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John Price

Associate Professor
Biochemistry Research, Chemistry and Biochemistry

113E BNSN
Provo, UT 84602

Research Interests

My research explores mechanisms used by living cells to control the synthesis and degradation of protein. Specifically, we use of mass spectrometry and stable isotopes to label newly synthesized molecules with a time dependent tag. This allows us to measure both in vivo concentrations, and replacement rates. With a mass spectrometer, the time-dependent stable isotope enrichment can be measured in any molecule of a complex mixture. This allows us to monitor large numbers of proteins simultaneously and perform experiments that survey broad sections of the proteome. We have successfully used this technique in many different biosynthetic systems from "cell free" environments to humans (see Figure).

Currently, we are focused on understanding post-transcriptional control of the proteome composition within cells, using stored mRNA and protein degradation

Post-transcriptional control of cell metabolism using stored mRNA. Multiple processes critical to human health are known to employ stored mRNA, yet these systems are difficult to investigate using current tools. The mRNA is present in the cell for an indefinite period of time before signal dependent translation of the specific protein occurs. By following signal specific protein synthesis we can approach the understanding of these systems from the 'bottom up' to identify the biochemical pathways activated within the cell.

Maintenance of proteome homeostasis through protein catabolism. Many of the today’s most devastating diseases, can be identified as diseases of protein homeostasis. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, diabetes and other diseases all exhibit cellular deposits of aggregated protein. These aggregates are often highly resistant to degradation and may indicate a dysfunction within the catabolic machinery of the cell. Continuous protein catabolism is critical in the presence of constitutive translation and transcription, yet these processes are poorly understood. It has recently been shown that the cell employs thousands of proteins, (ubiquitin ligases, targeted proteases, proteasome, etc.) to guide the process of protein degradation. Thus, the complexity of the regulatory structure for removing a protein from the cell may be comparable to that used in synthesizing the protein. Our current work is focused on identifying the substrates for proteolytic processes (autophagy and cellular proteases) then understanding how targeted proteolytic processing is used by the cell.

Teaching Interests

Teaching biochemistry and the techniques for independent research as well as the how to monitor in vivo synthesis and catabolism

Professional Citizenship

  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Aging Cell (2014 - Present)

Courses Taught

Publications

Hsien-jung L Lin Isabella James Chad D Hyer Connor T Haderlie Michael J Zackrison Tyler M Bateman Monica Berg Ji-sun Park S. Anisha Daley Nathan R. Zuniga Yi-Jie Tseng James D Moody John Calvin Price Bradley C Naylor Christian K Anderson Marcus Hadfield David Parkinson Austin Ahlstrom Austin Hannamann Chad Quilling Kyle Cutler Russell Denton Robert Adamson Rebecca Burlett Thomas Angel John Carlile Dallon Mark Kenneth Transtrum Robert Douglas Hyldahl John Calvin Price Ryan Thomas Kelly John Calvin Price Andikan J Nwosu Santosh A Misal Thy Truong Richard H Carson Kei G. I. Webber Nathaniel B Axtell Yiran Liang S. Madisyn Johnston Kenneth L Virgin Ethan G Smith Y Xu H Han Y Guo Noah Moran Nathan Zuniga John Calvin Price Christopher Hill Peter Shen Richard S Criddle Hsien-Jung L Lin Isabella James Ji Sun Park Lee D Hansen John Calvin Price Christopher A Wolff Marcus Lawrence John Calvin Price Joseph S Creery Kyle J Cutler Richard H Carson Benjamin F Miller Benjamin F Miller Justin J Reid John Calvin Price Hsien-Jung L Lin Phillip J Atherton Kenneth Smith Adam T Woolley J B Nielsen A V Nielsen R H Carson H.-J. L Lin R L Hanson M Sonker Daniel Nathan Mortensen John Calvin Price John Calvin Price B C Naylor John Calvin Price John Calvin Price Jared N Bowden Jennifer A Bowden Todd Fergus Robinson John Calvin Price Anton E Bowden Marjan m Hashemi Brett S Holden Jordan Coburn Maddison F Taylor Scott O Webber Brian Hilton Aaron Zaugg Colton McEwan Richard H Carson Jennifer Lynn Andersen John Calvin Price Shenglou Deng Paul Bennett Savage Monique M.P. Speirs Adam C Swensen Tsz Y. Chan Peter M. Jones John C. Holman McCall B Harris John A. Maschek James E. Cox Richard H. Carson Jonathon T Hill Joshua Andersen John T Prince John Calvin Price Paul Burton Farnsworth Richard H. Carson Charlotte R. Lewis Mercede N. Ericson Anna P. Zagieboylo Bradley C. Naylor Kelvin W. Li John C. Price B. C. Naylor M. T. Porter E. Wilson A. Herring S. Lofthouse A. Hannemann Stephen R Piccolo Rockwood AL Piccolo John Calvin Price A. D. Mathis B. C. Naylor R. H. Carson E. Evans J. Harwell J. Knecht E. Hexem F. F. Peelor B. F. Miller K. L. Hamilton M. K. Transtrum B. T. Bikman John Calvin Price Xiaofeng Zhao Sonika Sharma Xiaofeng Xie Luke T Tolley Alex Plistil Hal E Barnett Martin P. Brisbin Adam C. Swensen John C. Price Paul Burton Farnsworth H. Dennis Tolley Stanley D. Stearns Milton L Lee A. C. Swensen J. Finnell C. M. Orozco A. J. Gross J. T. Prince R. K. Watt John Calvin Price M. Shankaran* C. L. King T. E. Angel W. E. Holmes K. W. Li M. Colangelo John Calvin Price S. M. Turner C. Bell K. L. Hamylton B. F. Miller M. K. Hellerstein Mahalakshmi Shankaran John Calvin Price Marc Hellerstein John Calvin Price Airlia Thompson Marc Hellerstein T. Zhang John Calvin Price E. Nouri-Nigjeh J. Li M. K. Hellerstein J. Qu S. Ghaemmaghami B. F. Miller J. C. Drake B. Naylor John Calvin Price K. L. Hamilton John Calvin Price Katherine B. Louie Benjamin P. Bowen Stephanie McAlhany Yurong Huang John Calvin Price Jian-hua Mao Marc Hellerstein Trent R. Northen

Presentations

John Calvin Price