Kathleen LaChance Galang, Ph.D.
Department Co-Chair, Associate Professor of Chemistry

Education
B.S., University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Ph.D. in Bioinorganic Chemistry, Boston College

Courses Taught

• Analytical Chemistry/Lab
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Instrumental Analysis/Lab
• Bioinorganic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry—Thermodynamics
• Organic Chemistry
• Biochemistry/Lab
• Molecular Structure
• Biochemistry of Nutrition
• Science and Public Policy Seminar
• Natural Sciences for non-majors

My teaching philosophy is for the students to learn by example, especially for the courses that are quantitative in nature. I integrate example problems with the theory, illustrating various strategies for solving them. For difficult theoretical concepts, I use concrete analogies and visual aids.

For instance, when discussing crystal packing of anions in Inorganic Chemistry, I used gumballs to represent the anions. The students were given the task to figure out the most efficient way to pack them in a box to occupy the least amount of space. A student then came to me after a soccer game and said that when she was putting the balls away, she noticed the packing arrangement and could identify the details that we had covered in class. From this experience, I assessed that this was a valuable learning activity and that the student really grasped the concept.

Computer technology has been an integral part of every laboratory course I have taught. Data analysis programs are used for tabulating and graphing experimental data acquired in lab, calculating results based on the data and then analyzing them using statistics. Some of the instruments in the lab are interfaced to computers. The instruments are operated through the computer program, and the data acquired can be saved and prepared for incorporation into the laboratory report. This kind of technology prepares students for what they will find in a modern laboratory.

It is rewarding when former graduates let you know that they use much of what you taught them and are appreciative of both the theory and the practical application.

Research Interests
Interactions of ruthenium-ammine complexes with nucleosides and their components.
My interest in the transition metal ruthenium began in graduate school. I looked at [(Im)(NH₃)₄Ru^III] as a probe for long-range electron transfer in proteins. I determined the rate constants for the autoxidation of guanosine when [(NH₃)₅Ru^III] is coordinated to it at the N7 position. I investigated rotamerization and linkage isomerization of [(NH₃)₅Ru^III] on isocytosine and its 6-methyl derivative. I deduced the mechanism of how [(Py)(NH₃)₄Ru^III] cleaves the glycosidic bond of guanosine. I continued the latter project at Regis, substituting isonicotinamide and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde for the pyridine and compared the rate constants. We then coordinated the [(Py)(NH₃)₄Ru^III] to DNA to see if the same mechanism on guanosine occurred, which could subsequently cleave the DNA.

Synthesis and characterization of novel nickel coordination complexes
Thiopurines are a class of compounds used as anti-leukemia agents. Binding transition metals to these compounds enhanced these properties. In my laboratory we synthesized the nickel analogs of these compounds and characterized them.

Genetic Engineering Outlook: Exploring the Impact of Alternate Soil Maintenance Practices on the Nutritional Content of Tomatoes
This was a topic proposed by my research student. With the advent of genetic engineering, she wanted to see if there was a significant difference in the nutritional content of tomatoes due to the lack of soil maintenance, since these types of tomatoes are engineered to grow in adverse conditions. We analyzed for select vitamins and minerals by instrumental methods.

 Publications

Thesis
Effects of Ruthenium^III on Nucleosides and Their Components

Abstract
LaChance-Galang, K.J.; Clarke, M.J., Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry; 1989, 36, 286.

Journal Articles

• LaChance-Galang, K. J. , Ishael Maldonado, M. Louise Gallagher, Wei Jian, Alfred Prock, Jerome Chacklos, Roy D. Galang, and Michael J. Clarke; Inorg. Chem., 40 (3), 485 -492, 2001. Terpsichorean Movements of Pentaammineruthenium on Pyrimidine and Isocytosine Ligands.
• Bailey, V. M.; LaChance-Galang, K. J.; Clarke, M. J. Inorg. Chem. 1997, 36,1873-1883. 1H and 31P NMR and EPR of Pentaammineruthenium(III) Complexes of Endocyclically Coordinated Nucleotides, Nucleosides, and Related Heterocyclic Bases. Autoxidation of [(GuokN7(NH₃)₅Ru^III] (Guo= Guanosine). Crystal Structure of [7MeGuakN9(NH₃)₅Ru]Cl₃· 3H₂O.
• LaChance-Galang, K. J.; Zhao, M.; Clarke, M. J. Inorg. Chem. 1996, 35, 6021-6026. Disproportionation of [(Py)(NH₃)₄Ru^III] at the N7 of Guanine Nucleosides: Severing the N-Glycosidic Bond.
• Clarke, M. J.; Bailey, V.M.; Doan, P.E.; Hiller, C..; LaChance-Galang, K.J., Daghlian, H.; Mandal, S.; Bastos, C. M.; Lang, D. Inorg. Chem. 1996, 35, 4896-4903.. 1H NMR, EPR, UV-Vis, and Electrochemical Studies of Imidazole Complexes of Ru(III). Crystal Structures of cis- [(Im)₂(NH₃)₄Ru]Br₃ and [(1MeIm)₆Ru^II]Cl₂· 2H₂O.
• LaChance-Galang, K.J.; Doan, P.; Rao,U.; Yamano,A.; Hoffman, B. M.; Clarke, M.J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995. 117. 3529-3538. ESR and NMR Spectra as Probes of Spin-Density Distribution in Heterocyclic Ligands Coordinated to [(Im)(NH₃)₄Ru^III]. Crystal Structure of trans-[(Im)₂(NH₃)₄Ru]Cl₃· H₂O.

 Research Student Awards

• Grant-in-Aid awarded to Katie Amaral to attend and present research at the undergraduate poster session at the National ACS meeting in Anaheim, Calif.
• James Flack Norris & Theodore William Richards Undergraduate Research Summer Scholarship awarded to Suzanne Muggeo.
• Grant-in-Aid awarded to Suzanne Muggeo to attend and present research at the undergraduate poster session at the National ACS meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

 Research Student Presentations/Theses

• May 2006: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Zina, Jessica* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. .Investigation of Ruthenium Binding to DNA: A Closer Look at Adensosine Binding.
• May 2003: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Brackley, Rachel* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. Using Ruthenium(III) as a Possible DNA Cleaving Agent: Where is Ruthenium bound on the DNA?May 2002: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Halim, Ervina* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. .Investigation of Ruthenium Binding to DNA. April 2002: Northeastern Section, ACS 39th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, MIT, Cambridge, MA. Halim, Ervina and LaChance-Galang, K. J.
• April 2000: Northeastern Section, ACS 39th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, MIT, Cambridge, MA. Smith, Eleanor* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. Genetic Engineering Outlook: Exploring the Impact of Alternate Soil Maintenance Practices on the Nutritional Content of Tomatoes.
• April 2000: Northeastern Section, ACS 39th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, MIT, Cambridge, MA. Muggeo, Suzanne* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. trans-[RuIII (NH3)4Py] as a Possible DNA Cleaving Agent.
• April 2000: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Smith, Eleanor* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. Genetic Engineering Outlook: Exploring the Impact of Alternate Soil Maintenance Practices on the Nutritional Content of Tomatoes.
• April 2000: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Muggeo, Suzanne* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. trans-[RuIII (NH3)4Py] as a Possible DNA Cleaving Agent.
• March 2000: National ACS Undergraduate Research Poster Session; San Francisco, CA. Muggeo, Suzanne* and LaChance-Galang, K. J. trans-[RuIII (NH3)4Py] as a Possible DNA Cleaving Agent.
• May 1999: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Amaral, Katie*; LaChance-Galang, K. J. Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel . Thiopurine Complexes.
• April 1999: Northeastern Section, ACS 38th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, MIT, Cambridge, MA. Amaral, Katie*; LaChance-Galang, K. J. . Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel. Thiopurine Complexes.
• March 1999: National ACS Undergraduate Research Poster Session; Anaheim, CA. Amaral, Katie*; LaChance-Galang, K. J. . Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel . Thiopurine Complexes.
• May 1997: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Lewis, Susanne; LaChance-Galang, K. J. "Characterization of the Hydrolysis Products of trans-[Ru(NH3)4(isonicotinamide)(Guanosine)Cl3."
• May 1996: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Healy, Elaine B*., LaChance-Galang, K. J. "Synthesis and Characterization of trans- [Ru(NH3)4(isonicotinamide)(Guanosine)Cl3."
• May 1996: Regis College Chapter, Sigma Xi, Undergraduate Research Symposium, Regis College, Weston, MA. Krocka, Michelle M.*; LaChance-Galang, K. J. "Synthesis and Characterization of trans-[Ru(NH3)4(4- Pyridinecarboxaldehyde)(Guanosine)Cl3."
• April 1996: Northeastern Section, ACS 35th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, Boston University, Boston, MA. Healy, Elaine B.*; LaChance-Galang, K. J. "Synthesis and Characterization of trans-[Ru(NH3)4(isonicotinamide)(Guanosine)Cl3."
• April 1996: Northeastern Section, ACS 35th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, Boston University, Boston, MA. Krocka, Michelle M.*; LaChance-Galang, K. J. "Synthesis and Characterization of trans-[Ru(NH3)4(4-Pyridinecarboxaldehyde)(Guanosine)Cl3.

*student earned departmental honors

Other Interests
Walking, gardening, ice skating, piano.