Education

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1980, (Biochemistry)
  • Ph.D. Thesis: Chemical Investigations of the toxins produced by Marine Dinoflagellates (in the laboratory of H.K. Schnoes)
• A.B., University of California - Berkeley, 1975, (Biochemistry)
  • Undergraduate Thesis: Enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of the iron-binding siderophore rhodotorulic Acid (in the laboratory of J.B. Neilands)
• A.S., Reedley College (Reedley, Calif.), 1973, (Chemistry)

Research Interests

I am a biochemist by training with broad interests in the chemistry and ecology of biologically-active natural products produced by plants, algae and bacteria. This includes algal toxins as well as small peptides called siderophores important in metal homeostasis. Special interests include the biochemistry of iron in forest and aquatic (marine and freshwater) ecosystems, the chemistry / ecology of marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms, brown tides, and rapid detection methods for toxic cyanobacteria and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins. A major theme in my research is to understand the roles these compounds play in determining the interactions among aquatic organisms. Often the tools and techniques to measure these compounds in natural environments simply do not exist, so the development of new methodology (molecular and chemical) is often an important part of this research. My laboratory is very multidisciplinary with molecular biologists, organic chemists and biochemist all working side by side towards a common goal. A more detailed description of these research interests, along with several of our current projects is given below.

(1) Chemistry, Biochemistry and Ecology of Blue Green (Cyanobacterial) Algal toxins

We have a number of projects currently underway on developing new detection techniques for cyanobacterial toxins in freshwater ecosystems. These include using molecular techniques (PCR), HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae) produce a number of different toxins, including the hepatotoxic toxins microcystins and cylindrospermopsin, and the neurotoxins anatoxin-a and the PSP toxin, saxitoxin. In most cases, we do not know the biological function of these toxins. They may serve as antifeedants, metal-binding compounds, growth regulators, or store essential nutrients such as nitrogen. Understanding the biological function of these toxins is a key goal of my laboratory.

(2) Iron, siderophores and heavy metals in forested ecosystems

Quite distinct from our work with toxic algae, we are interested in how plants, bacteria and other microorganisms obtain essential trace metals. In recent years, this has focused on strong iron chelators or siderophores produced under iron-limiting conditions. These compounds, along with their specific uptake receptors, serve to solubilize needed iron and promote its uptake. Mycorrhizal fungi form beneficial associations with important forest tree species. Two strains in particular, Wilcoxina mikolae and W. rehmii produce the siderophore ferricrocin under iron-limiting conditions in culture. Siderophores such as ferricrocin may also form stable complexes with metals other than iron. These siderophore-metal complexes may be taken up into the cell, introducing potentially toxic metals into the plant. Siderophores may also bind heavy metals and protect the mycorrhizal tree species. Understanding these complex interactions is essential if we are to going to use constitutive siderophore-producing fungi in the reforestation of metal-contaminated sites. This project is part of ESF's larger goal to biotechnology to improve forest productivity on marginal sites and to bioremediate human impacts on our environment.

Grants and Funding

MERHAB-Lower Great Lakes (www.merhab-LGL.org)

The project is part of NOAA's Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms program (MERHAB). It is unique in that it is one of a few MERHAB project that specifically deals with freshwater systems. The goals of this project are to develop an integrated alert system to monitor and detect toxic cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae) blooms in the lower Great Lakes. This includes Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain along with their associated watersheds. The MERHAB-LGL project is a multi-institutional proposal and is organized around six different working groups, each with their own tasks: The Lake Erie working group will investigate the spatial distribution of toxic Microcystis in Lake Erie, evaluate the chemical diversity of microcystins) produced in the lake, evaluate the use of molecular markers for the microcystin biosynthesis genes mcyB and mcyD as monitoring tools for toxigenic species, and examine nutritional probes for iron, nitrogen and phosphorus as predictors for toxic cyanobacterial blooms. The Champlain working group will investigate the occurrence of anatoxin-a and microcystins in Lake Champlain, including the identification of the phytoplankton species responsible for toxin formation in this system, examine the correlation between blue-green algal density and toxin production, validate a newly developed dipstick assay for anatoxin-a, evaluate cyanotoxin screening protocols for potential use by water treatment operators, and develop training programs for those water quality managers. The Lake Ontario group will examine the occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria in the Lake Ontario's southern shore embayments and determine if these embayments are a source of cyanobacteria and toxins to the open lake water and to the St. Lawrence River. It will also examine the potential of using zebra mussels as surrogate monitoring system (mussel watch). We are actively involved in all three lakes. In addition, we provide a centralized toxin support group will analyze for the cyanobacteria toxins including microcystins, anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(s), PSP toxins and cylindrospermopsin. MERHAB-LGL also includes a remote sensing and modeling working group will provide information on the occurrence or movement of phytoplankton blooms in the region and apply new remote sensing platforms to the occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria blooms. This information will be disseminated to concern parties by developing a public awareness program for cyanobacteria toxins, informing and educate local environmental, health, and monitoring agencies integrating the groups field studies into information on management strategies, detection techniques, health risks, and what is likely to be an appropriate public response. More information on MERHAB and its affiliated projects can be obtained from NOAA's MERHAB website. You may also be interested in the the GLRC Research Review vol 7 describing this project.

Identification, Characterization and Inventory of Novel Freshwater Biotoxins

As part of Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI), we are to establish facilities and materials to support harmful algal bloom research at NOAA's Oceans and Human Health Center. Freshwater biotoxins are understudied relative to marine biotoxins: only microcystins produced by Microcystis spp. are currently addressed in any federally funded program on the Laurentian Great Lakes. Recently, biotoxins both new to science (BMAAs) as well as new to the Great Lakes (cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a) have been found in this system. Moreover, strains of freshwater plankton (e.g., Planktothrix spp., Anabaena spp.) which were previously thought to be atoxigenic in the Great Lakes have been shown to produce these potent toxins. We collect and characterize (using biochemical and genetic tools) novel toxigenic cyanobacteria from the Laurentian Great Lakes and other freshwater systems. Toxin and cell standards (which are currently unavailable) are generated to be used by GLERL and other researchers. Specific objectives include: (1) To determine the distribution and occurrence of anatoxin-a and cylindrospermopsin-producing organisms, (2) To develop an analytical method for the neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in natural samples (3) To identify organisms responsible for microcystin production in Sandusky Bay. (4) To evaluate the use of rapid high-throughput assays for the detection of cyanobacterial toxins (5) To isolate and genetically characterize toxin-producing strains of Lake Erie cyanobacteria, and (6) To provide both training and reference materials to GLERL and other researchers. Through the established outreach system at the NOAA GLERL laboratory we will inform the public of these emerging health risks. Working jointly between my lab at SUNY-ESF and Steven Wilhelm's laboratory at the University of Tennessee, this project will support the education and training of postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate personnel whom will be given the unique opportunity to interact with a top government research facility as well as to develop new approaches to understanding the linkages between human health and activities and our indispensable freshwater resources.

Toxic cyanobacteria have real world effects on both human health and the quality of life. Toxic blooms have been associated with the death of waterfowl, cattle and domestic pets such as dogs. The OHHI project with use modern molecular and chemical techniques to better understand the health risks of the cyanobacterial blooms. Here we are working on EPA's research vessel Lake Guardian to collect sediment cores from Lake Erie as part of their International Field Year on Lake Erie (IFYLE). This core will later be examined for changes in the presence of cyanobacterial toxins and toxigenic DNA. Information such as this is important if we are to understand the role human impacts play on the initiation of these toxic blooms.

Source Sentinel and Near Real Time Water Monitoring

This project is a collaborative venture between the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, O’Brien & Gere, Sensis Corporation, NGimat, and Ortho Systems, Inc. (Source Sentinel) is a new generation of near real time (NRT) water quality monitoring tools that incorporate both traditional water quality sensors with novel optical wave-guide (OWG) immunosensors to detect dissolved toxins and pathogens in the water. It has applications for providing safe drinking water and is designed to meet the increasing threat from bioterrorist attack or natural disasters. The Source Sentinel system consists of a sensor cabinet or buoy-based monitoring system that contains the basic fluidics for the different sensor packages, the water quality sondes and biosensors. Output from these sensors is then into the decision support system that uses a combination of "smart" networks to assess and validate the data. This information is transferred to a visualization system using a series of color-coded indicators to announce the presence of a particular risk. Our role in this project is to develop the new and novel biosensors. This includes both developing new antibodies, as well as optimizing the basic attachment chemistry used to attach the antibodies to the OWG itself. Most of our work uses E. coli, Microcystis or the peptide microcystins, though we are constantly expanding our efforts to include new toxins and toxic organisms.

Interested in graduate study in my lab?

SUNY-ESF is very much a research institution with excellent facilities for graduate student in a number of different disciplines. While my training is in biochemistry, my research laboratory is much more multidisciplinary and always interested in high quality graduate students in biochemistry, natural products chemistry, chemical ecology, environmental chemistry, biotechnology and related areas. The common denominator is our shared interest in the ecological importance of small bioactive molecules and their importance in chemical interactions between species. Which program you actually enter to pursue your degree is dependent upon your research interests, background training and future goals.

If you are interested in working with me, I would suggest first sending an email with your resume, a brief description of your research interests and coursework. Unofficial transcripts will be fine. That will allow me to review your background and provide suggestions as to the appropriate graduate program at SUNY-ESF.

Information about admission requirements and an application for graduate study is available online at www.esf.edu/admissions. For more information on the specific requirements for a advanced degree through the chemistry department, you may want to look at the Chemistry Department, Environmental Chemistry or Biochemistry web sites.

Recent and Current Graduate Students

Recent graduates from my lab include:

• Tzu-pin Wang (Ph. D. Biochemistry 2000)
  • Thesis title: Synthesis of derivatives of ferricrocin, a strong iron-binding peptide useful for preparation of an Elisa assay.
• Kristy Szprygada (M.S. Fisheries Biology, 2004)
  • Thesis title: Investigating the use of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, as a biomonitoring tool for toxic cyanobacterial blooms.
• Guozhang Zou (Ph.D. Biochemistry 2004)
  • Thesis title: Interactions between metals and the siderophore desferriferricrocin produced by the mycorrhizal fungus Wilcoxina mikolae.
• Elizabeth Konopko (M.S. Environmental Chemistry 2007)
  • Thesis title: Development of a Flow-through fluorometric system for the detection of phycocyanin in the lower Great Lakes.
• Amber Hotto (Ph.D. BioChemistry 2007)
• Thesis title: Application of Molecular Techniques for the Detection of Potentially Microcystin-producing Organisms in New York State Waters.
• Karen Howard (Ph.D. Environmental Chemistry 2007)
• Thesis title: Quantitative Analysis of Cyanobacterial Toxins by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry.
• Xingye Yang (Ph.D. BioChemistry 2007)
• Thesis title: Occurrence of a cyanobacterial neurotoxin, Anatoxin-a in New York State Waters.
• Juliette Smith (Ph.D. Aquatic Biology 2008)
• Thesis title: Bioavailability and Toxicity of Microcystins in the Aquatic Food Web: Estimation and Implications.

Current Graduate Students in my lab include:

• Jeremy Sullivan (Ph.D. student in Environmental Chemistry)
• Margaret Pavlac (Ph.D.. Student in Environmental Chemistry)
• Michael Satchwell (M.S. Student in Biochemistry)

Teaching Interests

Teaching is the task that recharges our batteries and keeps us in tune with the new developments in our field. My teaching duties usually include one or more of the following courses:

• Introduction to Professional Chemistry
• FCH 530 General Biochemistry -1 metabolism and proteins
• FCH 531 Biochemical Techniques
• FCH 532 General Biochemistry -2 molecular aspects
• FCH 630 Plant Biochemistry
• FCH 796 Molecular Toxicology
• FCH 796 Practical HPLC techniques

Additional course information and descriptions are available at the ESF chemistry department website.

Selected Publications

Selected publications from the last few years are included below. Click here for a list of earlier publications.

• Hotto, A., M. Satchwell, and G. Boyer  (2004)  Seasonal Production and Molecular Characterization of Microcystins in Oneida Lake, New York, USA.  Environmental Toxicology. 20:243-248.
• Lehman, P., G. Boyer, C. Hall, S. Waller, and K. Gerhts  (2004) Distribution and toxicity of a new colonial Microcystis aeruginosa bloom in San Francisco Estuary, California. Hydrobiology. 541:87-99.
• Gobler, C. J., D. J. Lonsdale, and G. L. Boyer  (2005) A review of causes, effects, and potential management of harmful brown tide blooms caused by the alga Aureococcus anophagefferens (Hargraves et Sieburth).  Estuaries. 28:726-749.
• Hotto, A., M. Satchwell, and G. Boyer  (2005)  Seasonal Production and Molecular Characterization of Microcystins in Oneida Lake, New York, USA.  Environmental Toxicology. 20:243-248.
• Mihuc, T. B., G. L. Boyer, M. F. Satchwell, M. Pellam, J. Jones, J. Vasile, A. Bouchard, and R. Bonham  (2005)  2002 Phytoplankton community composition and cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Champlain, U.S.A.  Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 39:328-333.
• Rinta-Kanto, J. M., A. J. A. Ouellette, M. R. Twiss, G. L. Boyer, T. Bridgeman, and S. W. Wilhelm  (2005)  Quantification of toxic Microcystis spp. during the 2003 and 2004 blooms in western Lake Erie using quantitative real-time PCR.  Environ. Sci. Technol. 39:4198-4205.
• Zou, G., and G. L. Boyer  (2005)  Synthesis and Properties of different metal Complexes of the siderophore desferriferricrocin.  Biometals, 18:63-74.
• Boyer, G.  (2006)  Toxic Cyanobacteria in Large Lake Ecosystems.  LakeLine.26(2):36-39
• Gobler, C. J., T. W. Davis, K. J. Coyne, and G. L. Boyer (2006)  Interactive influences of toxin expression, nutrient loading and zooplankton grazing on the growth and toxicity of cyanobacteria blooms in eutrophic Lake Agawam, New York.  Harmful Algae, 6:119-133.
• Boyer, G. L.  (2007)  The occurrence of Cyanobacterial toxins in New York lakes: Lessons for the MERHAB-Lower Great lakes program.  Lake and Reserv. Manage. 23:153-160
• Hotto, A. M., M. F. Satchwell, and G. L. Boyer (2007) Characterization of Lake Ontario Embayments for potential microcystin production reveals a unique mcyA genotype. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73(14):4570-4578
• Howard, K. L., and G. L. Boyer  (2007)  Adduct simplification in the analysis of cyanobacterial toxins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom. 21:699-706
• Howard, K.L. and G. L. Boyer  (2007)  Quantitative analysis of cyanobacterial toxins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Anal. Chem. 79:5980-5986.
• Richardson, L. L., J. Myers, R. Sekar, E. R. Remily, L. Kaczmarsky, J. D. Voss, G. L. Boyer, and P. V. Zimba  (2007) Production of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin in black band disease of corals.  FEMS Microbiology Letters. 272: 182-187.
• Boyer, G. L. (2008) Cyanobacterial Toxins in New York and the Lower Great Lakes Ecosystems. In: "Proceedings of the Interagency International Symposium on Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms" H. K. Hudnell, Ed., Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., Vol 619 pp 151-163.
• Fristachi, A., J. L. Sinclair, J. A. Hambrook-Berkman, G. Boyer, J. Burkholder, J. Burns, W. Carmichael, A. du Four, W. Frazier, S. L. Morton, E. O'Brien, and S. Walker (2008) Occurrence of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms working group report. In: "Proceedings of the Interagency International Symposium on Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms" H. K. Hudnell, Ed., Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., Vol 619 pp. 37-97.
• Gouvea, S. P., G. L. Boyer, and M. R. Twiss (2008) Influence of ultraviolet radiation, copper, and zinc on microcystin content in Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanobacteria). Harmful Algae.7:194-205.
• Mihuc, T. B., C. Pershyn, S. Thomas, G. Boyer, M. Satchwell, J. Jones, E. Allen, and M. Greene (2008) Cyanobacteria and the sizth Great lake: community dynamics of toxic aglal blooms in Lake Champlain, USA. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 30:312-317.
• Hotto, A. M., M. F. Satchwell, D. L. Berry, C. J. Gobler, and G. L. Boyer (2008) Spatial and temporal diversity of microcystins and microcystin-producing genotypes in Oneida Lake, NY. Harmful Algae. 7: 671-681.
• Smith, J. L., G. L. Boyer, E. Mills, and K. L. Schulz (2008) Toxicity of microcystin-LR, a cyanobacterial toxin, to multiple life stages of the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia, and possible implications for recruitment. Aquat. Toxicol., 23(4) 499-506
• Smith, J. L., G. L. Boyer, and P. V. Zimba (2008) Impacts of noxious and odorous cyanobacterial metabolites on aquaculture systems. Aquaculture. 280:5-20.

Comments or problems? Email: glboyer@esf.edu

Last updated: December 2008