Margaret James, speaker (left) with Barbara Ameer (PACS 2015 Chair and current Alternate Councilor)
Virtual Meeting of the Princeton ACS Section
Thursday, April 13, 2023
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM ET
“Biotransformation and Toxicology of Naturally Occurring and Anthropogenic Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Derivatives”
Margaret O. James, PhD, DSc
Professor Emeritus of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.
Abstract: Anthropogenic polybrominated diphenyl ether derivatives (BDEs) entered the environment through their use as flame retardants, and are classified as persistent organic pollutants. Interestingly, methoxylated BDEs are naturally produced in marine organisms. In animals, BDEs are slowly metabolized through debromination as well as hydroxylation followed by sulfonation or glucuronidation of the hydroxylated metabolites. Natural product methoxy-BDEs can be taken up by fish and shellfish where they undergo demethylation to hydroxylated BDEs and subsequent conjugation of the hydroxylated metabolites. There is concern about the toxicology of BDEs and their hydroxylated metabolites, which have been shown to interact with the thyroid hormone system.
Biography: Margaret O. James received a B.Sc. (honors) in chemistry from University College London in 1969 and a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, University of London in 1972. Following post-doctoral studies in pharmacology/toxicology at the National Institute of Environmental Health Studies (1972-5), she was appointed Senior Staff Fellow at NIEHS (1975-80). In 1980, Dr. James joined the faculty of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, as an assistant professor. She was promoted to associate professor in 1985 and to full professor in 1990. She served as chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry from 1991-2015. She occupied the endowed Jack C. Massey Professorship of Pharmacy from 2006 to 2021.
Dr. James’ research interests are in various aspects of xenobiotic biotransformation in aquatic species as well as people. One current research area is the interaction of drugs and environmental chemicals and their metabolites with steroid-metabolizing enzymes. Another interest is factors that influence individual differences in drug metabolism. Dr. James has authored 177 peer-reviewed articles in such journals as Environmental Health Perspectives, Drug Metabolism and Disposition, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Toxicological Sciences, Environment International and Chemico-Biological Interactions, as well as several book chapters. She has been the principal investigator or co-principal investigator of NIH-funded grants since 1983, including serving as director of the University of Florida’s Superfund Research Program from 1995 to 2007.
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