Justin Legleiter

Justin Legleiter is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and holds a joint adjunct faculty position at West Virginia University (WVU). He earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Murray State University (2000) and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University (2005), followed by postdoctoral research at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (UCSF). His research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s, with a particular emphasis on protein misfolding, aggregation, and interactions with cellular membranes. Utilizing atomic force microscopy (AFM), his lab investigates how surfaces and lipid environments influence protein aggregation pathways, aiming to identify therapeutic targets.

Key research areas include: (1) Membrane-mediated aggregation of huntingtin and amyloid-β proteins, (2) effects of post-translational modifications (e.g., SUMOylation, acetylation) on aggregation, and (3) development of peptide-lipid systems for biophysical studies. His work bridges biochemistry, biophysics, and materials science, with applications in drug discovery and disease modeling.

Recent studies highlight lipid membrane composition’s role in modulating protein interactions, as well as the impact of oxidative stress and macromolecular crowding on aggregation dynamics. Collaborations with institutions like WVU and UCSF underscore his interdisciplinary approach. His lab also contributes to undergraduate education through innovative biochemistry experiments.

Affiliations:

• Professor – Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno
• Adjunct Faculty – C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, WVU