Contact Information
Biography
Dr. Alex Carpenter has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Mary Washington. Next, she earned her PhD in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University, where she worked in the lab of Marcel Bruchez to develop molecular tools for detection of protein-protein interactions and cellular apposition using fluorescence microscopy. She completed her postdoctoral training in Cell and Molecular Biology under Dr. Mike Kemp at Wright State University.
Education
- BS Chemistry, University of Mary Washington
- PhD Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
Research Interests
The Carpenter Lab focuses on the study of UVB-derived DNA photoproducts in the extracellular space. Specific interests in the lab include how UVB photoproducts are released from UVB irradiated cells, factors that affect persistence of circulating UVB photoproduct-containing DNA, and impact of extracellular photoproduct DNA lesions on inflammatory pathways such cytosolic DNA sensing pathways and canonical DNA damage response pathways. This research is performed using molecular, cellular, animal, and human subjects research approaches and seeks to develop biomarkers of genotoxin exposure and photosensitivity in disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
Research Link
Profile Information
Teaching Portfolio
- Yerrapragada, S. M.; Alex, A.; Adar, S.; Kemp, M. G.; Carpenter, M. A. Treatment of Human Cells with the Anti-Cancer Drug Cisplatin Results in the Caspase-Dependent Release of Adduct-Containing Cell-Free DNA. DNA Repair.2025, 151 (June), 103855. DOI.
- Christian, L.; Manjrekar, P.; Henkels, K. M.; Rapp, C. M.; Annamraju, R.; Lohade, R. P.; Singh, S.; Carpenter, M. A.; Khan, S.; Kemp, M. G.; Chen, Y.; Sahu, R. P.; Travers, J. B. Evidence for the Involvement of Keratinocyte‐derived Microvesicle Particles in the Photosensitivity Associated with Xeroderma Pigmentosum Type A Deficiency. Photobiol. 2024, 00, 1–10. DOI.
- Carpenter, M. A.; Thyagarajan, A.; Owens, M.; Annamraju, R.; Borchers, C. B.; Travers, J. B.; Kemp, M. G. The Acid Sphingomyelinase Inhibitor Imipramine Enhances the Release of UV Photoproduct- Containing DNA in Small Extracellular Vesicles in UVB- Irradiated Human Skin. Photobiol. 2024, 00, 1–8. DOI.
- Carpenter, M. A.; Yerrapragada, S.; Alex, A.; Kemp, M. G. Protocol for Immunodot Blot Detection of UVB Photoproducts in Extracellular DNA. STAR Protoc. 2024, 5 (1), 102838. DOI.
- Carpenter, M. A.; Ginugu, M.; Khan, S.; Kemp, M. G. DNA Containing Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers Is Released from UVB-Irradiated Keratinocytes in a Caspase-Dependent Manner. Invest. Dermatol. 2022, 142 (11), 3062-3070.e3. DOI.
- Carpenter, M. A.; Kemp, M. G. Topical Treatment of Human Skin and Cultured Keratinocytes with High-Dose Spironolactone Reduces XPB Expression and Induces Toxicity. JID Innov. 2021, 1 (3), 100023. DOI.
- Carpenter, M. A.; Wang, Y.; Telmer, C. A.; Schmidt, B. F.; Yang, Z.; Bruchez, M. P. Protein Proximity Observed Using Fluorogen Activating Protein and Dye Activated by Proximal Anchoring (FAP–DAPA) System. ACS Chem. Biol. 2020, 15 (9), 2433–2443. DOI.
- Alkawar, A. M. M.; Castellanos, A. J.; Carpenter, M. A.; Hutcherson, R. J.; Madkhali, M. A. O.; Johnson, R. M.; Bottomley, M.; Kemp, M. G. Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Impacts P53 Target Gene Induction in UVB-Irradiated Keratinocytes and Human Skin. Photobiol. 2020. DOI.
- Bulgari, D.; Deitcher, D. L.; Schmidt, B. F.; Carpenter, M. A.; Szent-Gyorgyi, C.; Bruchez, M. P.; Levitan, E. S. Activity-Evoked and Spontaneous Opening of Synaptic Fusion Pores. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2019, 201905322. DOI.
- Systemic travel of damaged DNA in photosensitive autoimmune disorders, NIEHS K99ES035864 PI:Carpenter, M. A., Project/Proposal Start and Expected End Date: 08/2024 – 07/2029*