Tom Huxford, Ph.D.

Pronouns: Tom
Department Chair, Professor of Biochemistry
College of Sciences
Department of Chemistry

SDSU

Email

Building/Location

Chemical Sciences Laboratory - 325A
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA 92182

Bio

In this lab, we use our knowledge and experience in protein structure and function to determine the chemical mechanisms employed by interesting biological factors. Our major focus is in understanding regulation in the transcription factor NF-κB signal transduction pathway. Although proper NF-κB function is integral to a cell's ability to fight off infection and respond to stress, too much of an NF-κB response can contribute to states of chronic inflammation such as arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and colitis. Recently, it has been shown that chronically inflamed tissues can serve as hotbeds for tumor formation. Cellular processes that recognize and kill tumors in healthy tissues fail to function effectively under the influence of the NF-κB cell survival program. Chronic inflammation due to hyperactive NF-κB has also been shown to contribute to sclerotic formation in arteries and heart disease. We are currently working on two NF-κB-related projects, in addition to collaborating with Dr. Sanford I. Bernstein’s Biology lab to study the structure and in vitro biochemistry of UNC-45 which helps with skeletal muscle assembly and protein repair. We are also using a novel method for recombinant expression and purification of myosin isoforms from whole flies to study the structural and biophysical consequences of disease-causing mutations on motor proteins. We also collaborate with several local biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to understand the structural mechanisms of clinically relevant antibodies, including: selective antigen binding of anti-lipid antibodies, antibodies that employ metal ions as bridging factors in antigen binding and novel bispecific antibody designs to specifically target difficult antigens.

Areas of Specialization

Biochemistry