University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

John R. Porter, PhD

John R. Porter, PhD
Professor, Biological Sciences
Research Professor, Pharmacognosy
Director, Cell Biology & Biotechnology Program

Contact Info:
Office: STC 371
McNeil Science & Technology Center
Voice: (215) 596-3157
Fax: (215) 596-8710
Email:  j.porter@usp.edu
Personal web site

Training and Degrees

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1979-1981)
PhD Botany, University of Montana (1979)
BS Biology, Pittsburg State University (KS) (1975)

Prior Positions

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Professor of Biology, 1999-Present
Research Professor of Chemistry, 1989-Present
Program Director, Biology Graduate Programs, 1997-Present
Graduate Faculty, 1984-Present
Assistant Professor of Biology, 1983-1991
Associate Professor of Biology, 1991-1999
Interim Co-Chair, Dept. of Biology, 2001-2002; 2003-2005
Administrative Fellow, 2005-2006
Wagner Free Institute of Science
Professor of Population Biology, 1987-1999
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, (NASA)
NASA Summer Faculty Research Fellow, John C. Stennis Space Center (MS), 1990-1991
St. Lawrence University Dept. of Biology, Visiting Assistant Professor, 1981-1982
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dept. of Plant Pathology, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 1979-1981

Memberships in Professional Organizations

American Society of Microbiology
American Society of Pharmacognosy
Sigma Xi
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Botanical Society of America
American Chemical Society

Research Interests

The research in my laboratory focuses on three main themes: Novel Sources of Anti-Cancer Compounds, New Compounds for Tuberculosis Treatment, and Natural Products Chemistry. These three areas are linked through the emphasis on natural product analysis. This work continues to involve many researchers, including at the postdoctoral, technician, graduate, and undergraduate students. We are working with the biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin from endophytic fungi, compounds with a new mechanism of action for use against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, molecular biology of the fungi and mycobacteria, analysis of compounds with interesting biological activities, and biosynthesis of interesting compounds by various organisms.

Selected Recent Publications

Porter, J.R. 2008. Plant fungal endophytes: Interactions, metabolites and biosyntheses, pp 503-580 in R. Ikan (ed.), Selected Topics in the Chemistry of Natural Products. World Scientific Publ., Hackensack, NJ.

Eyberger, A.L., R. Dondapati, J.R. Porter. 2006. Two endophyte fungal isolates from Podophyllum peltatum produce podophyllotoxin. J Nat Prod 69(8): 1121-1124.

Al-Howiriny, T.A., A.J. Al-Rehaily, J.R. Pols, J.R. Porter, J.S. Mossa, B. Ahmed. 2005. Three new diterpenes and biological activity of Jasonia montana. Natural Products Research 19 (3): 253-265.

Eyberger A.L., J. Newcome, R. Dondapati, S. Martinez, W. Wilson Jr., J.R. Porter. The endophyte fungi of Podophyllum peltatum. (Barberidaceae) American Journal of Botany, in submission.

Wilson, W. Jr., M. Mathai, J.R. Porter, “Optimization of production of podophyllotoxin by endophytic fungi in culture. Planta Medica, in preparation.