ABOUT Amy
Despite the therapeutic relevance of many human protein phosphatases, our understanding of their biological substrates, substrate selectivity, cellular regulation and druggability is limited. Research in the Barrios lab focuses on addressing these challenges through the development and application of novel chemical probes,
1) using fluorogenic probes to investigate protein phosphatase activity and regulation during cellular signaling,
2) identifying protein phosphatase inhibitors for use as therapeutic lead compounds
3) investigating the impact of protein phosphorylation on structure and function.
We are particularly interested in protein phosphatases involved in immune system dysregulation, cancer, and neurological disease.
Education:
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B.S. 1995, Chemistry, University of Utah
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Ph.D. 2000, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mentor: Stephen J. Lippard
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2000-2003, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow. Mentor: Charles S. Craik
Awards & Nominations:
All the awards. All of them.
Meet the Team
Barrios lab members
Post Doctoral Researcher
Megan Browning
Education:
B.S. Biochemistry, Brigham Young University
M.S. Biochemistry, Brigham Young University
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Utah
Project:
Studies phosphatase probes for CD45.
Interests:
Cat fostering and baking.
Post Doctoral Researcher
E. Dalles Keyes, Ph.D.
Education:
B.S. Chemistry, Southern Utah University
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Utah
Projects:
Development of novel phosphohistidine mimics for investigating protein histidine phosphatase activity
Evaluation of illudalic acid analogs as covalent inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase
Interests:
Skiing, cycling, and good food!
Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
Hanfei Wang
Education:
B.A. Chemistry & Economics, Vanderbilt University
Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
Nicole "Nikki" Rueb
Education: B.S. Chemistry, University of Idaho
Project: Developing the natural product illudalic acid as inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity (chemical biology, mechanistic enzymology, drug development)
Interests: Reading, crocheting & painting, video games, obsessing over movies and tv shows
Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
Daniel Hansen
Education:
A.A. Utah State University
B.S. University of Utah
Project: Working to co-crystallize protein:inhibitor complexes and is also working to develop chemical tools to study phosphatases.
Interests: running, his dog, backpacking, video games
Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
Erykah Starr
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