Eric Soupene, PhD

 

Eric is an expert in biochemistry, membrane biology, and molecular biology. He develops new procedures to measure protein levels and activity of metabolic enzymes, protein/protein interaction and modification, gene expression, cloning, and protein expression. He applies experimental protocols and acquires and analyzes data, interacts with clients, advises on technologies to be used to reach their scientific goals, and submits written reports. 

Publications 

  1. Ansong-Ansongton YON, Mohamed K, Zapet Bamac D, Horneman H, Usac Rose F, Goreke U, Alejandro MG, Soupene E, Giannikopoulos P, Nguyen D, Rivers A. Higher calcium levels exacerbate sickling of RBC-retaining mitochondria in pediatric SCD patients. Blood. (2026)
  2. Zhang X, Sinha R, Soupene E, Lesch B, Pendergast A, Choi R, Foppiani E, Kostamo Z, Cordero M, MacKenzie T, Cromer K. Multiplex base editing enhances fetal hemoglobin production in sickle cell disease erythroid cells. Blood. (2025) Jia K, 
  3. Soupene E, Horneman H, Alejandro M, Mohamed K, Ansong-Ansongton YON, Rivers A. Dual Assessment of the RBC Fraction Abnormally Retaining Mitochondria and of the RBC Mitochondrial Load Provides a New Clinical Parameter for Sickle Cell Disease Patients. eJheam (2025) 
  4. Shah AP, Majeti KR, Ekman FK, Selvaraj S, Sharma D, Sinha R, Soupene E, Chati P, Luna SE, Charlesworth CT, McCreary T, Lesch BJ, Tran T, Chu SN, Porteus MH, Cromer KM. Engineering synthetic signaling receptors to enable erythropoietin-free erythropoiesis. (2025) 
  5.  Chu SN, Soupene E, Sharma D, Sinha R, McCreary T, Hernandez B, Shen H, Wienert B, Bowman C, Yin H, Lesch BJ, Jia K, Romero KA, Kostamo Z, Zhang Y, Tran T, Cordero M, Homma S, Hampton JP, Gardner JM, Conklin BR, MacKenzie TC, Sheehan VA, Porteus MH, Cromer MK.Dual α-globin-truncated erythropoietin receptor knockin restores hemoglobin production in α-thalassemia-derived erythroid cells​. (2025)  Cell Rep.
  6.  Luna SE, Camarena J, Hampton JP, Majeti KR, Charlesworth CT, Soupene E, Selvaraj S, Jia K, Sheehan VA, Cromer MK, Porteus MH. Enhancement of erythropoietic output by Cas9-mediated insertion of a natural variant in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. (2024)  Nat Biomed Eng.
  7.  Chu SN, Soupene E, Wienert B, Yin H, Sharma D, McCreary T, Jia K, Homma S, Hampton JP, Gardner JM, Conklin BR, MacKenzie TC, Porteus MH, Cromer MK. Dual α-globin and truncated EPO receptor knockin restores hemoglobin production in α-thalassemia-derived red blood cells. (2024) 
  8. Vissa M, Larkin SK, Vichinsky EP, Kuypers FA, and Soupene E. Assessment of total and unbound cell-free heme in plasma of patients with sickle cell disease. (2023) (2023). Exp Biol Med DOI: 10.1177/15353702231157920
  9. Soupene E, and Kuypers FA. Dual role of ACBD6 in the acylation remodeling of lipids and proteins. Biomolecules. (2022)  12(12):1726. doi: 10.3390/biom12121726.
  10. Soupene E, Schatz UA, Rudnik-Schöneborn S, and Kuypers FA. Requirement of the acyl-CoA carrier ACBD6 in myristoylation of proteins: activation by ligand binding and protein interaction. (2020) PLOSone. 15(2): e0229718
  11. Islinger M, Costello J, Kors S, Soupene E, Levine T, Kuypers FA, Schrader M. The diversity of ACBD proteins - from lipid binding to protein modulators and organelle tethers. (2020) 1867(5).  Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res
  12. Soupene E, and Kuypers FA. ACBD6 protein controls acyl chain availability and specificity of the N-myristoylation modification of proteins. (2019) J Lipid Res. 60(3):624-635. 
  13. Soupene E, and Kuypers FA. Phosphatidylserine decarboxylase CT699, lysophospholipid acyltransferase CT775, and acyl-ACP synthase CT776 provide membrane lipid diversity to Chlamydia trachomatis. (2017).  Sci Rep. 7(1):15767
  14. Soupene E, Larkin SK, Kuypers FA. Depletion of HDL3 high density lipoprotein and altered functionality of HDL2 in blood from sickle cell patients. (2017) Exp Biol Med. DOI: 10.1177/1535370217706966 
  15. Soupene E, Borja MS, Borda M, Larkin SK, Kuypers FA. Alterations of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity and apolipoprotein A-I functionality in human sickle blood. (2016)  Exp Biol Med. 241(17):1933-1942
  16. Soupene E, Kao J, Cheng DH, Wang D, Greninger AL, Knudsen GM, DeRisi JL, Kuypers FA. (2016) Association of NMT2 with the acyl-CoA carrier ACBD6 protects the N-myristoyltransferase reaction from palmitoyl-CoA. J Lipid Res. 57(2):288-98.
  17. Soupene, E., and Kuypers, F.A. (2015). Ligand binding to the ACBD6 protein regulates the acyl-CoA transferase reactions in membranes. J Lipid Res.56(10):1961-71.
  18. Soupene, E., Wang D, and Kuypers FA. (2015). Remodeling of host phosphatidylcholine by Chlamydia acyltransferase is regulated by acyl-CoA binding protein ACBD6 associated with lipid droplets. MicrobiologyOpen. doi: 10.1002/mbo3.234. 
  19. Nazarov I, Lee JW, Soupene E, Etemad S, Knapik D, Green W, Bashkirova E, Fang X, Matthay MA, Kuypers FA, and Serikov VB. (2012).  Multipotent stromal stem cells from human placenta demonstrate high therapeutic potential. Stem Cells Transl Med. 1(5):359-72. 
  20. Soupene, E., and Kuypers, F.A. (2012) Phosphatidylcholine formation by LPCAT1 is regulated by Ca2+ and the redox status of the cell. BMC Biochemistry, BMC Biochem 2012, 13:8.
  21. Soupene, E., Rothschild, J., Kuypers, F.A., and Dean, D. (2012). Eukaryotic protein recruitment into the Chlamydia inclusion: implications for survival and growth. PLoS ONE 7(5): e3684.
  22. Nazarov, I., Lee, J., Soupene, E., Etemad, S., Knapik, D., Green, W., Bashkirova, E., Fang, Xiaohui; Matthay, M., Kuypers, F. and Serikov, V. (2012). Multipotent Stromal Stem Cells from Human Placenta Demonstrate High Therapeutic Potential.  STEM CELLS Translational Medicine 1(5): 0021.
  23. Soupene, E., Dinh, N.P., Siliakus, M. and Frans A Kuypers (2010) Activity of the acyl-CoA synthetase ACSL6 isoforms: role of the fatty acid Gate-domains. BMC Biochemistry, 11:18
  24. Soupene, E., Kemaladewi, D.W. and Kuypers, F. (2008) ATP8A1 activity and phosphatidylserine transbilayer movement. J. Receptor, Ligand and Channel Res, 1( RLC -3773):1-10.
  25. Soupene E, Kuypers FA. (2008). Mammalian long-Chain acyl-CoA synthetases. Exp Biol Med (Maywood).233(5):507-521.
  26. Soupene E, Serikov V, Kuypers FA. (2008). Characterization of an acyl-coenzyme A binding protein predominantly expressed in human primitive progenitor cells. J Lipid Res. 49(5):1103-12.
  27. Soupene E, Fyrst H, Kuypers FA. (2008). Mammalian acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase enzymes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 8;105(1):88-93.
  28. Soupene, E. and Kuypers, FA. (2006) Identification of an erythroid ATP-Dependent aminophospholipid transporter. Br J Haematol. 133(4):436-8.
  29. Soupene, E. and Kuypers, FA. (2006) Multiple erythroid isoforms of human long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases are produced by switch of the fatty acid gate domains. BMC Mol Biol. 11;7:21.
  30. Soupene, E., Inwood, W. L. and Kustu, S. (2004) Lack of the Rhesus protein Rh1 impairs growth of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at high CO2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 18;101(20):7787-92
  31. Corbin, R.W., Paliy, O., Yang, F., McAuliffe, J., Kustu, S., Soupene, E., and Hunt, D.F. (2003) Toward a protein profile of Escherichia coli: comparison to its transcription profile. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 5;100(16):9232-7.
  32. Soupene, E., van Heeswijk, W.C., Plumbridge, J., Stewart, V., Bertenthal, D., Lee,H., Prasad, G., Charernnoppakul,P., and Kustu, S. (2003) Physiological studies of Escherichia coli strain MG1655: growth defects and apparent cross-regulation of gene expression.. J. Bacteriol., 185(18):5611-26.
  33. Soupene, E., King, N., Lee, H. L. and Kustu, S. (2002) Aquaporin Z of Escherichia coli: Reassessment of its regulation and physiological role. J. Bacteriol., 184 (15): 4304-4307. 
  34. Soupene, E., King, N., Feild, E., Liu, P., Niyogi, K.K., Huang, C-H., and Kustu, S. (2002) Rhesus expression in a green alga is regulated by CO2. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 99 (11): 7769-73. 
  35. Soupene, E., Chu, T., Corbin, R.W., Hunt, D.F., and Kustu, S. (2002) Gas Channels for NH3; Proteins from hyperthermophiles complement an Escherichia coli mutant. J. Bacteriol. 184 (12): 3396-3400. 
  36. Soupene, E., Lee, H. L. and Kustu, S. (2002) Ammonium/Methylammonium Transport (Amt) proteins facilitate diffusion of NH3 bidirectionally. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 99 (6): 3926-31 
  37. Soupene, E., Ramirez, R., and Kustu, S. (2001) Evidence that fungal Mep proteins mediate diffusion of the uncharged species NH3 across the cytoplasmic membrane. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 21 (17): 5733-5741. 
  38. Nitrogen regulatory protein C-controlled genes of Escherichia coli: Scavenging as a defense against nitrogen limitation. (2000) Zimmer, D. P., Soupene, E., Lee, H. L., Wendisch, V.F., Khodursky, A. B., Peter, B. J., Bender, R. A., and Kustu, S. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 97 (26): 14674-79. 
  39. Saprophytic Intracellular Rhizobia in Alfalfa Nodules. (2000) Timmers, A. C. J. Soupene, E*., Auriac, M. C., de Billy, F., Vasse, J., Boistard, P., and Truchet, G.M.P.M.I. 13(11):1204-13
  40. Physiological role for the GlnK protein of enteric bacteria: Relief of NifL inhibition under nitrogen-limiting conditions. (1998) He, L., Soupene, E., Ninfa, A., and Kustu, S. J. Bacteriol. 180(24):6661-67. 
  41. Ammonia acquisition in enteric bacteria: Physiological role of the ammonium/methyammonium transport B (AmtB) protein. (1998) Soupene, E., He, L., Yan, D. and Kustu, S. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 95: 7030-34. 
  42. NtrC is required for control of Klebsiella pneumoniae NifL activity. (1997) He, L., Soupene, E. and Kustu, S. J. Bacteriol. 179: 7446-55. 
  43. Foussard, M., Garnerone, A-M., Ni, F., Soupene, E., Boistard, P. and Batut, J. (1997) Negative autoregulation of the Rhizobium meliloti fixK gene is indirect and requires a newly identified regulator, FixT. Mol. Microbiol. 25: 27-37. 
  44. Oxygen as a key developmental regulator of Rhizobium meliloti N2-fixation gene expression within the alfalfa root nodule. (1995) Soupene, E., Foussard, M., Boistard, P., Truchet, G. and Batut, J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92: 3759-63. 
  45. Processing of truncated mouse or human rRNA transcribed from ribosomal minigenes transfected into mouse cells. (1994) Hadjiolova, K. V., Normann, A., Cavaille, J., Soupene, E., Mazan, S., Hadjiolov, A. A. and Bachellerie, J. P. Mol. Cell. Biol. 14: 4044-56. 
  46. Modular structure of the FixL protein of Rhizobium meliloti. de Philip, P., Soupene, E., Batut, J. and Boistard, P. (1992) Mol. Gen. Genet. 235: 49-54.