Jennifer Newell-Caito Ph.D

Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry

Courses Taught: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Elementary Physiological Chemistry, Analytical & Preparative Biochemical Laboratory Methods

Teaching Statement: My teaching philosophy revolves around building community, creating accessible content, and ungrading in the classroom. My approach is focused on student-centered learning, but also integrates the approaches of universal design. The premise of universal design is to design a course that is accessible by any student. This approach has created successful learning environments that empower my students regardless of background to be scientists ready for the workforce.

Research Statement: My lab focuses on the antioxidant properties of plants traditionally in teas used by Indigenous tribes in North America.  We investigate the mechanisms of how the polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites, act as antioxidants in the nematode worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, using the known oxidant manganese chloride. Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term diets rich in polyphenols benefit human health as they might act as antioxidants due to their ability to offer protection against the development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Recent Publications:

  1. Nielsen T., Crawford N., Martell M., Khalil, B., Imtiaz, F., Newell-Caito, J., and Caito, SW. MicroRNA Expression Influences Methylmercury-Induced Lipid Accumulation and Mitochondrial Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2022, 35, 1, 77-88.
  2. Crawford N., Martell M., Nielsen T., Khalil, B., Imtiaz, F., Nguido, E., Newell-Caito, J., Bornhorst, J., Schwerdtle, T., and Caito, SW. Methylmercury Induces Metabolic Alterations in Caenorhabditis elegansare Diet-Dependent. Toxics. 2021 Nov 2; 9(11): 287.
  3. Meaders et.al. What questions are on the minds of STEM undergraduate students and how can they be addressed? Frontiers in Education. 2021 Feb 22; 6:1-8.
  4. Caito SW., Newell-Caito J., Martell M., Crawford N., and Aschner M. Methylmercury Induces Metabolic Alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans: Role for C/EBP Transcription Factor. Toxicological Sciences. 2020 Mar 1; 174(1): 112-123.
  5. Samuel Caito and Jennifer L. Newell-Caito. Simple in vivo models of Alzheimer’s disease. Drug Discovery for Neurodegenerative Disorders: Alzheimer’s Disease. Adejare A, editor. 2016 Sept 30: 211-234.
  6. Amy E. Griffiths, Jennifer Wintermute, Jennifer L. Newell-Caito, and Philip J. Fay. Residues Flanking Scissile Bonds in Factor VIII Modulate Rates of Cleavage and Proteolytic Activation Catalyzed by Factor Xa. Biochemistry. 2013 Nov 12; 52(45): 8060–8068.
  7. Jennifer L. Newell-Caito, Amy E. Griffiths, and Philip J. Fay. P3-P3‘ residues flanking scissile bonds in factor VIII modulate rates of substrate cleavage and procofactor activation by thrombin. Biochemistry. 2012 Apr 10; 51(16): 3451–3459.
  8. Jennifer L. Newell-Caito*, Malabika Laha*, Anthony C. Tharp, Jonathan I. Creamer, Hong Xu, Ashoka A. Maddur, Guido Tans, and Paul E. Bock. Notecarin D binds human factor V and factor Va with high affinity in the absence of membranes. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011 Nov 4; 286(44):38286-97. *authors contributed equally.
  9. Jennifer L. Newell and Philip J. Fay. Cleavage at Arg1689 influences heavy chain cleavages during thrombin-catalyzed activation of factor VIII. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2009, Feb 24; 282(35):25367-75.
  10. Jennifer L. Newell and Philip J. Fay. Acidic residues C-terminal to the A2 domain facilitate thrombin-catalyzed activation of factor VIII. 2008 Jul 22; 47(33): 8786-8795.
  11. Jennifer L. Newell and Philip J. Fay. Proteolysis at Arg740 facilitates subsequent bond cleavages during thrombin-catalyzed activation of factor VIII. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2007 Aug 31;282(35):25367-75.

Education: 

B.A. Skidmore College 2004

M.S. University of Rochester 2007

Ph.D. University of Rochester, 2009

Postdoctoral Training: Vanderbilt University

Email Address:  jennifer.newellcaito@maine.edu

Phone: 207-581-2877

Location: 234 Hitchner Hall

Mailing Address: 5735 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, 04469