George H. Fisher, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, University of Miami, 1972.
MS in Organic Chemistry, University of Florida, 1968.
BS in Chemistry, Rollins College, 1965.

Joined Barry: August 1988.

Courses

• CHE 152, CHE 152L Intro Organic and Biochemistry
• CHE 343, CHE 343L Organic Chemistry with Lab, I
• CHE 344, CHE 344L Organic Chemistry with Lab, II
• CHE 447 Advanced Organic Chemistry
• CHE 395, CHE 495 Research

Research Interests

• Altered amino acids in aged and dysfunctional tissues such as normal aged and Alzheimer’s brain and cerebrospinal fluid and osteoarthritic cartilage
• Altered amino acids in processed foods
• Mechanisms of amino acid racemization and repair of damaged amino acids
• Research funded by NIH MBRS-SCORE Grants, 1991 - 2007

Selected Research Publications

• S. D’Aniello, P. Spinelli, G. Ferrandino, K. Peterson, M. Tsesarskaja, G. Fisher, and A. D’Aniello. Cephalopod Vision Involves Dicarboxylic Amino Acids: D-Aspartate, L-Aspartate and L-Glutamate. Biochem. J., 385:1-10 (2005).
• A. D’Aniello, G. Fisher, N. Migliaccio, G. Cammisa, E. D’Aniello, and P. Spinelli. Amino Acids and Transaminases in Ventricular CSF in Brain of Normal and Alzheimer Patients. Neurosci. Lett., 388:49-53 (2005).
• P. Spinelli, E. Brown, G. Ferrandino, M. Branno, P. G. Montarolo, R. K. Rastogi, B. D’Aniello, G. Chieffi, G. Fisher, and A. D’Aniello. D-Aspartic Acid in the Nervous System of Aplysia Limacina: Possible Role in Neurotransmission. J. Cell Physiol. 206: 672-681 (2006). 
• M. Tsesarskaia, E. Galindo, G. Szókán and G. Fisher. A sensitive direct HPLC method for simultaneous determination of N -methyl-( d and l) -aspartate, N -methyl-( d and l) -glutamate and (d and l) -aspartate in biological tissues.  In : D-Amino Acids: A New Frontier in Amino Acid and Protein Research: Practical Methods and Protocols , Konno, Brueckner, D'Aniello, Fisher, Fujii, and Homma, eds., Nova Science Publishers, New York, in press, 2006.
• Galindo, M. Tsesarskaia, S. Lopez, C. Boston, A. D'Aniello, and G. Fisher. An Improved HPLC Method for Determination and Quantification of D - and L-Asp. In : D-Amino Acids: A New Frontier in Amino Acid and Protein Research: Practical Methods and Protocols , Konno, Brueckner, D'Aniello, Fisher, Fujii, and Homma, eds., Nova Science Publishers, New York, in press, 2006.
• M. Tsesarskaia, E. Galindo, G. Szókán and G. Fisher. A sensitive direct HPLC method for simultaneous determination of N-methyl- (d and l)-aspartate, N-methyl-(d and l)-glutamate and (d and l)-aspartate in biological tissues.  Chapter 2.4, pp. 41-47, in: D-Amino Acids: A New Frontier in Amino Acid and Protein Research: Practical Methods and Protocols, Konno, Brueckner, D'Aniello, Fisher, Fujii, and Homma, eds., Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2006.
• P. Spinelli, E. D’Aniello, G. Ferrandino, E. Topo, P. Pulzella, T. Pollio, G. Fisher and A. D’Aniello.  Methods for Total Determination of D-Aspartic Acid, D-Glutamic Acid, and N-Methyl-D-Aspartic Acid and for the Specific Determination of D-Aspartic Acid. Chapter 2.5, pp. 49-57, in: D-Amino Acids: A New Frontier in Amino Acid and Protein Research: Practical Methods and Protocols, Konno, Brueckner, D'Aniello, Fisher, Fujii, and Homma, eds., Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2006.
• E. Galindo, M. Tsesarskaia, S. Lopez, C. Boston, A. D’Aniello, and G. Fisher. An Improved HPLC Method for Determination and Quantification of D- and L-Asp.  Chapter 2.6, pp. 59-64, in: D-Amino Acids: A New Frontier in Amino Acid and Protein Research: Practical Methods and Protocols, Konno, Brueckner, D'Aniello, Fisher, Fujii, and Homma, eds., Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2006.
• G. Fisher.  Biologically Active D-Amino Acids. Editorial in Amino Acids, 32:1-2, 2007
• G. Fisher, S. Lopez, K. Peterson, T. Goff, I. Philip, R. Gaviria, N. Lorenzo, and M. Tsesarskaia. Is There A Correlation Between Age and D-Aspartic Acid In Human Knee Cartilage? Amino Acids, 32:27-30, 2007; published on-line, June 1, 2006.
• Christophe Arteaga, Collins Boston, and George Fisher. D-Aspartic Acid in the Sciatic Nerve of the Grass Frog Rana pipiens. Proceedings of The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), April 12-14, 2007, in press.

Selected Conference Presentations

• Susana Lopez, Kevin Peterson, Tiffany Goff, Ivy Phillip, Robinson Gaviria, Norma Lorenzo, Mara Tsesarskaja, and George Fisher. Is There a Correlation Between Age and D-Aspartic Acid in Knee Cartilage? Presented at the 229th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 14, 2005.
• Susana Lopes, Simone Morgan, Angie Montoya, Collins Boston, Lorna Willie, Silvia Lopez, and George Fisher. Elements of an Effective Student Affiliates Chapter: Fund-Raising, Community Service, and Public Outreach. Presented at the 229th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 14, 2005.
• Raul A. Mirza, Jean-Joseph Poisson, George H. Fisher, Antimo D’Aniello, Patrizia Spinelli, and G. Ferrandino. Do Marine Mollusks Possess Aphrodisiacal Properties? Presented at the 229th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 14, 2005.
• Jean-Joseph Poisson, Raul A. Mirza, G. Ferrandino, Patrizia Spinelli, Antimo D’Aniello, and George Fisher. Occurrence of D-Aspartate and N-Methyl-D-Aspartate in Serum, Liver, and Brain of Chicken. Presented at the 229th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 14, 2005.
• Susana Lopez, Kevin Peterson, Tiffany Goff, Ivy Phillip, Robinson Gaviria, Norma Lorenzo, Mara Tsesarskaja, and George Fisher. Is There a Correlation Between Age and D-Aspartic Acid in Knee Cartilage? Presented at the annual Student Research Forum, Barry University, April 13, 2005.
• M. Tsesarskaia, E. Galindo, G. Fisher and G. Szokan. Sensitive Direct HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of N-Me(D/L)-Asp, N-Me(D,L)-Glu and D/L-Asp. Presented at the 9th International Congress on Amino Acids, Vienna, Austria, August 10, 2005.
• S. Lopez, K. Peterson, T. Goff, I. Philip, R. Gaviria, N. Lorenzo, M. Tsesarskaia, and G. Fisher. Is There a Correlation Between Age and D-Aspartic Acid in Knee Cartilage? Presented at the 9th International Congress on Amino Acids, Vienna, Austria, August 9-12, 2005.
• Collins Boston , Zerachya Ben Yisrael, Johnny Zephirin, and George Fisher, D-Aspartic Acid in Frog Sciatic Nerve. Presented at the 231 st ACS National Meeting, Atlanta , GA , March 27, 2006.
• Christophe Arteaga, Collins Boston, and George Fisher, D-Aspartic Acid in the Sciatic Nerve of the Southern Grass Frog Rana pipiens. Presented at the South Florida ACS Chemical Sciences Symposium “Molecules of Life”, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, November 18, 2006.
• George Fisher on behalf of Mendel Friedman, Crosslinked and D-Amino Acids: Chemistry of Formation and Roles in Nutrition and Microbiology. Presented at the South Florida ACS Chemical Sciences Symposium “Molecules of Life”, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, November 18, 2006.
• Ileana Pazos, Stefanie Thompson, Johnny Zephirin, Sabrina Gillig, Laetitia Barbera, Lina Arencibia and George Fisher. Barry University Chemistry Club/ACS Student Affiliates REACT! Presented at the 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 26, 2007.
• Christophe Arteaga, Collins Boston, and George Fisher. D-Aspartic Acid in the Sciatic Nerve of the Grass Frog Rana pipiens. Presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research  (NCUR), Dominican University, San Rafael, CA, April 12-14, 2007.

Honors / Awards

• Outstanding Faculty Member Award, 2002
• Barry University Presidential Faculty Scholar Award, 1998 and 2006
• American Chemical Society “Southern Chemist Award”, 1995
• Distinguished Service Award, South Florida Section, American Chemical Society, 1991

Professional Memberships

• American Chemical Society
• Florida Academy of Sciences
• Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Chemistry Honor Society
• National Council on Undergraduate Research
• Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society

Contact Information
Office: Wiegand 128A
Telephone: 305-899-3430
Fax: 305-899-3479
E-mail: gfisher@mail.barry.edu