Paul R. Ortiz de Montellano, PhD
Research Interests
My research is at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a heavy eM.P.H.asis on formulating a general theory of hemoprotein function and developing methods for predicting, modifying and inhibiting the reactions catalyzed by hemoproteins. Hemoproteins have a wide range of biological roles, functioning as heme-based receptors and in electron transport, oxygen transport, and catalysis. One of the central questions of interest is how the proteins control the catalytic outcome: why does a peroxidase abstract electrons, a cytochrome P450 transfer an oxygen atom, and a heme oxygenase oxidize the heme group, given that the same oxygen activation manifold is involved in all three proteins? The understanding of mechanism, and the rational design of inhibitors, are two additional themes.
Selected Publications
- Ogura, H., Evans, J. P., Ortiz de Montellano, P. R., and LaMar, G. N. (2008) Implication for Using Heme Methyl Contact Shifts as Indicators of Heme Seating as Related to Stereoselectivity in the Catabolism of Heme by Heme Oxygenase: In-plane Heme Versus Axial His Rotation. Biochemistry 47, 421-430.
- Wojciechowski, G., and Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. (2008) Shielding of Peroxidase Heme Vinyl Groups from Autocatalytically Generated Electrophilic Metabolites. Acta Chim. Slov. 55, 75-84.
- Ortiz de Montellano PR. Mechanism and role of covalent heme binding in the CYP4 family of P450 enzymes and the mammalian peroxidases. Drug Metab Rev 2008;40:405-26.
- Professor
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Research Theme
- Hepatic Physiology and Metabolism
Contact Information
- ortiz@
cgl.ucsf.edu - Phone: (415) 476-2903
- Fax: (415) 502-4728
- Genentech Hall
- 600 16th St.
- Box 2280, N-572D
- San Francisco, CA. 94143 – 2280
Other UCSF Affiliations
- Chemistry and Chemical Biology Graduate Program
- Hellen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
- UCSF Molecular Design Institute