Russell DeBose-Boyd

Russell DeBose-Boyd is a Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He was born in Oklahoma and completed his undergraduate studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University before earning his PhD in 1998 under Richard D. Cummings. He later joined UT Southwestern Medical Center as a Jane Coffin Childs Fellow, continuing his research on cholesterol regulation.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Chemistry (Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 1993)
  • PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1998)

His research focuses on cholesterol homeostasis, specifically the post-translational regulation of HMG CoA reductase. Key mechanisms explored include sterol-induced ubiquitination, ER-associated degradation, and the role of UBIAD1 as a dual regulator of cholesterol and vitamin K2 synthesis. Recent work examines membrane topology, proteostasis, and glycerolipid-mediated SREBP activation.

Recent article trends highlight UBIAD1's moonlighting role in cholesterol and vitamin K2 pathways, ER-Golgi trafficking dynamics, and lipid droplet-associated degradation mechanisms. Subfields include ubiquitin ligase complexes (gp78/Trc8), hypoxia signaling, and metabolic disease implications.

Scientific Awards:

• Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research Fellow

His work bridges biochemical pathways with clinical implications, including Schnyder corneal dystrophy and prostate cancer metabolism, while maintaining a strong focus on fundamental membrane biology and enzyme regulation.