David N Silverman

Dr. David N Silverman is a Professor at the University of Florida's College of Medicine, specializing in enzymology and biophysics. His research focuses on catalytic mechanisms of carbonic anhydrase and superoxide dismutase, particularly proton transfer pathways and enzyme function in physiological and pathological contexts. He has held roles including Chair of the 2004 Gordon Conference on Isotopes and received an honorary doctorate from Umea University (1997).

Education:

• Ph.D. 1968, Columbia University
• B.S. 1964, Michigan State University

Research Interests: Dr. Silverman investigates how enzymes achieve extraordinary catalytic efficiency, especially in proton transfer processes. His work combines structural biology (e.g., neutron crystallography), kinetic analysis, and mutagenesis to uncover mechanisms in enzymes like carbonic anhydrase (CO₂ hydration) and superoxide dismutase (ROS detoxification). Applications include cancer biology (e.g., carbonic anhydrase IX in tumor pH regulation) and CO₂ sequestration.

Publications: Over 200 articles span enzymology, structural biology, and biophysics. Notable themes include proton shuttles (His64 in carbonic anhydrase II), thermostable enzyme engineering, and enzyme inhibition mechanisms. Recent work explores carbonic anhydrase IX's role in breast cancer cells.

Awards/Grants: NIH grants (e.g., NCI-funded breast cancer studies), Teacher of the Year (1982-1983), and patents on CO₂ sequestration enzymes. Served on NIH's Physical Biochemistry Study Section (1992-1996).

Labs/Teams: Leads a lab pioneering techniques like neutron diffraction and membrane inlet mass spectrometry. Collaborates on structural biology, enzyme kinetics, and drug discovery.