Catherine F. Clarke

Catherine F. Clarke is Professor of Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 1993. She made history in June 2016 as the first woman to lead the UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and was appointed Dean of Special Projects in the UCLA Division of Physical Sciences in 2019. Her laboratory investigates the biosynthesis and function of coenzyme Q (ubiquinone), a critical component of mitochondrial electron transport and cellular antioxidant defense.

Dr. Clarke's research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of coenzyme Q biosynthesis through her work with yeast models. Her laboratory identified eight of the eleven polypeptides required for Q biosynthesis and discovered a novel Q biosynthetic pathway using para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) as an alternative ring precursor. Her team demonstrated that human homologs of yeast Coq proteins can rescue corresponding yeast mutants, establishing critical connections between basic research and human diseases related to coenzyme Q deficiency.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on coenzyme Q biosynthesis pathways, with particular emphasis on the regulation of the Coq protein complex, mechanisms of coenzyme Q uptake and trafficking, and therapeutic approaches for coenzyme Q deficiency disorders. Her work bridges fundamental biochemistry with clinical applications, particularly in understanding how coenzyme Q deficiencies contribute to kidney disease, neurodegenerative conditions, and aging.

• 2001 Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award
• 2009 Hanson-Dow Award for Excellence in Teaching, UCLA
• 2018 WHS Hall of Fame, Whittier High School
• 2019 BSF Research Grant Award
• 2021 Career Development Award

Dr. Clarke has mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate researchers who have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and medicine. Her laboratory collaborates extensively with clinical researchers to translate basic findings into potential therapeutic approaches, particularly for coenzyme Q deficiency-related disorders. The Clarke Lab maintains active research programs investigating coenzyme Q biosynthesis regulation, membrane contact sites in coenzyme Q production, and mechanisms of coenzyme Q uptake and trafficking in cells.