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Department of Biochemistry

F. Peter Guengerich, Ph.D.

Professor of Biochemistry
Tadashi Inagami Chair in Biochemistry

Chemistry/enzymology of bioactivation & detoxication of foreign compounds

Name: Guengerich, F. Peter
Title: Professor of Biochemistry, Tadashi Inagami, Ph.D. Chair in Biochemistry
Department: Biochemistry
Office Address: 638B RRB
Phone Number: 615-322-2261
E-mail: f.guengerich@vanderbilt.edu
Lab URL: https://my.vanderbilt.edu/guengerichlab/
Research Keywords: Biochemistry, Drug metabolism, Mass spectrometry, Mutation, Pharmacology, Polymorphism, Spectroscopy, Toxicology
Research Specialty: Chemistry and enzymology of bioactivation and detoxication of foreign compounds

Research Description: Mechanisms of activation and detoxication of chemical carcinogens and toxicants; characterization of enzymes involved in these processes Major areas of interest include the metabolism of carcinogens and drugs by cytochrome P450 enzymes, the bioactivation of halogenated hydrocarbons, and polymerase interactions with carcinogen-modified DNA. Several approaches are being used to understand the catalytic mechanisms of the human cytochrome P450 enzymes, including site-directed and random mutagenesis, kinetic analysis, isotope effects, and substrate-activity relationships. Work on halogenated hydrocarbons is done with trichloroethylene, ethylene dibromide, and methylene dihalides and the adducts they form. Glutathione transferase-mediated bioactivation is under investigation, as well as in the case of some bifunctional electrophiles. Studies on the polymerases involve the use of modified oligonucleotides, steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics, and physical approaches such as x-ray diffraction. A major goal is to understand how carcinogen-DNA adducts cause polymerases to stall and misincorporate bases.
See website at www.toxicology.mc.vanderbilt.edu/CenterInvest/guengerich.

Postdoctoral Position Availability and Details: Please apply by e-mail to f.guengerich@vanderbilt.edu sending CV and names of three references.
PubMed Listing of Dr. Guengerich’s Publications