BSCB - Biophysical, Structural and Computational Biology

• Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Tel: (409) 772-0754
• Fax: (409) 772-4751
• dwbolen@utmb.edu
• Route: 1052 5.154 MRB
• Dr. Bolen's Publications
• Bolen Lab's Webpage

D. Wayne Bolen, Ph.D.

About the Lab

The research in my laboratory involves two closely related areas of protein physical chemistry: (1) the physico-chemical bases of the ability of naturally occurring protecting osmolytes to stabilize proteins, and (2) the thermodynamics of denaturant-induced transitions of proteins.

Interview with Dr. Bolen

– by Jason Vertrees, 4th year BSCB Student

In 1993, Dr. Bolen left his chemistry faculty position at an SIU in Illinois and transferred to UTMB. He was excited about starting a great structural biology program at UTMB, in concert with Dr. Jim Lee and others at UTMB. Drs. Bolen and Lee were colleagues from as far back as the '70s.

Dr. Bolen shows fond appreciation for the BSCB program. He attributes the fact that the focus of the biophysical research done in the BSCB program is on the physical sciences applied to biological systems with thermodynamics as a cornerstone as something he admires about the BSCB program. Dr. Bolen also credits the types of students attracted to the program -- those with physical science and mathematical backgrounds -- as continuously invigorating both the faculty and research. This variegated background makes curriculum development a very important aspect of the program. The challenge is to ensure that each student is well grounded to the basics, and is also taught enough biology to identify and develop important biological research problems well suited to their strengths.

Among several scientists mentioned, Bill Jencks is cited as a scientific hero. Dr. Jencks is one of the premier bio-organic researchers of the last century who led the way in applying physical/analytical methods to biochemical problems. Rufus Lumry, a one-of-a-kind chemistry professor, also was a great influence upon Dr. Bolen. He was "...full of ideas. He had so many ideas it was hard for him to contain himself."

"Oh, it's very personal. I do it for myself; I don't do it for other people."
Dr. Bolen-- on what motivates him to do research.

Dr. Bolen takes his research very seriously. His face lit up, and posture changed when he explicated the experience of knowing that you're the first one in the world to know how something works. He's obviously still gets excited at that prospect. Now that he no longer directly works in the laboratory, he gets this enjoyment vicariously through the work of his students. Dr. Bolen's position is to mentor students -- so his perspective has changed. He still gets to see the newly discovered feature of science, but in a "big picture" kind of way: his students typically are the first to see the little picture.

His work in the mid 1990s on covalent bond changes as a driving force in enzyme catalysis is one of Dr. Bolen's most proudest scientific achievements. Another highly respected achievement of his, showed that protecting osmolytes stabilize proteins by means of their effects on the backbon. The data he collected told the story that countered then-current popular belief that osmolytes stabilized proteins by acting on hydrophobic side chains. It was hard though, because people only started to believe the results after there was an overwhelming amount of evidence.

"Perseverence. It's the most underrated quality in a student. This is the quality that makes a difference."
Dr. Bolen-- on what quality is most important in a successful graduate student.

As for Dr. Bolen's favorite scientific discovery of all time, he thought for a minute. He stared at the ceiling, then responded, "I think evolution is a very important discovery; we're still fighting this battle, although all science points in this direction." He also cites the discovery of Calculus, Genetics, Heliocentricity, and few other salient cornerstones in our body of scientific knowledge. Dr. Bolen was unwilling to place one of those discoveries over another; they all appear to him to be crucial to the foundation of science.

In the next few years, Dr. Bolen would like to understand how nature uses osmolytes for cell function. "It's a much tougher problem than understanding how they affect protein stability." Most people don't understand that weak interactions with huge numbers of sites can be very important in biology -- osmolytes have binding constants around 1.0, some 10⁶ less affinity than micromolar binding!

Without hesitation, he shows respect for the hard working, persistent students over those ready to give up when their research becomes difficult. To him, persistence is nearly always the key factor in solving difficult problems. There is no doubt that he most appreciates consisten hard work.

Dr. Bolen's advice, to those undergraduate students interested in joining the program are: choose a mentor interested in all aspects of your career. The mentor, if chosen well, will do his/her best to help you achieve your goals, and prepare you for a lasting career.