Dr. Ahmed A. Heikal

Associate Professor

Office: SSB 253C
Phone: (218) 726–7036
Fax: (218) 726–7394
E-mail: aaheikal@d.umn.edu
Heikal Lab: Dynamics Imaging of Biomolecular Assemblies

• Ph.D. Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology; Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics
• M.S. Atomic Physics, Tanta University, Egypt
• B.S. Physics, Tanta University, Egypt

Professional Experience

• Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Minnesota-Duluth (2009 - present)
• Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, PSU (2003 - 2009)
• Research Associate, School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University (2000 - 2003)
• Posdoctoral Associate, School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University (1997 - 2000)
• Research Fellow in Chemistry, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA (1995 - 1997)

Research Interests

• Energy metabolism and mitochondrial anomalies
• Biomimetic membrane assemblies
• Immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor signaling
• Protein dynamics and biomolecular interactions
• Single molecule studies
• Molecular crowding
• Development of micro-spectroscopic and analytical techniques

Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Heikal, A.A. Intracellular coenzymes as natural biomarkers for metabolic activities and mitochondrial anomalies. Biomarkers in Medicine, 4(2): 241-263 (2010); Invited Review.
2. Yu, Q. and A.A. Heikal. Two-photon autofluorescence dynamics imaging reveals sensitivity of intracellular NADH concentration and conformation to cell physiology at the single-cell level. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology (B): Biology, 95: 46-57 (2009).
3. Ariola, F.S., Z. Li, C. Cornejo, R. Bittman, and A.A. Heikal. Membrane fluidity and lipid order in ternary giant unilamellar vesicles using a new Bodipy-cholesterol derivative. Biophysical Journal, April Issue, 96(7), 2696-2708(2009).
4. Yu, Q., M. Proia, and A.A. Heikal. Integrated biophotonics approach for noninvasive and multiscale studies of biomolecular and cellular biophysics. J. Biomed. Optics; July/August Issue, 13(4):0413151-14, (2008).
5. Larson, D.R., H. Ow, H.D. Vishwasrao, A.A. Heikal, U. Wiesner, and W.W. Webb. Silica nanoparticle architecture determines radiative properties of encapsulated fluorophores. Chem. Mater., 20:2677-2684 (2008).
6. Davey, A.M., K. Krise. E.D. Sheets, and A.A. Heikal. Molecular perspective of antigen-mediated mast cell signaling. J. Biol. Chem., 283:7117-7127 (2008).
7. Davey, A.M., R.P. Walvick, Y. Liu, A.A. Heikal, and E.D. Sheets. Membrane order and molecular dynamics associated with IgE receptor crosslinking in mast cells. Biophys. J., 92:343-355 (2007).
8. Ariola, F.S., D.J. Mudaliar, R.P. Walvick, and A.A. Heikal. Dynamics imaging of lipid phases and lipid-marker interactions in model biomembranes. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 8:4517-4529 (2006).
9. Liu, Y., H.-R. Kim, and A.A. Heikal. Structural basis of fluorescence fluctuation dynamics of green fluorescent proteins in acidic environments. J. Phys. Chem. B, 110:24138-24146 (2006).
10. Shi, K., A.A. Heikal, and Z. Liu. A single-shot approach for measuring two-photon action cross-section of fluorescent markers. Optics Express, 14:8722-8727 (2006).
11. Korlach, J., D.W. Baird, A.A. Heikal, K.R. Gee, G.R. Hoffman, and W.W. Webb. Spontaneous nucleotide exchange in low molecular weight GTPases by fluorescently labeled γ-phosphate-linked GTP analogs. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 101:2800-2805 (2004).
12. Vishwasrao, H.D., A.A. Heikal, K.A. Kasischke, and W.W. Webb. Conformational dependence of intracellular NADH on metabolic state revealed by associated fluorescence anisotropy. J. Biol. Chem., 280:25119-25126 (2005). Issue Cover and Paper of the Week.
13. Hess, S.T., A.A. Heikal, and W.W. Webb. Fluorescence photoconversion kinetics in novel green fluorescent protein pH sensors (pHluorins). J. Phys. Chem. B, 108:10138-10148 (2004). Issue Cover
14. Hess, S.T.,E.D. Sheets, A. Wagenknecht-Wiesner, and A.A. Heikal. Quantitative analysis of the fluorescence properties of intrinsically fluorescent proteins in living cells. Biophys. J., 85:2566-2580 (2003). 
15. Huang, S., A.A. Heikal, and W.W. Webb. Two-photon fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy on NAD(P)H and flavoprotein, Biophys. J., 82:2811-2825 (2002).
16. Hess, S.T., S. Huang, A.A. Heikal, and W.W. Webb. Biological and chemical applications of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy: a review. Biochem. 41:697-705 (2002).
17. Heikal, A.A., S.T. Hess, and W.W. Webb. Multiphoton spectroscopy and excited state dynamics of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP): acid-base specificity. Chem. Phys., 274:37-55 (2001).
18. Kuebler, S.M., M. Rumi, T. Watanabe, K. Braun, B.H. Cumpston, A.A. Heikal, L.L. Erskine, S. Thayumanavan, S. Barlow, S.R. Marder, J.W. Perry. Optimizing two-photon initiators and exposure conditions for three-dimensional lithographic microfabrication. J. Photopoly. Sci. Tech., 14(4):657-668 (2001).
19. Rumi, M., J.E. Ehrlich, A.A. Heikal, J.W. Perry, S. Barlow, Z. Hu, D. McCord-Maughon, T.C. Parker, H. Roeckel, S. Thayumanavan, S.R. Marder, D. Beljonne, and J.-L. Bredas. Structure-property relationships for two-photon absorbing chromophores: bis-donor diphenylpolyene and bis(styryl)benzene derivatives.  J. Am. Chem. Soc., 122(39):9500-9510 (2000).
20. Heikal, A.A., S.T. Hess, G.S. Baird, R.Y. Tsien, and W.W. Webb. Molecular spectroscopy and dynamics of intrinsically fluorescent proteins: coral red (dsRed) and yellow (Citrine). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 97:11996-12001 (2000).
21. Schwille, P., S. Kummer, A.A. Heikal, W.E. Moerner, and W.W. Webb. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy reveals fast optical excitation-driven intramolecular dynamics of yellow fluorescent proteins. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 97:151-156 (2000).
22. Cumpston, B.H., S.P. Ananthavel, S. Barlow, D.L. Dyer, J.E. Ehrlich, L.L. Erskine, A.A. Heikal, S.M. Kuebler, I.-Y.S. Lee, D. McCord-Maughon, J. Qin, H. Rockel, M. Rumi, X.-L. Wu, S.R. Marder, and J.W. Perry. Two-photon polymerization initiators for three-dimensional optical data storage and microfabrication. Nature, 398:51-54 (1999).
23. Albota, M., D. Beljonne, J.-L. Bredas, J.E. Ehrlich, J-Y. Fu, A.A. Heikal, S.T. Hess, T. Kogej, M.D. Levin, S.R. Marder, D. McCord-Maughon, J.W. Perry, H. Rockel, M. Rumi, G. Subramaniam, W.W. Webb, X.-L. Wu, and C. Xu. Design of organic molecules with large two-photon absorption cross sections. Science, 281:1653-1656 (1998).
24. Heikal, A.A., J.S. Baskin, L. Banares, and A.H. Zewail. Structural effects on the isomerization dynamics of trans-stilbenes: IVR, microcanonical reaction rates, and the nature of the transition state. J. Phys. Chem. A, 101:572-590 (1997).
25. Heikal, A.A.,S.H. Chong, J.S. Baskin, and A.H. Zewail. Microscopic friction and solvation in barrier crossing: isomerization of stilbene in size-selected hexane clusters, Chem. Phys. Lett., 242:380-389 (1995).
26. Kim, S.K., J.J. Breen, D.M. Willberg, L.W. Peng, A.A. Heikal, J.A. Syage, and A.H. Zewail; Solvation ultrafast dynamics of reactions. 8. Acid-base reactions in finite-sized clusters of naphthol in ammonia, water, and piperidine. J. Phys. Chem., 99:7421-7435 (1995).
27. Lienau, C., A.A. Heikal, and A.H. Zewail. Picosecond dynamics of hexane-solvated trans-stilbene. Chem. Phys., 175:171-191 (1993).
28. Banares, L., A.A. Heikal, and A.H. Zewail. Ultrafast dynamics of isomerization reactions: structural effects in stilbene(s). J. Phys. Chem., 96:4127-4130 (1992).
29. Heikal, A.A., L. Banares, D.H. Semmes, and A.H. Zewail. Real-time dynamics of vibrational predissociation in anthracene-argonn (n = 1, 2, 3). Chem. Phys., 156:231-250 (1991).
30. Breen, J.J., L.W. Peng, D.M. Willberg, A. Heikal, P. Cong, and A.H. Zewail. Real-time probing of reactions in clusters. J. Chem. Phys., 92:805-807 (1990).

Teaching Experience

• PHAR 6161: Drug Delivery I (co-Facilitator)
• PHAR 6164: Biopharmaceutics (co-Facilitator)
• BIOE 423: Chemical Kinetics in Biological Systems
• BIOE 520: Advanced Biophotonics in Life Sciences
• BIOE 597C: Biophysics of Molecular Assemblies
• BIOE 100S: First-Year Seminar in Bioengineering

Professional Memberships

• American Chemical Society
• The American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biophysical Society
• The American Society for Cell Biology
• Biomedical Engineering Society
• The International Society for Optical Engineering
• The American Physical Society
• Optical Society of America