Alvin Holder

Assistant Professor

Bioinorganic Chemistry

Education:

  1. B. Sc (Hons). The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica (1989)
  2. Ph.D. The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica (1994)
  3. Postdoc. ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (1996-1997), Virginia Tech (2002-2003), The Ohio State University (2003-2004), Colorado State University (2004-2006)

Research Interests: 

  • Bioinorganic Chemistry 
  • Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms 
  • Coordination Chemistry of Transition Metal Complexes
  • Organic Synthesis of Ligands for Coordination to Transition Metal Centers

Current Research:

My research revolves around biological and inorganic chemistry, bioinorganic and inorganic reaction mechanisms, which includes the following: 

  • Synthesis and characterization of supramolecular polypyridyl ruthenium(II)/rhodium(III) complexes for bioinorganic studies of DNA recognition and reactions by metallointercalators, followed by their use as anti-cancer agents in photodynamic therapy.
  • Insulin-like vanadium complexes: Design of new analogs of dipicolinic acid and Schiff bases for coordination to vanadium(III/IV/V). Physiological testing on STZ-induced diabetic rats.
  • Vasodilators: Design of NO donors for use in hypertension.
  • Synthesis and characterization of transition metal complexes containing dipicolinic acid and its analogs as ligands.
  • The use of EPR {V(IV), Cu(II), and Mo(V) at ambient and liquid nitrogen temperatures}, NMR (95Mo, 13C, 1H, 51V, 19F, and 31P), and other physical means in the structural elucidation of various transition metal complexes.
  • Studies involving medicinal plants of the Caribbean. Their use in the fight against diabetes.
  • Synthesis and characterization of novel non-hydrolyzable nucleotides (inclusive of C-13 labeled nucleotides); also cobalt(III), chromium(III) and vanadium(IV/V) complexes. Their use as inhibitors of the enzymatic synthesis of DNA through the use of DNA polymerase β.
  • Studies on why ascidians (tunicates, sea squirts) assimilate and reduce vanadates from seawater.
  • Bioinorganic chemistry of purple acid phosphatase.
  • Inorganic reaction mechanisms. Substitution and electron transfer reactions involving biological reductants in aqueous solution.

Selected Publications:

  1. Holder, Alvin A. “Bioinorganic Pharmaceuticals.” Annu. Rep. Prog. Chem., Sect. A 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1IC90005F.
  2. Holder, Alvin A. “Chromium, molybdenum and tungsten.” Annu. Rep. Prog. Chem., Sect. A 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1IC90003J.
  3. Kumar, Amit; Olaivar, Jason F.; Lewis, Nerissa A.; Khade, Rahul L.; Holder, Alvin A.; Zhang, Yong; Rangachari; Vijayaraghavan “Bi-metal complex containing Pt(II) and Ru(II) inhibits Ab42 peptide aggregation: Potential for multi-metal organometallics as anti-amyloid agents.” ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2010, 1, 691-701.
  4. Beckford, Floyd; Shaloski, Jr.; Michael; Leblanc, Gabriel; Thessing, Jeffrey; Lewis-Alleyne, Lesley C.; Holder, Alvin A.; Li, Liya; Seeram, Navindra P. “Microwave synthesis of mixed ligand diimine-thiosemicarbazone complexes of ruthenium(II): biophysical reactivity and cytotoxicity.” Dalton Trans. 2009, 10757-10764.
  5. Rambaran,Varma H.; Balof, Shawna; Moody, LaMaryet; VanDerveer, Don; Holder, Alvin A. “A new and efficient synthetic route for the synthesis of 3,6-dimethylpyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid hydrate: molecular structure and unique supramolecular        interactions.”  CrystEngComm 2009, 11, 580-582.
  6. Brown, Ross F.; Dasgupta, Tara P.; Maragh, Paul T.; Holder, Alvin A. “Dynamic studies of transnitrosation of thiols of biological importance by the Nitrosated  4,4′,4′′,4′′′-tetrasulfophthalo-cyaninecobaltate(III) anion in aqueous solution.”  Biophys. Chem. 2009, 141(2-3), 198-202.
  7. Wang, Shijun; Milam, Jenifer; Ohlin, C. André; Rambaran, Varma; Clark, Eva; Ward, Woodrow; Seymour, Luke; Casey, William H.; Holder, Alvin A.; Miao, Wujian. “Electrochemical and Electrogenerated Chemiluminescent Studies of a Trinuclear Complex–[((phen)Ru(dpp))2RhCl2]5+ and Its Interactions with Calf Thymus DNA.”  Anal.  Chem. 2009, 81, 4068-4075.

 CHAPTERS IN TEXTBOOKS

  1. “NO and NO Donors” Cai, Tingwei Bill; Wang, Peng George; Holder, Alvin A. in “Nitric Oxide Donors for Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications.”  Wang, Peng George; Cai, Tingwei Bill, Taniguchi, Naoyuki, Eds, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KgaA., Weinheim, Germany, 2005,  Chapter 1, pp. 3-31.
  2. “Do vanadium compounds drive reorganization of the plasma membrane and activation of insulin receptors with lipid rafts?”  Roess, Deborah A.; Smith, Steven M. L.; Holder, Alvin A.; Baruah, Bharat; Trujillo, Alejandro M.; Gilsdorf, Daniel; Stahla, Michelle L.; Crans, Debbie C. ACS Symposium Series, 2007,  974(Vanadium),  pp. 121-134.
  3. “Dipicolinic acid, its analogues, and derivatives: aspects of their coordination chemistry.” Holder, Alvin A.; Lewis-Alleyne, Lesley C.; VanDerveer, Don;  Singh-Wilmot, Marvadeen.  Publishers: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2010.

Study Abroad Program in Jamaica and Researchers (pdf)

Research Interests (pdf)