Contact Information
By appointment
- (509) 313-6628
- shepherd@gonzaga.edu
Education & Curriculum Vitae
Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles
M.S., University of California at Los Angeles
B.S., Oregon State University
My formal training is in the area of synthetic organic chemistry; however, my research interests have evolved over the last 20 years to utilize biochemistry, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry tools. I am interested in biosynthesis and anaerobic...
By appointment
Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles
M.S., University of California at Los Angeles
B.S., Oregon State University
Neupane, T., Chambers, L. R.*, Godfrey, A. J.*, Monlux, M. M.*, Jacobs, E. J.*, Whitworth, S.*, Spawn, J. E.*, Clingman, S. H. K.*, Vergunst, K. L., Niven, F. M., Townley, J. J.*, Orion, I. W.*, Goodspeed, C. R.*, Cooper, K. A.*, Cronk, J. D., Shepherd, J. N. and Langelaan D. L. (2022) Microbial rhodoquinone biosynthesis proceeds via an atypical RquA-catalyzed amino transfer from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to ubiquinone, Commun. Chem., 5, 89. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-022-00711-6
Salinas, G., Langelaan, D. N. and Shepherd, J. N. (2020) Rhodoquinone in bacteria and animals: Two distinct pathways for biosynthesis of this key electron transporter used in anaerobic bioenergetics. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Bioenergetics, 1861, 148278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbabio.2020.148278
Tan, J. H., Lautens, M., Romanelli-Cedrez, L., Wang, J., Schertzberg, M. R., Reinl, S. R.*, Davis, R. E., Shepherd, J. N., Fraser, A. G., Salinas, G. (2020) Alternative splicing of coq-2 controls of the level of rhodoquinone in animals. eLife, 9, e56376. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.56376
Roberts Buceta, P. M.*, Romanelli-Cedrez, L., Babcock, S. J.*, Xun, H.*, VonPaige, M. L.*, Higley, T. W.*, Schlatter, T. D.*, Davis, D. C.*, Drexelius, J. A.*, Culver, J. C.*, Inés Carrera, I., Shepherd, J. N. and Salinas, G. (2019) The kynurenine pathway is essential for rhodoquinone biosynthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Biol. Chem., 294, 11047-11053. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.AC119.009475
Bernert, A. C., Jacobs, E. J.*, Reinl, S. R.*, Choi, C. C. Y.*, Roberts Buceta, P. M.*, Culver, J. C.*, Goodspeed, C. R.*, Bradley, M. C., Clarke, C. F., Basset, G. J. and Shepherd, J. N. (2019) Recombinant RquA catalyzes the in vivo conversion of ubiquinone to rhodoquinone in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, BBA Mol. Cell Biol. Lipids, 1864, 1226-1234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2019.05.007
Campbell, A. R. M.*, Titus, B. R.*, Kuenzi, M. R.*, Rodriguez-Perez, F.*, Brunsch, A. D. L.*, Schroll, M. M.*, Owen, M. C.*, Cronk, J. C., Anders, K. R. and Shepherd, J. N. (2019) Investigation of candidate genes involved in the rhodoquinone biosynthetic pathway in Rhodospirillum rubrum, PLoS ONE, 14, e0217281. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217281
Stairs, C. E., Eme, L., Muñoz-Gόmez, S. A., Cohen, A., Dellaire, G., Shepherd, J. N., Fawcett, J. P. and Roger, A. W. (2018) Microbial eukaryotes have adapted to hypoxia by horizontal acquisitions of a gene involved in rhodoquinone biosynthesis, eLife, 7, e34292. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.34292
Lonjers, Z. T.*, Dickson, E. L.*, Chu, T-P T.*, Kreutz, J. E.*, Neacsu, F. A., Anders, K. R. and Shepherd, J. N. (2012) Identification of a new gene required for the biosynthesis of rhodoquinone in Rhodospirillum rubrum, J. Bacteriol., 194, 965-971. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.06319-11
Brajcich, B. C.*, Iarocci, A. L.*, Johnstone, L. A. G.*, Morgan, R. K.*, Lonjers, Z. T.*, Hotchko, M. J.*, Muhs, J. D.*, Kieffer, A.*, Reynolds, B. J., Mandel, S. M., Marbois, B. N., Clarke, C. F. and Shepherd, J. N. (2010) Evidence that ubiquinone is a required intermediate for rhodoquinone biosynthesis in Rhodospirillum rubrum, J. Bacteriol., 192, 436-445. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.01040-09
(* indicates Gonzaga student author)
The broader impacts of Dr. Shepherd’s research involve the development of new treatments for parasitic infections, which are neglected tropical diseases that affect more than 1.5 billion people worldwide (WHO 2019). In order to combat this disease, Dr. Shepherd’s research team has sought to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of rhodoquinone (RQ) as a unique target for the design of new anti-parasitic drugs. RQ is an essential electron carrier used in the anaerobic energy metabolism of species such as the parasitic helminths, the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), and the purple non-sulfur bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum (R. rubrum). RQ is not synthesized or used in humans and other mammalian hosts with a primarily aerobic energy metabolism. Dr. Shepherd’s group discovered a signature gene required for RQ biosynthesis in R. rubrum called rquA, and recently they have made important advances in RQ biosynthesis in C. elegans, which is an excellent model for the helminth parasites.
Research Grants Funded
“Rhodoquinone biosynthesis as an unorthodox treatment for microbial infection and oxygen deprivation,” New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration, $300,000, for award period: 4/1/19 – 3/31/23 ($80,000 for Gonzaga University). Role: Co-investigator with PI David Langelaan from Dalhousie University, NS
“Elucidation and Regulation of Rhodoquinone Biosynthesis in Rhodospirillum rubrum,” National Institutes of Health, AREA R-15 program, $241,355, for award period: 8/1/11-7/31/15. Role: PI
“RUI: Purchase of a Liquid Chromatograph Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer,” National Science Foundation, CRIF-MU program, $286,753, for award period: 2/1/08-1/31/11. Role: PI with Co-PI’s Joanne Smieja, Stephen Warren, Jeff Watson and Jeff Cronk.
“CAREER: Rhodoquinone Biosynthesis and Anthelmintic Agent Design,” National Science Foundation, Division of Chemistry, $355,000 for award period: 9/01/02 – 8/31/07. Role: PI
“RUI: Acquisition of a 300 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer,” National Science Foundation, Division of Chemistry Instrumentation and Facilities, $133,795 for award period: 9/01/00 - 8/31/03. Role: PI with Co-PI’s David Cleary, Joanne Smieja and Kay Nakamaye.
“The Biosynthesis of Rhodoquinone: A New Target for Anthelmintic Drug Design,” Research Corporation, Cottrell College Science Award, $42,738 for award period: 06/01/00 - 09/01/01. Role: PI
Recent Presentations with Gonzaga Undergraduates