Education

PhD (2002-2007): Chemical Engineering at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (U.N.A.M.), Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food and Biotechnology.
Master studies (2000-2002): Chemical Engineering at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (U.N.A.M.), Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food and Biotechnology.
Bachelor (1994-2000): Chemical Engineering at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (U.N.A.M.), Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Theoretical Physics and Chemistry.

Research

- Inhibition of human vascular NADPH oxidase by apocynin derived oligophenols

This project is focused in the enzymatic production and characterization of active inhibitors for human NADPH oxidase from natural phenols such as apocynin. Our study includes a better understanding on the mechanism of inhibition. Vascular endothelial cell based studies will allow us to identify active inhibitors of the NADPH oxidase and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) will provide us information about the role of inhibitors on protein interactions during enzyme activation. Oligophenols from apocynin as well as from other sources (e.g. resveratrol) can be produced enzymatically and tested in other protein-protein interactions related with human diseases such as Alzheimer; characterization of new oligomers (from Resveratrol) with therapeutic potential is part of my collaboration with Professor Tessier’s group.

- Lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs)

Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is recognized as a key step during biofuel processing. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are emerging as attractive and green solvents for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment. Unique properties of RTILs help to disrupt the 3D network structure of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, allowing high yields of fermentable sugars to be produced in subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. The goal of this project is the study of the mechanisms of interaction between the RTILs and the subcomponents of lignocellulosic biomass.

- Combinatorial biocatalysis in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of mucin analogs

Mucin is a group of protein-containing glycoconjugates with high sialic acid or sulfated polysaccharide content. Its biological function is to act as a barrier against infectious pathogens. The goal of this project is to prepare mucin analogs using combinatorial biocatalysis. These mucin analogs will be evaluated as anti-infective for screening against type 2 and type 3 level pathogens as barriers as coatings and in nanomaterials for use in protection following accidental or deliberate exposure to infectious agents

PUBLICATIONS

Mora-Pale M, Perez-Munguia S, Gonzalez-Mejia JC, Dordick JS, Barzana E (2007) The lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of lutein diesters in non-aqueous media is favored at extremely low water activities. Biotech. Bioeng. (98) 3, 535-542. (Spotlighted in Biotechnology and Bioengineering).

Mora-Pale M, Weiwer M, Yu J, Linhardt RJ, Dordick JS (2009) Inhibition of human vascular NADPH oxidase by derived oligophenols. Bioorg. Med. Chem., (17)14, 5146-5152.

Doherty TV, Mora-Pale M, Foley S, Linhardt RJ, Dordick JS (2010) Ionic Liquid Solvent Properties as Predictors of Lignocellulose Pretreatment Efficacy. Green Chem., 12(11), 1967-1975

Mora-Pale M, Meli L, Doherty TV, Linhardt RJ, Dordick JS (2011) Room Temperature Ionic Liquids as Emerging Solvents for the Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 108(6), 1229-1245.

Mora-Pale M (2010) Polyphenols in human diet: benefits and challenges for therapeutic applications. REDNUTRICION

Ladiwala ARA, Mora-Pale M, Bale SS, Fishman Z, Dordick JS, Tessier PM (2011) Polyphenolic glycosides and aglycones utilize opposing pathways to selectively remodel and inactivate toxic oligomers of amyloid β. ChemBiochem. 12(11), 1749–1758.

Sanchez-Rodriguez SP, Munch-Anguiano L, Echeverria O, Vazquez-Nin G, Mora-Pale M, Dordick JS, Bustos-Jaimes I (2011) Parvovirus B19 virus-like particles: in vitro assembly and stability. Submitted to J. Virology

Wu H, Mora-Pale M, Miao J, Doherty TV, Linhardt RJ, Dordick JS (2011) Facile Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass at High Loadings in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 108(12), 2865–2875

Mora-Pale M, Kwon SJ, Linhardt RJ, Dordick JS (2011) Trimer hydroxylated quinone (IIIHyQ) derived from apocynin targets cysteine residues of p47phox preventing the activation of human vascular NADPH oxidase. Submitted to Free Radical Biology and Medicine

Awards and Academic Honors

Honorary Mention for the PhD defense exam
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) Scholarship for PhD Studies (2002-2006).
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) Scholarship for Master Studies (2001-2002)
Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI) Scholarship (2000-2001)