معرفی
Shawn Ellerbroek is a Professor of Chemistry/Biochemistry and Director of Undergraduate Research at Wartburg College. Holding the Ralph E. Otto Endowed Professorship in Chemistry, he earned his B.A. from the University of Iowa (1995) and Ph.D. from Northwestern University (2000), followed by postdoctoral work as an American Cancer Society Fellow.
- Teaches courses including Advanced Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, and global studies in Tanzania
- Research focuses on Rho GTPase signaling in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer
- Investigates molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and neuronal maintenance
His laboratory explores interactions between XPLN (a Rho GEF) and PDZ-domain proteins like PSD-95, implicating these in neurological disorders (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Autism Spectrum Disorders). Current projects examine how XPLN binding affects cellular localization and RhoA activation dynamics using biochemical and immunofluorescence assays.
Selected scientific contributions:
- Identified XPLN's role in RhoA activation (Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2002)
- Discovered PDZ protein interactions with XPLN through mass spectrometry
- Investigated lysophosphatidic acid's effects on cancer cell cohesion
His research bridges molecular neuroscience and cancer biology, with implications for therapeutic development.
