B.S., Texas Technological University, 1950. Ph.D., Northwestern University,1954 (Irving A. Klotz). Honors and Awards: Public Health Service Predoctoral Fellow, 1951-54; Visiting Associate Professor, California Institute of Technology, 1965-66; Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 1971-present; John S. Guggenheim Foundation Fellow, 1973-74; Chair, Biopolymer Subgroup, Biophysical Society, 1976-77; Member, Executive Board, Western Spectroscopy Conference, 1977-80; Chair, Raman Spectroscopy Subgroup, American Optical Society, 1978-81; Plenum Address, International Raman Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, Bangalore, India, 1978; Invited Visiting Professor of Biophysics (Professor Associe) at The University of Paris, Pierre and Marie Curie, 1980-81; Recipient, von Humboldt Senior Award, 1984-85; Chairman, Organizing Committee and Program Advisory Committee of the 1986 International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy; Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society, 1988; Invited Speaker Nobel Symposium on Dynamics of Biological Molecules, 1988; Invited guest at the Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies and Banquet, 1988; Chairman, International Steering Committee for International Raman Conference, 1988-90. Invited Professor, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, 1991; Invited Professor University of Reims, Reims, France 1996; Will receive an. Honorary Doctorfrom the University of Lille, Lille, France on Dec. 5, 1997.

Research Interests:

The use of both classical and resonance enhanced laser Raman spectroscopy for the determination of the conformation and dynamics of biological macromolecules has been the primary goal of work being carried out in Warner Peticolas's laboratory. New theoretical approaches and modern instrumental development have been carried out over the past several years.

Raman spectroscopy is used to determine the conformation of DNA in crystals, in solutions, and in living cells. Using this technique, the conformation of more than thirty oligomers has been determined. From these data, a set of rules for the relation between DNA conformation and base sequence has been developed. This permits the design of DNA sequences that form one or two conformational junctions. The use of molecular modeling and Raman spectroscopy has been used to determine the structure of parallel DNA, bent DNA, and DNA containing B/Z and B/Z/B junctions. Models for DNA have been devised that predict the pseudorotational angles that are measured in the NMR and the sites for the nuclease attack by the synthetic DNA nuclease, o-phenanthroline-Cu(I).

To Contact Dr. Peticolas:
Phone: 541-346-4613
peticolas@comcast.net

WEBMASTER
lynde@uoregon.edu