• Education
  • B.S., York College, City Univ. of N.Y., 1984, Chemistry
  • Ph.D., Howard Univ., Washington, D. C., 1992, Organic/Biochemistry
  • Postdoctoral, University of N.C. at Chapel Hill, 1991, Organic Chemistry


• Experience
  • 5/98-1/02 Researcher in Pharmacology (Synthesis and enzymology of homophenylalaninic amino acids), Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine.
  • 5/97-8/97 Researcher in Cell Biochemistry (Synthesis and enzymology of homophenylalaninic amino acids), National Institute of Health (NCI-NIH), Department of Cell Biology.
  • 6/94-6/96 Researcher in Enzymology (Synthesis and enzymology of phenylalaninic peptides and amino acids), Biochem. - Division of Molecular Genetics, Wake School of Medicine.


• Research Interests
  • Synthesis, Isolation, Characterization, and Biological Analyses of Dopa/Dopamine Mimetics


• Current Projects
  • The investigator's research focuses on the synthesis, isolation, characterization and the structure activity analyses of new classes of homologs and analogs of dopa/dopamine. Current collaborative enzymatic evaluations have linked several dopa Mimetics to the inhibition of the melanogenic enzyme, tyrosinase as well as two additional hydroxylase enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase respectively. Melanin regulation is being investigated for its influence against several forms of malignant melanoma as well as pigmentation regulation. Tyrosine hydroxylase and Tryptophan hydroxylase modulation is being investigated for its influence on a host of neurological diseases including drug addiction.


• Selected Publications
  • Harp, J. L.; Gillard, K. NC A&T State Univ. The Synthesis and Characterization of Exogenous Amphetamines. Prep. Res. Journal, April 1999.
  • Harp, J. L.; Gladden, S. NC A&T State Univ. The Synthesis and Enzymatic Studies of Exogenous Amphetamines. Prep. Res. Journal, April 2000.
  • Harp, J.; Gainey, C. NC A&T State Univ. The Synthesis,Characterization and Enzymatic Studies of Exogenous Bicyclic Amphetamine. UNC Journal of Ed, May 2000.
  • Ashwell, C, Growth Biology Laboratory, USDA-ARS.; Harp, J. L., NC A&T State Univ ; Lively, M. G., Wake Forest Univ. Localization of Signal Peptidase Substrate Binding Domain J. Biochem. (Submitted Jan. 2002).
  • Harp, J. L., NC A&T State Univ. and Jesse M. Nicholson, Howard Univ. A Practical Route to New Functionalized Homodopa Precursors. Tetrahedron Letters May 2000 (Currently In Revision).


• Pending Patents
  • Harp, J. L., NC A&T State Univ. and Jesse M. Nicholson, Howard Univ. Synthetic Structuring Methods of Inhibiting Melanin Formation Utilizing Altered Phenylalaninic Amino Compounds-5. US Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 8-15-00.
  • Harp, J. L., NC A&T State Univ. and Jesse M. Nicholson, Howard Univ. Synthetic Structuring Methods of Inhibiting Melanin Formation Utilizing Altered Phenylalaninic Amino Compounds-4. US Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 6-23-99.
  • Harp, J. L., NC A&T State Univ. and Jesse M. Nicholson, Howard Univ. Synthetic Structuring Methods of Inhibiting Melanin Formation Utilizing Altered Phenylalaninic Amino Compounds-3. US Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 6-23-98.
  • Harp, J. L., NC A&T State Univ. and Jesse M. Nicholson, Howard Univ. Synthetic Structuring Methods of Inhibiting Melanin Formation Utilizing Altered Phenylalaninic Amino Compounds-2. US Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 6-21-97.
  • Harp, J. L., NC A&T State Univ. and Jesse M. Nicholson, Howard Univ. Synthetic Structuring Methods of Inhibiting Melanin Formation Utilizing Altered Phenylalaninic Amino Compounds-1. US Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 6-21-96.

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