Katharine Diehl

Katharine Diehl is an Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Utah, affiliated with the Biological Chemistry Program and Molecular Biology Program.

Education

• B.S. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin

Research Focus

Her laboratory investigates epigenetic mechanisms linking cellular metabolism to genomic regulation via chromatin dynamics. Key areas include:

• Development of metabolite biosensors for live-cell tracking (e.g., acetyl-CoA).
• Role of non-canonical histone acyl PTMs (e.g., lactylation) and their regulation by enzymes like sirtuins.
• SIRT6-mediated mono-ADP-ribosylation of polyhistidine proteins in nuclear regulation.

Methodology: Integrates organic chemistry, protein engineering, biochemistry, and molecular biology.

Publications: Recent work (2017–2025) explores chromatin-metabolism crosstalk, histone modifications, enzyme mechanisms (SIRT6/PRC2), and metabolite imaging. Dominant themes include epigenetics, metabolic signaling, and chromatin biochemistry.

Lab: Leads an active research group; details available on her lab page.