Prof. Donald Mykles | Marine Biology | Distinguished Scientist Award

Colorado State University | United States

Dr. Donald L. Mykles is a renowned biologist recognized for his pioneering research in comparative physiology, molecular biology, and developmental regulation in invertebrates. His scientific contributions have significantly advanced understanding of protein degradation mechanisms in animals and plants, particularly the roles of calcium- and ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent pathways in muscle, neuronal, and plant systems. His studies on crustacean muscle biology have elucidated biochemical distinctions between fast and slow fiber types and their adaptive transitions during development. Dr. Mykles has also made important discoveries in the hormonal regulation of molting and limb regeneration in decapod crustaceans, focusing on the signaling mechanisms controlling ecdysteroid synthesis. As a distinguished scholar and educator, he has been widely recognized for excellence in teaching, mentoring, and academic leadership, contributing extensively to graduate and honors education. His election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science underscores his sustained impact on biological research and education. With over 3,936 citations from 1,949 documents, 102 publications, and an h-index of 38, Dr. Mykles has demonstrated a profound and lasting influence on the fields of cell and developmental biology. Through an integrative approach combining cellular, molecular, and physiological analyses, he has deepened the scientific community’s understanding of proteolytic systems and developmental control in both animal and plant models, establishing himself as a leading figure in integrative and comparative biology.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Mykles, D. L. (1977). The ultrastructure of the posterior midgut caecum of Pachygrapsus crassipes (Decapoda, Brachyura) adapted to low salinity. Tissue and Cell, 9(4), 681–691.
Mykles, D. L., & Ahearn, G. A. (1978). Changes in fluid transport across the perfused midgut of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, during the molt cycle. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 61(4), 643–645.
Mykles, D. L. (1979). Ultrastructure of alimentary epithelia of lobsters, Homarus americanus and H. gammarus, and crab, Cancer magister. Zoomorphology, 92(3), 201–215.
Mykles, D. L. (1980). The mechanism of fluid absorption at ecdysis in the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Journal of Experimental Biology, 84, 89–101.
Holliday, C. W., Mykles, D. L., Terwilliger, R. C., & Dangott, L. J. (1980). Fluid secretion by the midgut caeca of the crab, Cancer magister. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 67(2), 259–263.
Mykles, D. L. (1981). Ionic requirements of transepithelial potential difference and net water flux in the perfused midgut of the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 69(2), 317–320.
Mykles, D. L., & Skinner, D. M. (1981). Preferential loss of thin filaments during molt-induced atrophy in crab claw muscle. Journal of Ultrastructure Research, 75(3), 314–325.
Mykles, D. L., & Skinner, D. M. (1982). Crustacean muscles: Atrophy and regeneration during molting. In B. M. Twarog, R. J. C. Levine, & M. M. Dewey (Eds.), Basic biology of muscles: A comparative approach (pp. 337–357). Raven Press. (Society of General Physiology Series, Vol. 37).
Mykles, D. L., & Skinner, D. M. (1982). Molt-cycle associated changes in calcium-dependent proteinase activity that degrades actin and myosin in crustacean muscle. Developmental Biology, 92(2), 386–397.
Mykles, D. L., & Skinner, D. M. (1983). Ca²⁺-dependent proteolytic activity in crab claw muscle: Effects of inhibitors and specificity for myofibrillar proteins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 258(17), 10474–10480.