Dr. Rebecca L. Seipelt-Thiemann

Professor | Biotechnology Coordinator

Dr. Rebecca L. Seipelt-Thiemann
615-904-8393
Room 2012, Science Building (SCI)
MTSU Box 60, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Degree Information

  • PHD, University of Kentucky (1996)
  • BA, Berea College (1991)

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Seipelt-Thiemann uses molecular biology and bioinformatic tools to study gene expression in eukaryotes and to examine gene structure conservation in gene families. She also studies the development and utility of concept inventory assessment tools and hands-on models/analogies for genetics education.

Biography

Dr. Rebecca Seipelt-Thiemann, professor of biology, earned her B.A. in biology at Berea College and her Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Medical Microbiology and Immunology. She furthered her studies through post-doctoral training in gene expression at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and ...

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Dr. Rebecca Seipelt-Thiemann, professor of biology, earned her B.A. in biology at Berea College and her Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Medical Microbiology and Immunology. She furthered her studies through post-doctoral training in gene expression at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and the Thomas Hunt Morgan School of Biological Sciences at the University of Kentucky before taking a faculty position at MTSU. Dr Seipelt-Thiemann teaches general genetics, human genetics, and bioinformatics while pursuing research in molecular biology and in genetics education. Her basic science research interests focus on using next generation sequencing data (RNA-seq) to inventigate alternative mRNA splicing in various eukaryotic species. Her education research interests focus on identifying misconceptions, developing assessment tools (concept inventories), and constructing hands-on model analogies for undergraduate genetics.

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Publications

  • Stefanski K, Gardner GE, and Seipelt-Thiemann, RL. (2016) Development of a Lac Operon Gene Regulation Concept Inventory (LOCI). CBE-Life Sciences 15:1-11.
  • Rajaraman E, Agarwal A, Crigler J, Seipelt-Thiemann R, Altman E, Eiteman MA. 2016. Transcriptional analysis and adaptive evolution of Escherichia coli strains growing on acetate. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 100:7777-778 5.
  • K.B. Maynard, S. A....
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  • Stefanski K, Gardner GE, and Seipelt-Thiemann, RL. (2016) Development of a Lac Operon Gene Regulation Concept Inventory (LOCI). CBE-Life Sciences 15:1-11.
  • Rajaraman E, Agarwal A, Crigler J, Seipelt-Thiemann R, Altman E, Eiteman MA. 2016. Transcriptional analysis and adaptive evolution of Escherichia coli strains growing on acetate. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 100:7777-778 5.
  • K.B. Maynard, S. A. Smith, A. C. Davis, A. Trivette, and R. L. Seipelt-Thiemann (2014) Evolutionary analysis of the mammalian M1 aminopeptidases reveals conserved exon structure and death. GENE. 552(1):126-32.
  • R. L. Seipelt-Thiemann (2012) Analogies for Teaching Mutant Allele Dominance Concepts. Creative Education. Creative Education. 3(6A): 884-889.
  • J. D. Leblond, J. Dodson, M. Khadka, S. Holder, R. L. Seipelt (2012) Sterol composition and biosynthetic genes of the recently discovered photosynthetic alveolate, Chromera velia (Chromerdia), a close relative of Apicomplexans. J. Euk. Microbiology 59(3):191-7.
  • R.L. Seipelt, F. C. Bailey, A. Schaible,M. W. Thompson (2010) Asparagine362 is essential for zinc binding and catalysis in the peptidase reaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leukotriene A4 hydrolase. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1804(10):2070-6.
  • M. W. Thompson, K. A. Beasley*, M. D. Schmidt*, R. L. Seipelt (2009) Arginyl aminopeptidase-like 1 (RNPEPL1) is an alternatively processed aminopeptidase with specificity for methionine, glutamine, and citrulline residues. Protein and Peptide Letters. 16(10):1256-66.
  • A. L. Newsome,J. P. Johnson*, R. L. Seipelt, M. W. Thompson (2007) Apolactoferrin inhibits the catalytic domain of matrix metalloproteinase-2 by zinc chelation. Biochemistry and Cell Biology 85(5):563-72.
  • R. L. Seipelt (2006) Cookie-ases: Interactive Models for Teaching Genotype-Phenotype Relationships. American Biology Teacher. Published electronically May: 9-14.
  • M. W. Thompson, E. D. Archer, C. E. Romer, and R. L. Seipelt (2006) A conserved tyrosine residue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leukotriene A4 hydrolase stabilizes the transition state of the peptidase activity. Peptides. 27:1701-1709.
  • J. D. Leblond, J. L. Dahmen, R. L. Seipelt, M. J. Elrod-Erickson, A. B. Cahoon, R. Kincaid, T. J. Evens, and P. J. Chapman (2005) Lipid composition of Chlorarachniophytes (Chlorarachiophyceae) from the genera Bigelowiella, Gymnochlora, and Lotharella. Journal of Phycology 41:311-321.
  • J. M. Haynes, P. P. Lee, R. L. Seipelt, and S. M. Wright (2005) Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sequences in a biopsy from a Tennessee patient. J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 80(3-4):57-9.
  • M. Rutledge, R. L. Seipelt, and P. M. Mathis (2004) Making Quantitative Genetics Relevant: Effectiveness of a Laboratory Investigation that Links Scientific Research, Commercial Applications, and Legal Issues. Bioscene. 30(4):9-13.
  • N. Dembla-Rajpal, R. Seipelt, Q. Wang, and B. C. Rymond (2004) Proteasome inhibition alters the transcription of multiple yeast genes. Biochemica et Biophysics Acta: Gene Structure and Function. 1680(1):34-45.
  • R. L. Seipelt and D. C. Clark. Student Study Guide to Accompany Principles of Genetics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
  • R. L. Seipelt, B. Zheng, and B. C. Rymond. (1999) U1 snRNA is cleaved by RNase III and processed through an Sm site dependent pathway. Nucleic Acids Res. 27(2):587-495.
  • S. Lybarger, K. Beickman, V. Brown, N. Dembla-Rajpal, K. Morey, R. Seipelt, and B. C. Rymond. (1999) Elevated levels of a novel snRNP protein, Spp381p, rescue a mutant defective in spliceosome maturation. Mol. Cell. Biol. 19(1):577-584.
  • R. L. Seipelt, B. T. Spear, E. C. Snow, and M. L. Peterson. (1998) A non-immunoglobulin transgene and the endogenous Ig m gene are coordinately regulated by alternative RNA processing during B cell maturation. Mol. Cell. Biol. 18(2):1042-1048.
  • Y. Takagaki, R. L. Seipelt, M. L. Peterson, and J. L. Manley. (1996) The polyadenylation factor CstF-64 regulates alternative processing of IgM heavy chain pre-mRNA during B cell differentiation. Cell 87:941-952.
  • R. L. Seipelt and M. L. Peterson. (1995) Alternative RNA processing of the IgA gene to produce as and am mRNA responds like the IgM to alterations in the efficiency of the competing splice and cleavage-polyadenylation reactions. Molecular Immunology 32(4):277-285. 

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Awards

  • 2007-2008 CBAS Excellence in Teaching Award
  • 2007-2008 CBAS Excellence in Grantsmanship Award
  • 2004-2005 CBAS Excellence in Teaching Award
  • 2004-2005 MTSU Outstanding Achievement in Instructional Technology Award
  • 2003 MTSU Faculty Leadership Academy
  • 2003 Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology
  • 2001 Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtable Award Nominee
  • 2000-2001 Golden Apple Award Nomin...
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  • 2007-2008 CBAS Excellence in Teaching Award
  • 2007-2008 CBAS Excellence in Grantsmanship Award
  • 2004-2005 CBAS Excellence in Teaching Award
  • 2004-2005 MTSU Outstanding Achievement in Instructional Technology Award
  • 2003 MTSU Faculty Leadership Academy
  • 2003 Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology
  • 2001 Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtable Award Nominee
  • 2000-2001 Golden Apple Award Nominee
  • 2000-2001 MTSU Outstanding Achievement in Instructional Technology Award Finalist
  • 2000-2001 MTSU Outstanding Achievement in Instructional Technology Award Nominee
  • 1998-1999 AAUW Post-doctoral Fellowship

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Research / Scholarly Activity

The Seipelt Laboratory uses molecular biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatic techniques to study gene expression and function in numerous genes and systems with a special interest in eukaryotic M1 zinc metalloproteases. Gene expression studies focus on regulated alternative splicing and its effect of protein function, as well as regulation via mRNA decay and transcription. Gene function studies focus on fluorescent biochemical assays, protein-protein interaction assays, and mutagenesis-based characterization of protein domains and enzyme mechanism.