James D. West

James D. West is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with appointments in the Biology and Chemistry Departments at the College. James received a Bachelor's degree from Campbell University, where he was a biochemistry major and a music minor. He completed graduate training in biochemistry in the laboratory of Lawrence Marnett at Vanderbilt University and pursued postdoctoral studies in the laboratory of Richard Morimoto at Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, Dr. West received a Ruth L. Kirschstein-National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health and served as an adjunct biology instructor in the School of Continuing Studies.

Dr. West's teaching interests are at the interface between chemistry and biology and include biochemistry, molecular biology, and chemical biology. His research utilizes bakerŐs yeast, the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, and cultured mammalian cells to examine adaptive gene expression and cell death responses induced by chemicals that cause protein damage. Dr. West has been an author on publications appearing in Chemical Research in Toxicology, the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biology of the Cell, and the Journal of Clinical Investigation and is a member of the Biological Chemistry division of the American Chemical Society.

Recent Publications:

Trott, A.*, West, J.D.*, Klaic, L., Westerheide, S.D., Silverman, R.B., Morimoto, R.I., and Morano, K.A. (2008) Activation of Heat Shock and Antioxidant Responses by the Natural Product Celastrol: Transcriptional Signatures of a Thiol-Targeted Molecule. Mol. Biol. Cell, 19, 1104-1112. *equal contribution

West, J.D. and Marnett, L.J. (2006) Reactive Intermediates as Modulators of Cell Signaling and Cell Death. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 19, 173-194.

West, J.D. and Marnett, L.J. (2005) Alterations in Global Gene Expression Induced by the Lipid Peroxidation Product, 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 18, 1642-1653.

West, J.D., Ji, C., and Marnett, L.J. (2005) Modulation of DNA Fragmentation Factor 40 Nuclease Activity by Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1. J. Biol. Chem. 280, 15141-15147.

West, J.D., Ji, C., Amarnath, V., Schneider, C., Duncan, S., Rizzo, C.J., Brash, A.R., and Marnett, L.J. (2004) Induction of Apoptosis in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells Treated with 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal and Related Compounds. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 17, 453-462.

Marnett, L.J., Riggins, J.N., and West, J.D. (2003) Endogenous Generation of Reactive Oxidants and Electrophiles and Their Reactions with DNA and Protein. J. Clin. Invest. 111, 583-593.

Selected Meeting Abstracts and Presentations:

Trott, A., West, J.D., Klaic, L., Westerheide, S.D., Silverman, R.B., Morimoto, R.I., and Morano, K.A. Activation of Heat Shock and Antioxidant Responses by the Natural Product Celastrol: Transcriptional Signatures of a Thiol-targeted Molecule. Midwest Stress Response and Chaperone Meeting, 2008, poster presentation.

West, J.D., Fishman, M.P., and Morimoto, R.I. Examination of Stress-Responsive Gene Expression Programs in Caenorhabditis elegans. Midwest Stress Response and Chaperone Meeting, 2007, poster presentation.

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, oral presentation.

West, J.D., Ji, C., and Marnett, L.J. Caspase-Dependent Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 in the Apoptotic Response Induced by 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal. Apoptosis in Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Keystone Symposium, 2004, poster presentation.

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, oral presentation.

West, J.D., Ji, C., Amarnath, V., Schneider, C., Duncan, S., Rizzo, C., Brash, A.R., and Marnett, L.J. Induction of Apoptosis in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells Treated with Aldehydic Products of Lipid Peroxidation. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, 2002, poster presentation.