Directory: Faculty

Beth Buck-Koehntop

Bethany Buck-Koehntop

BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

Assistant Professor

B.Sc., University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, 2000
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2005
American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, 2005-2010

Phone: (801) 581-3186

Office: 1493 GH

Email: koehntop@chem.utah.edu

Research Group

Biophysics at the U

Biological Chemistry Program

Publications

Activities & Awards

  • American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2007-2010
  • NIH Chemical-Biology Interface Training Grant, 2001-2003

Research Interests

The primary focus of our research is to utilize multidimensional solution NMR spectroscopy to discern structure-function relationships in protein/protein and protein/nucleic acid interactions. Students participate in a multidisciplinary research program that incorporates biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysical strategies to investigate mechanistic questions in the area of transcriptional regulation. Structural insights allow us to obtain atomic-resolution detail of binding interfaces that, in combination with biological information, can provide a platform for more targeted and rationale drug design.

We are particularly interested in applying these methodologies to investigate specialized transcription factors that recognize methylated DNA sequences. In mammals, DNA methylation in the context of CpG dinucleotides is a common mechanism for long-term transcriptional repression of genes. In recent years, aberrant alterations in the level of genomic DNA methylation has been directly associated with the early stages of cancer development. Current projects focus on identifying specific DNA targets for methyl-CpG DNA binding proteins, structurally ascertaining their differential mode of DNA recognition, structurally characterizing protein/protein interactions, and evaluating how interpretation of the methylation signal triggers chromatin remodeling. This knowledge base will provide the foundation for evaluating how methyl-CpG DNA binding proteins can be utilized for future epigenetic cancer therapeutics. .

topSelected Publications

  • *Buck-Koehntop, B. A.; *Martinez-Yamout, M. A.; Dyson, H. J.; Wright, P. E. Kaiso uses all Three Zinc Fingers and Adjacent Sequence Motifs for High Affinity Binding to Sequence-specific and Methyl-CpG DNA Targets. FEBS Lett. 2012, doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2012.01.045. (*Authors contributed equally to the published work).
  • Porcelli, F.; Triggiani, D.; Buck-Koehntop, B. A.; Masterson, L. R.; Veglia, G. Pseudoenzymatic Dealkylation of Alkyltins by Biological Dithiols. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 14, 1219-1225.
  • Lee, B. M.*; Buck-Koehntop, B. A.*; Martinez-Yamout, M. A.; Dyson, H. J.; Wright, P. E. Embryonic Neural Inducing Factor Churchill is not a DNA-binding Zinc Finger Protein: Solution Structure Reveals a Solvent-exposed b-Sheet and Zinc Binuclear Cluster. J. Mol. Biol. 2007, 371, 1274-1289. (*Authors contributed equally to the published work).
  • Buck-Koehntop, B. A.; Porcelli, F.; Lewin, J. L.; Cramer, C. J.; Veglia, G. Biological Chemistry of Organotin Compounds: Interactions and Dealkylation by Dithiols. J. Organomet. Chem. 2006, 691, 1748-1755.
  • Porcelli, F.; Buck-Koehntop, B. A.; Thennarasu, S.; Ramamoorthy, A.; Veglia, G. Structures of the Dimeric and Monomeric Variants of Magainin Antimicrobial Peptides (MSI-78 and MSI-594) in Micelles and Bilayers, Determined by NMR Spectroscopy. Biochemistry 2006, 45, 5793-5799.
  • Billingsley, M. L.; Yun, J.; Reese, B. E.; Davidson, C. E.; Buck-Koehntop, B. A.; Veglia, G. Functional and Structural Properties of Stannin: Roles in Cellular Growth, Selective Toxicity, and Mitochondrial Responses to Injury. J. Cell. Biochem. 2006, 98, 243-250.
  • Buffy, J. J.; Buck-Koehntop, B. A.; Porcelli, F.; Traaseth, N. J.; Thomas, D. D.; Veglia, G. Defining the Intramembrane Binding Mechanism of Sarcolipin to Calcium ATPase Using Solution NMR Spectroscopy. J. Mol. Biol. 2006, 358, 420-429.
  • Buck-Koehntop, B. A.; Mascioni, A.; Buffy, J. J.; Veglia, G. Structure, Dynamics, and Membrane Topology of Stannin: A Mediator of Neuronal Cell Apoptosis Induced by Trimethyltin Chloride. J. Mol. Biol. 2005, 354, 652-665.
  • Porcelli, F.; Buck, B.; Lee, D. K.; Hallock, K. J.; Ramamoorthy, A.; Veglia, G. Structure and Orientation of Pardaxin Determined by NMR Experiments in Model Membranes. J. Biol. Chem. 2004, 279, 45815-45823.
  • Buck, B. A.; Mascioni, A.; Cramer, C. J.; Veglia, G. Interactions of Alkyltin Salts with Biological Dithiols: Dealkylation and Induction of a Regular b-Turn Structure. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 14400-14410.
  • Buck, B.; Mascioni, A.; Que, L. Jr.; Veglia, G. Dealkylation of Organotin Compounds by Biological Dithiols: Toward the Chemistry of Organotin Toxicity. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 13316-13317.
  • Buck, B.; Zamoon, J.; Desilva, T. M.; Karim, C.; Kirby, T. L.; Thomas, D.; Veglia, G. Overexpression, Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Ca-ATPase Regulators for High Resolution Solution and Solid-State NMR Studies. Protein Exp. Purif. 2003, 30, 253-261.