¹û½´ÊÓƵ

I obtained my B.S. in Biochemistry from Campbell University, where I also minored in Music. I completed my Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University in the laboratory of Larry Marnett. While a graduate student, I studied cell death mechanisms and gene expression responses triggered by a lipid breakdown product that is generated during oxidative stress. Following graduate school, I moved to Northwestern University to work as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Rick Morimoto, where I continued studying gene expression responses to protein damage. Since 2008, I have been a faculty member at ¹û½´ÊÓƵ. I teach introductory Cellular & Molecular Biology, Techniques in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (an advanced, research-intensive laboratory course), Principles of Biochemistry (a foundational Biochemistry course for juniors and seniors), and Chemical Biology (an advanced Biochemistry elective). I also mentor about 5-10 undergraduate students as thesis advisees and research assistants in my laboratory each year. My group’s projects are currently focused on understanding the structural features of various oxidant defense enzymes that define their activities, monitoring how one of these oxidant defense enzymes safeguards the genome against mutations, and employing chemical approaches to elucidate disulfide-based redox partnerships between proteins in different cellular compartments. We use a combination of genetics, cell biology, and protein biochemistry to address these problems, mainly working in a baker’s yeast model system.

• BCMB 331:Ìý Principles of Biochemistry
• BIOL 201:Ìý Gateway to Molecular and Cellular Biology
• IDPT 101:Ìý First-Year Seminar
• CHEM 120:Ìý Principles of Chemistry
• BCMB 303:Ìý Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• BCMB 332:Ìý Biochemistry of Metabolism
• BCMB 333:Ìý Chemical Biology
• BCMB 399:Ìý Tutorial in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• BCMB 401:Ìý Introduction to Independent Study

• West, J.D.Ìý(2022) Experimental Approaches for Investigating Disulfide-Based Redox Relays in Cells.ÌýChem. Res. Toxicol., in press (invited review manuscript)
• Freije, B.J.,* Freije, W.M.,* Do, T.U.,* Adkins, G.E.,* Bruch, A., Hurtig, J.E.,* Morano, K.A., Schaffrath, R. andÌýWest, J.D.Ìý(2022) Identifying Interaction Partners of Yeast Protein Disulfide Isomerases Using a Small Thiol-Reactive Cross-Linker: ÌýImplications for Secretory Pathway Proteostasis. ÌýChem. Res. Toxicol.,Ìý35,Ìý326-336
• Vicker, S.L.,*,†ÌýMaina, E.N.,*,†ÌýShowalter, A.K.,*,†ÌýBailey, M.R.,* McGarry, S.W.,* Tran, N.,* Davidson, E.E.,* Freije, W.M.,* andÌýWest, J.D.Ìý (2022) Broader than Expected Tolerance for Substitutions in the WCGPCK Catalytic Motif of Yeast Thioredoxin 2. ÌýFree Radic. Biol. Med.Ìý178, 308-313
• Kaduhr, L., Brachmann, C., Ravichandran, K.E.,ÌýWest, J.D., Glatt, S., and Schaffrath, R. (2021) Urm1, not quite a ubiquitin-like modifier?ÌýMicrob. CellÌý8, 256-261 (invited minireview/perspective
• Brachmann, C.,†ÌýKaduhr, L.,†ÌýJüdes, A.,†ÌýRavichandran, K.E.,ÌýWest, J.D., Glatt, S., and Schaffrath, R. Ìý(2020) Redox requirements for ubiquitin-like urmylation of Ahp1, a 2-Cys peroxiredoxin from yeast. ÌýRedox BiologyÌý30, 101438
• Loberg, M.A.,* Allan, K.M.,* Graff, A.H., Hurtig, J.E.,* Buchan, J.A.,* Spencer, M.K.,* Kelly, J.E.,* Clodfelter, J.E., Morano, K.A., Lowther, W.T., and West, J.D. (2019) Conserved Aromatic Residues at the Dimer-Dimer Interface in the Yeast Peroxiredoxin Tsa1 Facilitate Decamer Formation and Biological Function. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 32, 474-483
• West, J.D., Roston, T.J.,* David, J.B.,* Allan, K.M.,* and Loberg, M.A.* (2018) Piecing Together How Peroxiredoxins Maintain Genomic Stability. Antioxidants 7, 177
  
  * denotes ¹û½´ÊÓƵ students

West, J.D., Naticchia, M.R.,* Brown, H.A.,* Garcia, F.J., Lamade, A.M.,* Justice, S.L.,* Herrin, R.P.,* and Morano, K.A.ÌýÌýUsing Protein Cross-Linkers To Trap Interactions between Redox Relay Partners In Cells. ÌýMidwest Stress Response and Molecular Chaperone Meeting, 2013 Ìý

West, J.D., Stamm, C.E.,* Justice, S.L.,* Brown, H.A.,* and Kingsley, P.J. ÌýStructure-Activity Comparison of the Cytotoxic Properties of Diethyl Maleate and Related Molecules: ÌýIdentification of Diethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate as a Thiol Cross-Linking Agent. ÌýMidwest Stress Response and Molecular Chaperone Meeting, 2011

West, J.D., Shaktour, B., Shyr, Y., and Marnett, L.J. Alterations in Global Gene Expression Induced by the Lipid Peroxidation Product, 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal. ÌýRedox Signaling in Biology and Disease, ASBMB Symposium, 2004

West, J.D., Ji,ÌýC., Duncan,ÌýS., Amarnath,ÌýV.,ÌýSchneider, C., Rizzo, C., Brash, A.R., and Marnett, L.J. ÌýInduction of Apoptosis by 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal and Structurally Related Aldehydic Products of Lipid Peroxidation. ÌýEicosanoids and Other Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation, and Related Diseases, 8thÌýInternational Conference, 2003

Visiting Scientist (sabbatical), Department of Biochemistry -2017, 2021-22

Visiting Scientist (sabbatical), Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics – 2011, 2016

Visiting Scientist (sabbatical), Department of Chemistry -2011

Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Biosciences; NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Recipient-2005-08

Discussion Leader, Gordon Research Conference on Thiol-Based Redox Regulation & Signaling (2022)

Program Co-Chair, Midwest Stress Response & Molecular Chaperone Meeting (2017)

Gordon Research Conference PUI Faculty Fund Travel Award to attend Gordon Research Conference on Stress Proteins in Growth, Development, & Disease (2017)

Research Grant, The Mindlin Foundation (2016)

Cell Stress Society International Travel Award to attend Gordon Research Conference on Stress Proteins in Growth, Development, & Disease (2015)

Undergraduate Research Award (with Matthew Loberg, ’16), The Mindlin Foundation (2015)

Cottrell College Science Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement (2011-14)

NIH-Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual National Research Service Award (2006-08)

2021ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHenry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ

2018ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHamburger Endowment for Interdisciplinary Studies Award; ¹û½´ÊÓƵ

2017ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýGordon Research Conference PUI Faculty Fund Travel Award

2017ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHamburger Endowment for Interdisciplinary Studies Award; ¹û½´ÊÓƵ

2016ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýUnsolicited Research Grant, The Mindlin Foundation

2016ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHenry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ

2015ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCell Stress Society International Travel Award

2015ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýUndergraduate Research Award (with Matthew Loberg, ’16), The Mindlin Foundation

2013ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHenry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ

2011-14ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCottrell College Science Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement

2011ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHenry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship–International Travel Award, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ

2010ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHenry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ

2006-08ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýNIH-Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual National Research Service Award

2006-08ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýGreater Midwest American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (declined to accept NIH NRSA instead)

1999-2003ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHarold Stirling Vanderbilt Scholarship, Vanderbilt University

2000-02ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýNIH Institutional Breast Cancer Training Grant Recipient, Vanderbilt University

1999 ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDepartment of Chemistry Achievement Award, Campbell University

1997-99ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýCytec Industries Endowed Scholarship, Campbell University

1995-99ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýPresidential Scholar, Campbell University

1998ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWho’s Who Among America’s Colleges and Universities

1998ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýPhi Kappa Phi National Honor Society

1996ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýPhi Eta Sigma National Honor SocietyÌýfor First Year Students