Matt Mattozzi

Matthew de la Peña Mattozzi

Current Research Projects

Organophosphate degradation

Research Summary

Organophosphate compounds, widely used as pesticides and chemical warfare agents, are potent cholinesterase inhibitors. These synthetic compounds are resistant to natural degradation and threaten the environment. We developed a strain of Pseudomonas putida str. KT2440 that can efficiently degrade a model organophosphate, paraoxon, and use it as a carbon, energy, and phosphorus source.

Most recent work includes examining the accumulation of the intermediate p-nitrophenol (PNP) which appears to be accumulating in the media and restricting further growth of the cells. For further information check out the Organophosphate degradation wiki page or my lab internal wiki.

Background

Education

• B.S. Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, 2002
• B.S. Biology, Harvey Mudd College, 2002

Publications

• Mattozzi M, Tehara S, Hong T, Keasling J. 2006. Mineralization of paraoxon and its use as a sole C and P source by a rationally designed catabolic pathway in Pseudomonas putida. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72(10):6699-6706.
• Hettinger J, Mattozzi M, Myers M, Williams M, Reeves A, Parsons R, Haskell R, Petersen D, Wang R, and Medford, J. 2000. Optical coherence microscopy: a technology for rapid, in vivo, non-destructive visualization of plants and plant cells. Plant Physiology 123(1):3-16.

National and International Presentations

• Mattozzi M. A lesson in Synthetic Biology: Engineering bacteria for environmental cleanup. Lectures and case study. Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resources (ASTAR) Conference. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. March 2007.
• Mattozzi M, Keasling J. Mineralization of paraoxon and use as a sole C and P source by a rationally designed catabolism in Pseudomonas putida. Poster Presentation, Federation of European Microbiological Societies, Madrid, Spain. July 2006.
• Mattozzi M, Keasling J. Complete degradation of the pesticide paraoxon by genetically engineered Pseudomonas putida. Speaker, Society of Industrial Microbiologists Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Chicago, Illinois. August 2005.
• Mattozzi M, Keasling J. Complete degradation of the pesticide paraoxon by genetically engineered Pseudomonas putida. Poster Presentation, Society of Industrial Microbiologists Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Chicago, Illinois. August 2005.
• Mattozzi M, Keasling J. Complete degradation of the pesticide paraoxon by genetically engineered Pseudomonas putida. Poster presentation, Joint Meeting of the International Union of Microbiological Societies, San Francisco, California. July 2005.

Regional Presentations

• Mattozzi M, Su JR, Keasling J. Mineralization of paraoxon and use as a sole C and P source by a rationally designed catabolism in Pseudomonas putida. Poster Presentation, Berkeley Microbiology Symposium, Berkeley, California. April 2006.
• Mattozzi M, Keasling J. A bacterial seek and destroy mission: Engineering Pseudomonas putida to seek and degrade paraoxon. Speaker, Berkeley Microbiology Symposium. April 2005.
• Mattozzi M, Tehara S, Keasling J. Complete degradation of organophosphates by engineered Pseudomonas putida. Poster presentation, General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiologists, New Orleans, Louisiana. May 2004
• Mattozzi M, Tehara S, Keasling J. Complete degradation of paraoxon by engineered Pseudomonas putida. Poster presentation, Berkeley Microbiology Symposium. April 2004.
• Mattozzi M, Williams M. Construction of a reporter gene system for visualization of glutamate synthetase pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Speaker, Harvey Mudd College Presentation Days. April 2002.

Funding Sources and Fellowships

• University of California Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Fellowship. July 2006 - Present.
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. August 2003 – August 2006.
• Eugene Cota Robles Fellowship. September 2002–August 2003.
• Plant and Microbial Biology Department Graduate Assistance Fellowship. September 2002–August 2003.

Other Grants and Awards

• Excellence in Promoting Workplace Diversity Award, Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. October 2005.
• Society of Industrial Microbiologists Speaker Travel Grant. August 2005.
• American Society for Microbiology Corporate Activities Travel Grant Award. May 2004.
• William K Purves Prize for Excellence in Biology and Breadth of Interest. December 2001.
• Harvey Mudd College Community Service Award. December 2000.
• Dean’s List, Harvey Mudd College. December 1999–May 2002.