Carol Chrestensen, Ph.D.
Biochemistry
Assistant Professor
SC 422
My research interests are in protein chemistry and enzymology. Initially my research will focus on oxidative regulation of MAPKAP kinase 2. It is well known that kinases are regulated by phosphorylation. Many kinases are also regulated by additional mechanisms, e.g. binding of calcium, ubiquitination and glutathionylation. Research in my lab will focus on understanding if MAPKAP kinase 2 is regulated by glutathionylation, a modification that can occur on cysteine residues in response to oxidative signals.
Oxidative signals are initiated by reactive oxygen species (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, nitric oxide). These molecules are created in a wide spectrum of critical physiological and pathophysiological processes including oxidative respiration, the inflammatory response, DNA damage, aging, cancer and diabetes. Using mutational analysis combined with activity studies and direct examination for modification(s), students in my lab will test whether oxidative signals have the ability to inhibit MAPKAP kinase 2 through direct cysteine modification. Our analysis may reveal an unappreciated layer of regulation for MAPKAP kinase 2.
Selected Publications
Ranganathan, A., G. W. Pearson, C. A. Chrestensen, T. W. Sturgill, and M. H. Cobb. "The MAP kinase ERK5 binds to and phosphorylates p90 RSK." Arch Biochem Biophys 449, no. 1-2 (2006): 8-16.
Chrestensen, C. A., M. J. Schroeder, J. Shabanowitz, D. F. Hunt, J. W. Pelo, M. T. Worthington, and T. W. Sturgill. "MAPKAP kinase 2 phosphorylates tristetraprolin on in vivo sites including Ser178, a site required for 14-3-3 binding." J Biol Chem 279, no. 11 (2004): 10176-84.
Srinivasan, S., D. T. Bolick, M. E. Hatley, R. Natarajan, K. B. Reilly, M. Yeh, C. Chrestensen, T. W. Sturgill, and C. C. Hedrick. "Glucose regulates interleukin-8 production in aortic endothelial cells through activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in diabetes." J Biol Chem 279, no. 30 (2004): 31930-6.
Chrestensen, C. A., and T. W. Sturgill. "Characterization of the p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 carboxyl-terminal domain as a protein kinase." J Biol Chem 277, no. 31 (2002): 27733-41.
Chrestensen, C. A., D. W. Starke, and J. J. Mieyal. "Acute cadmium exposure inactivates thioltransferase (Glutaredoxin), inhibits intracellular reduction of protein-glutathionyl-mixed disulfides, and initiates apoptosis." J Biol Chem 275, no. 34 (2000): 26556-65.
Biaglow, J. E., J. Donahue, S. Tuttle, K. Held, C. Chrestensen, and J. Mieyal. "A method for measuring disulfide reduction by cultured mammalian cells: relative contributions of glutathione-dependent and glutathione-independent mechanisms." Anal Biochem 281, no. 1 (2000): 77-86.
Chrestensen, C. A., C. B. Eckman, D. W. Starke, and J. J. Mieyal. "Cloning, expression and characterization of human thioltransferase (glutaredoxin) in E. coli." FEBS Lett 374, no. 1 (1995): 25-8.