Dr. Mark DerKazarian

Dr. Mark DerKazarian was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and raised in Belmont, Massachusetts, where he graduated from the Belmont Hill School (1991). He attended Union College and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology (1995). Dr. DerKazarian received his Doctorate in Medical Dentistry (D.M.D-1999) from the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He graduated with magna cum laude, the student award in periodontics, and was valedictorian of his class. Dr. DerKazarian received his Certificate in Periodontics and Oral Implantology from Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia in 2002. While in his residency, he received a Masters Degree in Science investigating the association between anemia and periodontitis, and completed a program in intravenous conscious sedation.

Dr. DerKazarian is a member of the American Dental Association, Massachusetts Dental Society, and is a board certified member of the American Academy of Periodontology. He resides in Carlisle, Massachusetts with his wife, two children, and an ever changing assortment of wildlife.

Dr. Alan DerKazarian

Dr. Alan DerKazarian graduated from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and after serving two years as a general dentist in the Air Force completed his certificate in Periodontics from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine. He taught at the BU School of Dentistry for over 20 years as Associate Professor of Periodontics. He established his practice Limited to Periodontics in Cambridge in 1963. Dr. DerKazarian is a member of The American Academy of Periodontology (Active Lifetime member), The American Dental Association, Massachusetts Dental Society, and Middlesex District Dental Society. He currently served as the President of Massachusetts Dental Society in 2004-2005. He has also been elected as a fellow of the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy, and Federation Dentale International. In January 2009 Dr. DerKazarian received the prestigious Etherington Award for his many years of contribution to organized dentistry in New England.

Dr. DerKazarian currently resides in both Belmont and Falmouth, Massachusetts with his wife Isabelle and enjoys the company of his five grandchildren; Claire, Gavin, Charlie, Kaitlyn and Charlotte.

Dr. Albert Price

Dr. Albert Price graduated from the University of Penn School of Dental Medicine where he received his doctorate in medical dentistry (D.M.D.).

Following an internship at the Eastman Dental Center, Dr. Price continued his training at the Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry where he received his Certificate in Periodontics as well as attaining a Masters of Science in Oral Biology.

Currently, Dr. Price has a private practice in Falmouth, Massachusetts and is an Assistant Clinical Professor in Periodontics and Oral Biology at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Price has extensive clinical training in all aspects of Periodontics, and has lectured extensively both in the United States and abroad on Implantology and related subjects.

In his spare time, Dr. Price enjoys scuba diving and sail boat racing.

Frank Oppenheim, DMD, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, Boston University School of Dental Medicine

fropp@bu.edu

Education

• Matura B, Gymnasium Aarau, Switzerland
• D. Med. Dent., University of Zurich, Switzerland
• DMD, Boston University
• CAGS in Periodontology, Boston University
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Boston University

Research Goals

The work of my laboratory focuses on the elucidation of structure and function of salivary proteins, which play important role in host defense mechanisms. Structural analysis, peptide biomimetics employing solid phase peptide synthesis and recombinant expression methods are being used in the identification of functional domains within proteins. Functional investigations comprise mechanisms related to anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and mineral homeostasis. Emphasis on these processes is aimed at understanding the basic physiology of hard and soft tissue protection in the oral environment. Proteins such as the histatins, the proline-rich proteins and statherin are examples of proteins unique to the oral cavity. For example, the discovery of the histatin protein family showed that these small basic proteins are rich in histidine, exhibit anti-microbial properties, contain specific functional domains, and are able to kill yeasts by entering cells and target mitochondria. The mechanisms of cell death is being studied. and it has been shown that the killing effect of histatins is related to the inhibition of the respiratory chain leading to the formation reactive oxygen radicals. Other studies in progress comprise the identification and characterization of salivary protein which show selective adsorption to hydroxyapaptite forming a unique protein film on the mineral surfaces of teeth. This protein film determines de- and re-mineralization processes and dictates the early events of microbial colonization.. These studies include biophysical techniques such as NMR and mass spectrometry. Approaches of proteomics are being used to characterize proteins and peptides formed on mineral surfaces in vivo.

Recent Publications

• Gusman H, Travis J, Helmerhorst EJ, Potempa J, Troxler RF, Oppenheim FG. Salivary Histatan 5 is an inhibitor of both host and bacterial enzymes implicated in periodontal disease. Infect Immun 2001. 69:1402-1408.


• Grogan J, McKnight CJ, Troxler RF, Oppenheim FG. Zinc and copper bind to unique sites of histatin 5. FEBS Lett 2001. 491:76-80.


• Helmerhorst EJ, van’t Hof W, Breeuwer P, Veerman ECI, Abee T, Troxler RF, Nieuw Amerongen AV, Oppenheim FG. Characterization of histatin 5 with respect to amphipathicity, hydrophobicity, and effects on cell and mitochondrialmembrane integrity excludes a candidacidal mechanism of pore formation. J Biol Chem2001. 276:5643-5649.


• Gusman H, Grogan J, Kagan HM, Troxler RF, Oppenheim FG. Salivary histatin 5 is a potent competitive inhibitor of the cysteine proteinase clostripain. FEBS Lett 2001. 489:97-100.


• Gusman H, Lendenmann U, Grogan J, Troxler RF and Oppenheim FG. Is salivary histatin 5 a metallopeptide? Biochim Biophys Acta 2000. 1545:86-95.


• Yao Y, Lamkin MS and Oppenheim FG. Pellicle precursor protein crosslinking: characterization of an adduct between acidic proline-rich protein (PRP-1) and statherin generated by transglutaminase. J Dent Res 2000. 930-938.


• Gyurko C, Lendenmann U, Troxler RF, and Oppenheim FG. Candida albicans mutants deficient in respiration are resistant to the small cationic salivary antimibrobial peptide histatin 5.Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2000. 44:348-354.
  

Recent Grants