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Molecular and Cellular Biology

The Molecular and Cellular Biology Track is an integrated, multidisciplinary graduate training program emphasizing gene function, animal development, and disease. Learn more >

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Students in the Biomedical Engineering track receive training in the biological, physical and computational sciences through a combination of core and advanced courses, and interdisciplinary research. Learn more >

Toxicology

The Toxicology Track is an innovative, multidisciplinary graduate program investigating the consequences of exposure to chemical agents on living organisms and the environment. Learn more >

Functional Genomics

The Functional Genomics Track is a highly interactive, interdisciplinary program that brings together biologists, computer and information scientists, mathematicians, engineers, biophysicists, and chemists to examine fundamental biological processes related to gene and protein function and interactions. Learn more >

 

Amie Holmes

Amie Holmes

Contact Information

Phone:
(207) 228-8570

Email/web:
amie.holmes@maine.edu
Download CV

Address:
University of Southern Maine
PO Box 9300 
Portland, ME  04106

Education

Ph.D. University of Maine 2011

Biosketch

Amie Holmes, Ph.D., is a full-time assistant research professor at the University of Southern Maine in the Department of Applied Medical Sciences. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Maine in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, specifically investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in hexavalent chromium-induced carcinogenesis.

Research Interests

Dr. Holmes's work focuses on investigation the molecular mechanisms involved in heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis, specifically focusing on mechanisms of numerical chromosome instability and mitotic disruption. Numerical chromosome instability is a hallmark of many solid tumors and is commonly induced after exposure to environmental carcinogens. Changes in chromosome number can alter the critical balance of proteins required to regulate the cell cycle, chromosome segregation, DNA synthesis and DNA repair. Deregulation of any number of these processes can further destabilize the genome and promote tumorigenesis. Numerous mechanisms exist that induce numerical chromosome instability and most involve disruption of chromosome segregation in mitosis. Her work centers around figuring out how heavy metal exposure disruption normal mitotic progression and induces numerical chromosome instability.

Selected Publications

In Press

  • Holmes, A.L. and Wise, Sr., J.P. Aneuploidy: Mechanisms, Cancer and the Role of Environmental Pollutants. In Anueploidy: Etiology, Disorders and Risk Factors. Eds: de Rossi, S. and Bianchi, F. Nova Publishers, In Press.

Additional Publications

  • Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., Qin, Q., Xie, H., Katsifis, S., Thompson, W.D. and Wise, Sr., J.P. Comparative Genotoxicity and Cytotoxicity of Four Hexavalent Chromium Compounds in Human Bronchial Cells. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 23(2): 365-372, 2010.
  • Holmes, A.L., Wise, S.S., Pelsue, S.C., Aboueissa, A., Lingle, W., Salisbury, S., Gallaher, J. and Wise, Sr., J.P. Chronic Exposure to Zinc Chromate Induces Centrosome Amplification and Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Bypass in Human Lung Fibroblasts. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 23(2): 386-395, 2010.
  • Wise, Sr., J.P., Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., LaCerte, C., Shaffiey, F., and Aboueissa, A. The Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Hexavalent Chromium in Steller Sea Lion Lung Fibroblasts Compared to Human Lung Fibroblasts. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 152(1): 91-98, 2010.
  • Holmes, A.L. and Wise, Sr., J.P. Mechanisms of Metal-Induced Centrosome Amplification. Biochemical Society Transactions, 38(6): 1687-1690, 2010.
  • Xie, H., Holmes, A.L., Young, J.L., Qin, Q., Joyce, K, Pelsue, S.C., Peng, C., Wise, S.S., Jeevarajan, A., Wallace, W.T., Hammond, D. and Wise, Sr., J.P. Zinc Chromate Induces Chromosome Instability and DNA Double Strand Breaks in Human Lung Cells. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology., 234: 293–299, 2009.
  • Li Chen, T., Wise, S.S., Holmes, A., Shaffiey, F., Wise, Jr., J.P., Thompson, W.D., Kraus, S. and Wise, Sr., J.P. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of hexavalent chromium in human and North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) lung cells. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 150(4): 487-494, 2009.
  • Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., Wise Sr., J.P. Hexavalent Chromium-Induced DNA Damage and Repair Mechanisms. Reviews on Environmental Health, 23(1): 39-57, 2008.
  • Holmes, A.L., Wise, S.S., Wise Sr., J.P. The Carcinogenicity of Hexavalent Chromium. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 128: 353-372, 2008.
  • Holmes, A.L., Wise, S.S., Goertz, C.E.C., Dunn, J.L., Gulland, F.M.D., Gelatt, T., Beckmen, K.B., Burek, K., Atkinson, S., Bozza, M., Taylor, R., Zheng, T., Zhang, Y., Aboueissa , A. and Wise, Sr., J.P. Metal Tissue Levels in Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Pups. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56(8): 1416-1421, 2008.
  • Xie, H., Holmes, A.L., Wise, S.S., Huang, S., Peng, C., Wise Sr., J.P. Neoplastic Transformation of Human Bronchial Cells by Lead Chromate Particles. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 37: 544-52, 2007.
  • Holmes, A.L., Wise, S.S., Sandwick, S.J., Lingle, W.L., Negron, V.C., Thompson, W.D., and Wise Sr., J.P. Chronic Exposure to Lead Chromate Causes Centrosome Abnormalities and Aneuploidy in Human Lung Cells. Cancer Research, 66(8): 4041-4048, 2006.
  • Holmes, A.L., Wise, S.S., Sandwick, S.J., Wise Sr., J.P. Chronic Exposure to Lead Chromate Causes Persistent Chromosome Damage in Human Lung Cells. Mutation Research, 610:8-13, 2006.
  • Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., Wise Sr., J.P. Particulate and Soluble Hexavalent Chromium Are Cytotoxic and Genotoxic to Human Lung Epithelial Cells. Mutation Research, 610:2-7, 2006.
  • Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., Xie, H., Thompson, W.D., Wise Sr., J.P. Chronic Exposure to Particulate Chromate Induces Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Bypass in Human Lung Cells. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 19(11):1492-1498, 2006.
  • Holmes, A.L., Wise, S. S., Xie, H., Gordon, N., Thompson W.D., and Wise Sr., J.P. Lead Ions Do Not Cause Human Lung Cells to Escape Chromate-Induced Cytotoxicity. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 203:167-176, 2005.
  • Xie, H., Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., Xu, B., Wakeman, T.P., Pelsue, S.C., Singh, N.P., Wise Sr., J.P. Carcinogenic Lead Chromate Induces DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Human Lung Cells. Mutation Research, 586(2): 160-172, 2005.
  • Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., Moreland, J.A., Xie, H., Sandwick, S.J., Stackpole, M.M., Fomenchenko, E.,Teufack, S., May Jr., A.J., Katsifis, S.P. and Wise Sr., J.P. Human Lung Cell Growth Is Not Stimulated By Lead Ions After Lead Chromate-Induced Genotoxicity. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 279(1-2): 75-84, 2005.
  • Wise, S.S., Schuler, J.H.C., Holmes, A.L., Katsifis, S.P., Ketterer, M.E., Hartsock, W.J., Zheng T., and Wise Sr., J.P. A Comparison of Two Carcinogenic Particulate Hexavalent Chromium Compounds: Barium Chromate Is More Potent than Lead Chromate in Human Lung Cells. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 44:156-162, 2004.
  • Xie, H., Holmes, A.L., Wise, S. S., Gordon, N., and Wise Sr., J.P.: Lead Chromate-Induced Chromosome Damage Requires Extracellular Dissolution to Liberate Chromium Ions but Does Not Require Particle Internalization or Intracellular Dissolution. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 17:1362-1367, 2004.
  • Wise, S.S., Holmes, A.L., Ketterer, M.E., Hartsock, W.J., Fomchenko, E., Katsfis, S.P. and Wise Sr., J.P. Chromium is the Proximate Clastogenic Species for Lead Chromate-Induced Clastogenicity in Human Bronchial Cells. Mutation Research, 560:79-89, 2004.


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UMaine The Jackson Laboratory Maine Medical Center Research Institute The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory University of Southern Maine University of New England
 
For more information about the program, please contact:
Laura Hall, GSBSE Administrative Assistant • 207-581-4654 • gsbs@maine.edu