Steve D. AustSteve D. Aust

Professor
Biochemistry
B.S., 1960, Washington State University
M.S., 1962, Washington State University
Ph.D., 1965, University of Illinois
Postdoctoral, 1966, Karolinksa Institute, Sweden
435.797.2730 sdaust@cc.usu.edu
web page

Dr. Aust's research interests are the metabolism of iron and the biological degradation of environmental pollutants by white rot fungi.

The first project involves the iron storage protein ferritin and the loading of iron into ferritin by ceruloplasmin. Molecular biology techniques are being used to study the heavy and light chains of ferritin and ceruloplasmin and to determine the functions of these proteins for the control of cellular iron levels.

The white rot fungus project involves enzymes that the fungi produce to degrade lignin in wood. These enzymes include peroxidases, and oxido-reductases. This system is also applicable for the biodegradation of a wide variety of otherwise very recalcitrant environmental pollutants. We are currently making better, more versatile enzymes by site-directed mutagenesis.

Outside the laboratory Dr. Aust enjoys the outdoors, mostly on horseback.

Catalytic Cycle of Lignin Peroxidases

Selected Publications

Welch, K.D.; Hall, J.O.; Davis, T.Z.; Aust, S.D., “The Effect of Copper Deficiency on the Formation of Hemosiderin in Sprague-Dawley Rats,”Biometals, (In Press, 2006)

Schirp, A.; Loge, F.; Aust, S.D.; Swaner, P.; Turner, G.; Wolcott, M.,(2006) “Production and Characterization of Natural Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Utilizing Wheat Straw Modified with the Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus,”  Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2006, 102, 5191-5201.

Christensen, A.; Dimcheva, N.; Ferapontova, E.E.; Gorton, L.; Ruzgas, T.; Stocia, L.; Shleev, S.; Yaropoloc, A.I.; Haltrich, D.; Thorneley, R.H.F.; Aust, S.D., “Direct electron transfer between ligninolytic redox enzymes and electrodes,” Electroanalysis 2004, 16, 1074-1092.

Aust, S.D.; P.R. Swaner, P.R.; Stahl, J.D., “Detoxification and metabolism of Chemicals by White-Rot Fungi,” Pesticide Decontamination and Detoxification  (Gan, J.J.; P.C. Zhu, P.C.; Aust S.D.; A.T. Lemley, A.T. Ed.) ACS Symposium Series, 2003, 863, 3-14.

Welch, K.D.; T.Z. Davis, T.Z.; S.D. Aust, S.D., “Iron autoxidation and free radical generation: Effects of buffers, ligands, and chelators,” Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 2002, 397, 360-369.