David Petering

David Petering is an Adjunct Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), affiliated with the College of Letters & Science. He holds Emeritus status with the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery. His research focuses on zinc trafficking, metallothionein biology, and toxic metal interactions with cellular proteins.

Education: PhD in Chemistry from the University of Michigan. His work integrates biochemical, cellular, and molecular approaches to study zinc homeostasis, including mechanisms of zinc entry into cells, metallothionein's role in cancer, and cadmium toxicity. Techniques include stable isotope tracking with ICP-MS, fluorescence microscopy, and NMR spectroscopy.

Research Interests:

• Zinc-finger proteins (e.g., Sp1, HIV nucleocapsid)
• Metallothionein's role in zinc and toxic metal metabolism
• Cadmium toxicity mechanisms in kidney cells
• Development of fluorescent sensors for intracellular zinc
• Environmental health education using zebrafish models

Key Contributions: Pioneered methods for studying zinc protein dynamics, elucidated cadmium-induced gene expression changes in kidney transporters, and developed educational tools for pre-college STEM programs. Over 100 peer-reviewed publications span biochemical mechanisms, toxicology, and educational outreach.

Grants & Labs: Active in National Science Foundation (NSF) and NIH-funded projects. Leads the Petering Lab focusing on cellular metallomics and environmental health research. Collaborates with institutions like UW-Milwaukee's School of Freshwater Sciences.