Peter W. Jurutka, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences - The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix in partnership with Arizona State University

Assistant Professor, Department of Integrated Natural Sciences - Arizona State University

UA Office Phone: (602) 827-2105
ASU Office Phone: (602) 543-6087
Office: Building ABC1, Room 425
Email: pjurutka@email.arizona.edu

Education:

PhD; The University of Arizona;

BS; University of Nevada;

Background:

Dr. Jurutka received his B.S. from the University of Nevada, and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, both with honors. His graduate work was immediately followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, where he also taught first year medical students for over ten years. In 2004 he joined the faculty at Arizona State University and in 2006 he became a founding faculty member at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix in a joint appointment. Dr. Jurutka is an active member of several scientific research societies and he has also received a number of honors, including the Norwich-Eaton Young Investigator Research Award for significant contribution to the field of bone and mineral research, the John Haddad Young Investigator Award, as well as teaching awards bestowed by the medical students that he helped train. He has also mentored several undergraduate, graduate, and medical students who have gone on to successful and productive careers in research and medicine.

Research Interests:

The research in our laboratory applies modern molecular medicine approaches to the study of the fundamental mechanism of action of the steroid hormones, with particular emphasis on vitamin D and its role in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis and its role in the potential chemoprevention of certain epithelial cancers. This vitamin, which is actually a hormone, functions by associating with the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The receptor, in turn, mediates the effects of vitamin D in various target organs such as the intestine, kidney and bone by controlling the expression of certain genes. The genes that are regulated by vitamin D participate in kidney/intestinal calcium and phosphate transport, calcium homeostasis, and bone/skeletal remodeling (see Figure 1).

We have also described in recently published work that vitamin D may play a vital role in cellular detoxification and cancer prevention, especially in cancers of the colon. In addition, vitamin D is thought to be a potent antiproliferative/cell differentiation agent in myeloid leukemia, mammary carcinoma, as well as in skin and prostate cancer cells. Thus, while the traditional role of vitamin D is to promote a strong and healthy skeleton, there is an increasing appreciation that vitamin D is an important chemopreventive nutrient. Our lab, in collaboration with Dr. Mark Haussler's laboratory, has also discovered that the vitamin D receptor can bind to other molecules besides vitamin D, including bile acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (also known as essential or "good" fats) such as the omega-3 lipids found in fish oils, as well as curcumin, the active polyphenol found in turmeric, an ingredient in curry powder. We are evaluating the biological properties of these bioactive lipids and their relationship to the prevention of diseases such as colon cancer and osteoporosis.

Finally, we are also studying the gene for the vitamin D receptor. This gene comes in two different "varieties" or polymorphisms in the human population, and these two different forms of the receptor possess subtle differences in their biological properties which may predispose certain individuals to colon or prostate cancer or post-menopausal osteoporosis. We are continuing to study these alternate forms of the receptor to elucidate if additional diseases may be influenced by these polymorphisms.

Thus, vitamin D and its receptor not only participate in the classic role of calcium and bone mineral homeostasis, but also are likely involved in detoxification, chemoprotection and lipid/fat metabolism (Figure 2). By understanding the molecular biology of vitamin D and its receptor, novel therapeutic drugs can ultimately be developed to combat such diseases as osteoporosis and a variety of epithelial cancers.

PubMed Link:

Search PubMed for a complete listing of Dr. Jurutka's publications

Selected Publications:

1. Jurutka, P.W. , Remus, L.S., Whitfield, G.K., Galligan, M.A., Haussler, C.A. and Haussler, M.R. (2000) Biochemical evidence for a 170-kilodalton, AF-2-dependent vitamin D receptor/retinoid X receptor coactivator that is highly expressed in osteoblasts. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 267:813-819.
2. Jurutka, P.W. , Remus, L.S., Whitfield, G.K., Thompson, P.D., Hsieh, J.-C., Zitzer, H., Tavakkoli, P., Galligan, M.A., Dang, H.T., Haussler, C.A. and Haussler, M.R. (2000) The polymorphic N terminus in human vitamin D receptor isoforms influences transcriptional activity by modulating interaction with transcription factor IIB. Mol. Endocrinol. 14: 401-420.
3. Jurutka, P.W. , Whitfield, G.K., Hsieh, J.-C., Thompson, P.D., Haussler, C.A. and Haussler, M.R. (2001) Molecular nature of the vitamin D receptor and its role in regulation of gene expression. Rev. Endocrinol. Metabol. Disord. 2: 203-216.
4. Jurutka, P.W. , MacDonald, P.N., Nakajima, S., Hsieh, J.-C., Thompson, P.D., Whitfield, G.K., Galligan, M.A., Haussler, C.A. and Haussler, M.R. (2002) Isolation of baculovirus-expressed human vitamin D receptor: DNA responsive element interactions and phosphorylation of the purified receptor. J. Cell. Biochem. 85: 435-457.
5. Thompson, P.D., Jurutka, P.W. , Whitfield, G.K., Myskowski, S.M., Eichhorst, K.R., Encinas Dominguez, C., Haussler, C.A. and Haussler, M.R. (2002) Liganded VDR induces CYP3A4 in small intestinal and colon cancer cells via DR3 and ER6 vitamin D responsive elements. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 299: 730-738.
6. Hsieh, J.-C., Sisk, J.M., Jurutka P.W. , Haussler, C.A., Slater, S.A., Haussler, M.R. and Thompson, C.C. (2003) Physical and functional interaction between the vitamin D receptor and hairless Corepressor, two proteins required for hair cycling. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 38665-38674.
7. Whitfield, G.K., Jurutka, P.W. , Haussler, C.A., Hsieh, J.-C., Barthel, T.K., Jacobs, E.T., Thompson, P.D., Haussler, C.A., Dominguez, C.E., Thatcher, M.L. and Haussler, M.R. (2005) The nuclear vitamin D receptor: Structure/function, molecular control of gene transcription, and novel bioactions. In Vitamin D (D. Feldman, J.W. Pike and F. Gloriuex, eds.), 2nd ed., Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 219-261.
8. Jurutka, P.W. , Thompson, P.D., Whitfield, G.K., Eichhorst, K.R., Hall, N., Encinas Dominguez, C., Hsieh, J.-C., Haussler, C.A. and Haussler, M.R. (2005) Molecular and functional comparison of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and the novel vitamin D receptor ligand, lithocholic acid, in activating transcription of cytochrome P450 3A4. J. Cell. Biochem. 94: 917-943.