G. Kerr Whitfield, PhD

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

UA Office Phone: (602) 827-2142
Office: Building ABC1, Room 329
Email: gkw@email.arizona.edu

Education:

PhD; North Carolina State University at Raleigh;

Research Interests:

• Target genes for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the hormonal form of vitamin D
• Evolution of the vitamin D receptor, a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily
• Analysis of naturally-occuring mutations in the vitamin D receptor that lead to vitamin D-resistant rickets
• Mutagenesis studies of the vitamin D receptor as informed by evolutionary comparisons and by analysis of published 3-D crystallographic structures
• Bile acid ligands for the vitamin D receptor

PubMed Link:

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

Selected Publications:

  1. Whitfield GK, Jurutka PW, Haussler CA, Hsieh JC, Barthel TK, Jacobs ET, Encinas Dominguez C, Thatcher ML, Haussler MR 2005 Nuclear vitamin D receptor: structure-function, molecular control of gene transcription, and novel bioactions In: Feldman D, Pike JW, Glorieux FH eds. Vitamin D. 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Elsevier Academic Press; 219-261
  2. Jurutka PW, Thompson PD, Whitfield GK, Eichhorst KR, Hall N, Dominguez CE, Hsieh JC, Haussler CA, Haussler MR. 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(5):917-43.
  3. Whitfield GK, Dang HT, Schluter SF, Bernstein RM, Bunag T, Manzon LA, Hsieh G, Dominguez CE, Youson JH, Haussler MR, Marchalonis JJ. 2003 Cloning of a functional vitamin D receptor from the lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), an ancient vertebrate lacking a calcified skeleton and teeth. Endocrinology. 2003 144:2704-2716.
  4. Makishima M, Lu TT, Xie W, Whitfield GK, Domoto H, Evans RM, Haussler MR, Mangelsdorf DJ. 2002 Vitamin D receptor as an intestinal bile acid sensor. Science. 296:1313-1316.
  5. Whitfield GK, Jurutka PW, Haussler CA, Haussler MR. 1999 Steroid hormone receptors: evolution, ligands, and molecular basis of biologic function. J Cell Biochem. 1999;Suppl 32-33:110-122. Review.
  6. Whitfield GK, Selznick SH, Haussler CA, Hsieh J-C, Galligan MA, Jurutka PW, Thompson PD, Lee SM, Zerwekh JE, Haussler MR 1996 Vitamin D receptors from patients with resistance to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: point mutations confer reduced transactivation in response to ligand and impaired interaction with the retinoid X receptor heterodimeric partner. Mol Endocrinol 10:1617-1631