Molecular Biology & Genetics
School of Medicine
501 P.C.T.B./725 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21205-2185
(410) 955-0397/ FAX (410) 955-6718
 

Dr. Lawrence P. Wennogle
CIBA Pharmaceuticals Division
556 Morris Avenue
Summit, NJ 07901
 

                                                                                                                                     Baltimore, 4 May, 1995

Dear Dr. Wennogle:

I am writing in support of Anton Yuryev who has applied for postdoctoral position in your laboratory.  Anton has been a graduate student in my laboratory for the past five years; coming on the recommendation of Dr. Joe Ahearn who trained in  my lab.  Joe hired Anton shortly after he and his family immigrated from Russia.  After working as a technician for Joe for two years Anton applied and was accepted to our graduate program in Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology.

Anton’s Moscow University training in physics prepared him well for the rigors of graduate school; especially in the area of Biophysics.  Rather than focus in this area, however, Anton chose a course centered on Genetics.  During his graduate training Anton has developed into an outstanding yeast geneticist and has progressed to the point where he is a effective independent researcher.  His work has resulted in the recent submission of two excellent papers, one to the Genetics and the other to Science, and a third paper is in preparation.

Anton began his research by screening for the yeast mutants that would allow growth of cells with mutations that remove potential phosphorylation sites in the RNA polymerase CTD. Initial experiments yielded unwanted recombinant clones, however.  Rather than giving up Anton persisted by creating a doubly selectable vector.  The background in the new selection was lower and enabled the isolation of a set of the desired suppressor strains.  Anton went on to clone, sequence, and analyze one of these clones.  Interestingly this gene turns out to be  a member of the SRB family of proteins which were isolated in Rick Young’s lab as suppressors of CTD truncation mutations.  This work has been submitted to Genetics and is currently under review.

Anton has also pursued a second line of research.  Using the yeast two-hybrid approach he was able to isolate a set of clones that encode proteins that interact with the CTD.  Unexpectedly, these proteins are all related to family of SR proteins that have been shown o be involved in constitutive and regulated splicing.  This interesting observation implies that the CTD may act to link synthesis of the primary transcript to the machinery that process it.  This novel possibility opens new avenues of research into CTD function that are currently being pursued I my lab.

Anton is a bright, gregarious individual.  Although he occasionally brusque in his demeanor, my feeling is that this is a remnant of his early life in the Soviet Union.  Anton has at times struggled with adapting to American culture.  In particular he has felt pressured by the need to support his family on a graduate student stipend.  Despite this pressure, Anton has worked hard for his own success and has supported family as well.

Anton is extremely hard working; spending most evenings and weekends in the lab.  He designs his own experiments and executes them with a fervor that is unmatched in my experience.  When he encounters problems he is able to quickly shift course and try again.  This dedication to research has enabled him to complete what I consider to b equivalent of two thesis projects.

Anton has a quick mind and is able to grasp new concepts readily.  I have no doubt that he will prosper in variety of scientific settings.  Indeed, Anton’s creative problem solving approach to science will serve him well in what ever endeavor he chooses.