Rate My Professor Mark Macbeth

Mark Macbeth is a professor in the Clowes Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Butler University, where he holds the position of Chair of the Institutional Biosafety Committee. He earned a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Delaware in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the University of Chicago in 1998, during which he studied a critical stem-loop structure in ribosomal RNA targeted by cytotoxins sarcin and ricin. Following his doctorate, Macbeth conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Utah School of Medicine, investigating ADAR2, an enzyme responsible for converting adenosine to inosine in RNA transcripts. His research career centers on the structure-function relationships of RNA and RNA-modifying proteins.

At Butler University, Macbeth's academic interests encompass RNA editing enzymes in pathogenic protozoa, such as the RNA lariat debranching enzyme Dbr1 from Entamoeba histolytica, bacterial esterases including Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0045c, and the growth of protein crystals under microgravity conditions. Notable publications include 'Crystal structure of the Entamoeba histolytica RNA lariat debranching enzyme (Dbr1)' published in Nucleic Acids Research in 2017, 'Transition metal cation inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0045c esterase' in Protein Science in 2021, and 'An Analysis of Protein Crystals Grown under Microgravity Conditions' in Crystals in 2024, co-authored with undergraduate students and colleagues. Macbeth mentors undergraduate researchers, supervising honors theses on topics like nucleic acid editing by adenosine deaminase enzymes and double-stranded RNA binding motifs for RNA recognition. Beyond research, he has contributed to public outreach through Butler University expert panels addressing COVID-19 vaccine questions and by developing innovative video-based virtual laboratories for general chemistry courses during the shift to remote learning in 2020. His efforts underscore a commitment to experiential learning and student engagement in biochemistry and chemistry.