Kathy Matera
Professor of Chemistry
Department: Chemistry
Email: kmatera@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6226
News & Notes
Education
1988 Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of California at Davis.
1984 Bachelor of Arts (Honors), Chemistry with Biology minor, Pitzer College (Claremont Colleges).
Employment History
2015 Visiting Scientist, Department of Chemistry, UNC-Chapel Hill
2007-present Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Elon University
2002–2007 Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry, Baldwin-Wallace College
2003 Visiting Scientist, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dundee, Scotland.
1997–2002 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea OH.
1995–1996 Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH.
1994-1995 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
1990-1994 Senior Research Scientist, SymBiotech, Inc., Wallingford, CT.
1988-1990 Research Chemist, Chevron Research and Technology Company, Richmond, CA.
Courses Taught
CHM 111/112 General Chemistry I and II
CHM 211/212 Organic Chemistry I and II
CHM 351/353 Biochemistry I and II
CHM 473 Medicinal Chemistry
CHM 495 Biochemistry Seminar
Upper level core course: Science in the Media
Research
Current Projects
1. The interaction of oxidized hormones with DNA in the presence of peroxidase enzymes
2. The oxidative effect of amyloid beta oligomers on lipids and proteins
3. Stabilization of small peptide oligomers with small phenolic molecules and neurotransmitters.
Grants Awarded
(External grants only listed)
2012 National Science Foundation
Acquisition of Fluorescent Detection Equipment for Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Use at Elon UniversityContributor to Grant - Major User and co-P.I. (with Dr. Victoria Moore), $50,000
2009 North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Acquisition of DNA Sequencer and Real Time PCR, contributor to Grant (P.I. Dr. Antonio Izzo), $84,000
Publications
(Only articles from Elon listed; *denotes undergraduate researcher)
*Allnutt, M.A., Mansfield Matera, K. Stabilization and reduced cytotoxicity of amyloid beta aggregates in the presence of catechol neurotransmitters. Neurochemical Research, 2024, 49, 379-387.
*Fisher, A.F., Mansfield Matera, K. Stabilization of alpha-synuclein oligomers in vitro by the neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine: The effect of oxidized catecholamines. Neurochemical Research. 2015, 40, 1341-1349.
Mansfield Matera, K. Isolation, Characterization and Utilization of Horseradish Peroxidase: A Multiweek Undergraduate Biochemistry Laboratory, The Chemical Educator, 2014, 19, 171-174.
*Peckels, C.M., *Alexander, N.S., *Wilson, G.N., Karty, J.M., Mansfield Matera, K. Trisubstituted phenolic compounds as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and amyloid beta aggregate formation. Current Enzyme Inhibition, 2013, 9, 67-74.
*Clark, A.L., Matera, K.M., Effect of unsaturation in fatty acids on the binding and oxidation by myeloperoxidase: Ramifications for the initiation of atherosclerosis. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010, 20, 5643–5648.
*Wilson, G.N., Mickley, G.A., and Matera, K.M. The efficacy of ellagic acid in attenuating neurophysiological and cognitive-behavioral symptoms associated with infusion of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide fragments in adult rats. Journal of Research and Creative Studies, 2010, 3, 15-30. Available: http://www.bw.edu/resources/dean/fscs/jrcs/JRCS_Vol_3_Issue_1.pdf
Presentations
(Only presentations from past 5 years given; *denotes undergraduate presenter; university presentations from Spring Undergraduate Research Forum events not listed)
National and Regional Meeting Presentations
* Liebig, Megan, Mansfield Matera K. Exploring the Moieties of VER-155008: Targeting Hsp70 Inhibition for Breast Cancer Therapy. Accepted for presentation at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Long Beach, CA, April 2024.
* Conover, Katherine, Mansfield Matera K. Amyloid Beta (1-42) Aggregates in the Presence of Insulin. Accepted for presentation at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Long Beach, CA, April 2024.
*Land, S., Mansfield Matera, K. Structural Effects on Aromatase Inhibition for the Treatment of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer. Accepted for presentation at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Durham, NC, October 2023, Abstract 119.
*Lahetta, A., Mansfield Matera, K. Investigating transthyretin aggregates link to oxidative damage of HDL cholesterol carriers. Accepted for presentation at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 2022, Abstract 868.
*Powell, C. Mansfield Matera, K. Mechanisms of Fatty Acid Oxidation by Myeloperoxidase. Accepted for presentation at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 2022, Abstract 524.
*Jackowski, S., Mansfield Matera, K. Products of peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of estrogens. Accepted for presentation at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 2022, Abstract 584
*Powell, C., Mansfield Matera, K. Mechanisms of Linoleic Acid Oxidation by Myeloperoxidase Presented at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Birmingham, AL. November 2021, Abstract 1219.
*Denish, M., Mansfield Matera, K., Train, T. Modeling and Investigating the Molecular Basis of Tay-Sachs Disease. Presented at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Birmingham, AL. November 2021, Abstract 884.
*Kile, S., Mansfield Matera, K. Effect of the Myeloperoxidase Enzyme on Protein Tissue Oxidation and Its Possible Implications in the Pathology of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Presented at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Virtual Conference, April 2021.
*Chapman, E., Mansfield Matera, K. Stabilization of amyloid-beta oligomers using serotonin, indole, and catechol. Accepted for presentation at National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Virtual Conference, April 2020.
*Brown, S., Mansfield Matera, K. Aggregation patterns of insulin and amyloid-beta peptides. Presented (oral) at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Savannah, GA. October 2019, Abstract 304.
*Chapman, E., Mansfield Matera, K. Stabilization of Aβ oligomers using serotonin, indole, and catechol and their effects on DNA. Presented at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Savannah, GA. October 2019, Abstract 1002.
*Post, J., Mansfield Matera, K. Investigating the oxidative mechanism leading to atherosclerotic lesions. Presented at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Savannah, GA. October 2019, Abstract 441.
*Gilmore, B., Mansfield Matera, K. Effects of cholesterol on amyloid beta aggregation in Alzheimer's disease. Presented (oral) at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Savannah, GA. October 2019, Abstract 108.
Professional Activities
American Chemical Society (ACS): Biological and Organic Chemistry divisions
Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR)
Iota Sigma Pi: Honorary Society for Women Chemists
Sigma Xi Fellow
Personal Information
Awards
(Only awards from Elon University listed)
2022 Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Elon University
2017 J.E. Rawls Professor for Undergraduate Research in Science
2013 College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty Teaching Award, Elon University
2011 Dr. Gerald L. Francis Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year
2009 A.L. Hook Emerging Scholar in Science and Mathematics