College of Science and Health > Faculty & Staff > Faculty A-Z > Cathrine Southern

Carey Southern

  • csouthe2@depaul.edu
  • Associate Professor
  • ​PhD
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry

  • ​​Biophysical Chemistry

  • Full-time Faculty

  • ​Biophysical Chemistry

  • (773) 325-7453
  • ​McGowan South, Room 321B (office)
    McGowan South, Room 320 (lab)       
Classes Taught
  • General Chemistry
  • Thermodynamics and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry
  • Thermochemistry
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Biophysical Chemistry
  • Chemical Biology
  • Focal Point Seminar: Werner Heisenberg: Uncertainty and the Atomic Bomb (LSP112)
  • Strategies for Success in Science and Health​ (CSH101)
Research Interests
The Southern lab uses fluorescence spectroscopy to examine biological systems. We employ single Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to examine the structure of antibodies. Studying the structure of antibodies and how this structure is affected by mutations or the removal of sugars bound to antibodies can shed light on the role these structural changes play in generating an immune response. We also have a joint project with Dr. Caitlin’s Karver’s lab that involves the development of fluorogenic FRET-based peptide substrates to examine the activity of inflammatory caspases. We aim to develop substrates selective for each member of the inflammatory caspase family to allow the role of each enzyme in the inflammatory response to be determined. We are also examining the stability of these enzymes and the conditions under which they are most active.
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 Select Publications
  • “Design and application of a fluorogenic assay for monitoring inflammatory caspase activity,” R. Ranganathan, G. Lenti, N. M. Tassone, B. J. Scannell, C. A. Southern, C. E. Karver, Analytical Biochemistry, 2018, 543, 1 – 7.
  • “Single Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Studies of the Effect of EndoS Deglycosylation on the Structure of IgG,” M. S. Piraino, M. T. Kelliher, J. Aburas, C. A. Southern, Immunology Letters, 2015, 167, 29 – 33.
  • “The Effect of Sugar Removal on the Structure of the Fc region of an IgG Antibody as Observed with Single Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer,” M. T. Kelliher, R. D. Jacks, M. S. Piraino, C. A. Southern, Molecular Immunology, 2014, 60, 103.
  • “A Comparison of Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Analysis Approaches for Nanodrop Fluorometry,” M. T. Kelliher, M. S. Piraino, M. E. Gemoules, C. A. Southern, Analytical Biochemistry, 2013, 441, 44.
  • “Genetic and Fluorescence Studies of Affinity Maturation in Related Antibodies,” T. Pauyo, G. J. Hilinski, P. T. Chiu, D. E. Hansen, Y. J. Choi, D. I. Ratner, N. Shah-Mahoney, C. A. Southern, P. B. O’Hara, Molecular Immunology, 2006, 43, 812.
  • “Steady State and Multifrequency Phase Fluorometry Studies of Binding Site Flexibility in Related Antibodies,” G. S. Mohan, P. T. Chiu, C. A. Southern, P. B. O’Hara, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2004, 108, 7871.
  • “Spectroscopic Consequences of Localized Electronic Excitation in Anthranilic Acid Dimer,” C. A. Southern, D. H. Levy, J. A. Stearns, G. M. Florio, A. Longarte, T. S. Zwier, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2004, 108, 4599.
  • “Electronic and Infrared Spectroscopy of Anthranilic Acid in a Supersonic Jet,” C. A. Southern, D. H. Levy, G. M. Florio, A. Longarte, T. S. Zwier, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2003, 107, 4032.
Service and Professional Activities
  • Director, University Academic Program Review
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry Advising Committee
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry Curriculum Committee
  • General Chemistry Committee
  • Natural Sciences, Math, and Technology Showcase Committee
  • Reviewer for several journals (Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Journal of Chemical Education)
Professional Society Memberships
  • American Chemical Society
  • Biophysical Society

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