James West

Biography

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 The College of Wooster. 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.

Courses Taught

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

Selected Publications & Presentations

Publications

West, J.D. (2022) Experimental Approaches for Investigating Disulfide-Based Redox Relays in Cells. Chem. 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. and West, J.D. (2022) Identifying Interaction Partners of Yeast Protein Disulfide Isomerases Using a Small Thiol-Reactive Cross-Linker: Implications for Secretory Pathway Proteostasis. Chem. Res. Toxicol., 35, 326-336
Vicker, S.L.,*,† Maina, E.N.,*,† Showalter, A.K.,*,† Bailey, M.R.,* McGarry, S.W.,* Tran, N.,* Davidson, E.E.,* Freije, W.M.,* and West, J.D. (2022) Broader than Expected Tolerance for Substitutions in the WCGPCK Catalytic Motif of Yeast Thioredoxin 2. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 178, 308-313
Kaduhr, L., Brachmann, C., Ravichandran, K.E., West, J.D., Glatt, S., and Schaffrath, R. (2021) Urm1, not quite a ubiquitin-like modifier? Microb. Cell 8, 256-261 (invited minireview/perspective
Brachmann, C.,† Kaduhr, L.,† Jüdes, A.,† Ravichandran, K.E., West, J.D., Glatt, S., and Schaffrath, R. (2020) Redox requirements for ubiquitin-like urmylation of Ahp1, a 2-Cys peroxiredoxin from yeast. Redox Biology 30, 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 Wooster students

Presentations

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. Using Protein Cross-Linkers To Trap Interactions between Redox Relay Partners In Cells. Midwest Stress Response and Molecular Chaperone Meeting, 2013
West, J.D., Stamm, C.E.,* Justice, S.L.,* Brown, H.A.,* and Kingsley, P.J. Structure-Activity Comparison of the Cytotoxic Properties of Diethyl Maleate and Related Molecules: Identification of Diethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate as a Thiol Cross-Linking Agent. Midwest 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. Redox Signaling in Biology and Disease, ASBMB Symposium, 2004
West, J.D., Ji, C., Duncan, S., Amarnath, V., Schneider, C., Rizzo, C., Brash, A.R., and Marnett, L.J. Induction of Apoptosis by 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal and Structurally Related Aldehydic Products of Lipid Peroxidation. Eicosanoids and Other Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation, and Related Diseases, 8th International Conference, 2003

Professional Experience

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 Molecular Biosciences, NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Recipient - 2005-08

Awards & Honors

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)
2021 Henry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, The College of Wooster
2018 Hamburger Endowment for Interdisciplinary Studies Award; The College of Wooster
2017 Gordon Research Conference PUI Faculty Fund Travel Award
2017 Hamburger Endowment for Interdisciplinary Studies Award; The College of Wooster
2016 Unsolicited Research Grant, The Mindlin Foundation
2016 Henry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, The College of Wooster
2015 Cell Stress Society International Travel Award
2015 Undergraduate Research Award (with Matthew Loberg, ’16), The Mindlin Foundation
2013 Henry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, The College of Wooster
2011-14 Cottrell College Science Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement
2011 Henry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship–International Travel Award, The College of Wooster
2010 Henry Luce III Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, The College of Wooster
2006-08 NIH-Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual National Research Service Award
2006-08 Greater Midwest American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (declined to accept NIH NRSA instead)
1999-2003 Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Scholarship, Vanderbilt University
2000-02 NIH Institutional Breast Cancer Training Grant Recipient, Vanderbilt University
1999 Department of Chemistry Achievement Award, Campbell University
1997-99 Cytec Industries Endowed Scholarship, Campbell University
1995-99 Presidential Scholar, Campbell University
1998 Who’s Who Among America’s Colleges and Universities
1998 Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
1996 Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society for First Year Students