisor to the Biology Department by Faculty Vote,
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME.
Papers:
Chancey J.H., Shockett, P.E., and O'Reilly, J.P. (2007). Relative Resistance to Slow Inactivation of Human Cardiac Na+ Channel hNav1.5 is Reversed by Lysine or Glutamine Substitution at V930 in D2-S6. American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology Pub Med
O’Reilly, J.P. and Shockett, P.E. Conformational Change in Segment 6 of Domain 2 in Human Cardiac Na+ Channel hNav1.5 During Slow Inactivation (2006). Biochem Biophys Res Commun 345:59-66. Pub Med
Shockett, P., Zhou, S., Hong, X. and Schatz, D. (2004). Partial reconstitution of V(D)J rearrangement and lymphocyte development in RAG-deficient mice expressing inducible, tetracycline-regulated RAG transgenes. Molecular Immunology 40: 813-829. Pub MedChen, J., Kelz, M., Zeng, G., Steffan, C., Shockett, P, Terwilliger, G., Schatz, D., and Nestler, E. (2002). Inducible, Reversible Hair Loss in Transgenic Mice. Transgenic Research 11:241-247. Pub Med
Shockett, P. E. and Schatz, D. G. (1999). DNA hairpin opening mediated by the RAG1 and RAG2 proteins. Molecular and Cellular Biology. Vol 19, 4159-4166. Pub Med
Chen, J., Kelz, M., Zeng G., Sakai N., Steffen C., Shockett, P., Picciotto M., Duman, R., and Nestler, E. (1998). Transgenic animals with inducible, targeted gene expression in the brain. Molec. Pharm. 54, 495-503. Pub Med
Shockett, P., Difilippantonio, M., Hellman, N. and Schatz, D. (1995). A modified tetracycline-regulated system provides autoregulatory, inducible gene expression in cultured cells and transgenic mice. PNAS, USA 92, 6522-6526. Pub Med
Shockett, P. and Stavnezer, J. (1993). Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase increase antibody class switching. J. Immunol. 151, 6962-6976. Pub Med
Shockett, P. and Stavnezer, J. (1991). Effect of cytokines on switching to IgA and alpha-germline transcripts in the B lymphoma I.29u: Transforming growth factor-beta activates transcription of the unrearranged C-alpha gene. J. Immunol. 147, 4374-4383. Pub Med
Reviews and Book Chapters:
Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (2005). UNIT 20.8: Inducible Gene Expression Using an Autoregulatory, Tetracycline-Controlled System, in Current Protocols in Cell Biology John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
*Fugmann, S. D., Lee, A. I., Shockett, P. E., Villey, I.J., and Schatz, D.G. (2000). The RAG Proteins and V(D)J Recombination: Complexes, Ends, and Transposition. Annual Review of Immunology, 18: April 2000. Pub Med
*The first four authors are listed in alphabetical order and contributed equally to this work.Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (1998). Inducible expression in mammalian cells using a tetracycline-regulated system. In, Cells: A Laboratory Manual, Volume 1, Section 5, Systems for Protein Expression. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (1997). Inducible gene expression using an autoregulatory, tetracycline-controlled system. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. Unit 16.2.1.
Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (1997). Switching on gene expression. Nature Biotechnology
15, 221-223.Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (1996). Diverse strategies for tetracycline-regulated inducible gene expression. PNAS, USA 93, 5173-5176. Pub Med
Lin, Y. Shockett, P. and Stavnezer, J. (1992). Regulation of transcription of the germline immunoglobulin alpha constant region gene. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 182, 157-165.
Lin, Y. Shockett, P. and Stavnezer, J. (1991). Regulation of the antibody class switch to IgA. Immunol. Res. 10:376-380.
Stavnezer, J., Shockett, P., Lin, Y. Saikh, K. and Xu, M. (1990). The I.29 mouse B cell
lymphoma: Regulation of the antibody class switch. In Cytokines. Basel, Karger, vol 3, 154-169.PRESENTATIONS:
Talks:
Molecular Mechanisms Generating Lymphocyte Antigen Receptors, University of Southern Mississippi, Biology Seminar Series, Oct. 29, 2004
Molecular Mechanisms Generating Lymphocyte Antigen Receptors, Southeastern Louisiana University Biology Seminar Series, Dec 6, 2004
RAG-mediated opening of hairpin coding ends in vitro to generate P regions.
Workshop on V(D)J Recombination. Keystone Symposium on B Lymphocyte Biology and Disease. Taos, New Mexico. February, 1999.Characterization of a tetracycline-regulated system for inducible transgenic mice.
The Dupont Merck Pharmaceutical Co., Experimental Station, Wilmington, Delaware
December, 1995. Robert Horlick, Host.Yearly Departmental Seminars:
1988-1992, Immunology & Virology Group, Univ. of Massachusetts, Grad. School of Biomed. Sci.
1994-1999. Section of Immunobiology, Yale Univ. School of Medicine.
Posters:
Jessica H. Chancey, Penny E. Shockett, and John P. O'Reilly (2007). Lysine substitution at V930 in D2-S6 of hNav1.5 greatly enhances slow inactivation. Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (1999). DNA hairpin opening mediated by the RAG1 and RAG2 proteins. Yale University Section of Immunobiology Retreat. June 1999. (and '98,'97,'96,'95,'94-various titles and authors)
Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (1996). Construction of transgenic mice inducibly expressing the RAG genes. Keystone Symposium on Lymphocyte Activation. Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Shockett, P. and Schatz, D. (1995). Construction of transgenic mice inducibly expressing the RAG genes. Genetic Recombination & Genome Rearrangements. FASEB Summer Conference, Snowmass, Colorado.
Shockett, P. and Stavnezer, J. (1991). Regulation of germline-alpha transcripts and switching in the I.29u B-cell lymphoma. FASEB summer research conference, Saxtons River,Vermont.
Lin, Y., Shockett, P. and Stavnezer, J. (1990). Regulation of Immunoglobulin alpha-germline transcripts prior to heavy chain switch in I.29u cells. New England Immunology Conference, Woods Hole Ma.
Stavnezer, J., Shockett, P. and Severinson, E. (1989). Effect of lymphokines on expression of RNAs transcribed from germline immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region genes in the I.29 B cell lymphoma. 7th International Congress of Immunology, Berlin.
Shockett, P. and Woodland, B. (1988). A unique B cell subpopulation in diabetes-prone BB/W rats, absent in diabetes resistant sublines. J. Cell Biochem. Supp12B.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS and ACTIVITIES:
American Association for the Advancement of Science http://www.AAAS.org/
American Association of Immunologistshttp://www.aai.org/
International Society of Developmental and Comparative Immunology http://www.isdci.org/Reviewer for Journals:
Journal of Immunology http://www.jimmunol.org/
Nature Biotechnology http://www.nature.com/nbt/
Nature Medicine http://www.nature.com/nm/
BiotechnologyGrant Reviewer:
NSF Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement Interdisciplinary Grant Review Panels
(July 2001 & July 2002, Arlington, VA.)
