Kimberly N. White
Dr. White's research interests focus on the extraction of small molecules from natural sources to provide answers to key scientific questions. One project involves the isolation of bioactive natural products from terrestrial and marine Gram negative bacteria, followed by structure elucidation and biological testing. Pharmaceuticals are often derived from or inspired by naturally occurring chemical structures. Bacteria are a proven source of chemical diversity with useful biological properties.
Another lab project strives to use various quantitative and unambiguous chemical techniques to establish novel means for assessing the post mortem interval of human remains. Currently very few quantitative chemical tools exist for assessing the post mortem interval, especially past 72 hours. This project uses various aspects of human lipid and protein metabolism to identify and quantify markers of decomposition and death and to correlate them to accumulated degree days (ADD) and total body desiccation score (TBDS). This project is a collaboration with the Forensic Investigative Research Site (FIRS) of Colorado Mesa University, one of only seven "body farms" in the United States.
Specialty Area
Bioorganic Chemistry, Natural Products Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry
Education
Ph.D. (2006) University of California, Santa Cruz
M.A. (2000) University of California, Santa Barbara
B.S. (1999) University of California, Santa Cruz
Courses Taught
General Chemistry (CHEM 109)
Biochemistry (CHEM 434/434L & CHEM 435/435L)
Brief Organic Chemistry (CHEM 228)
Publications
17. Villarreal, B., Vincent-Layton, K., Reynoso, E., Begay, K., & White, K. N. Do Students Perceive Faculty as Responsible for Equitable Learning Environments? Results From a Mixed-Methods Study. Higher Education Research & Development, 2022, in press.
16. Villarreal, B., Vincent-Layton, K., Reynoso, E., Begay, K., & White, K. N. Using Faculty Development to Increase Faculty Perceptions of Responsibility for Highly Equitable Classroom Practices. J. Faculty Development, 2022, 36 (1), 8-14.
15. White, K. N. (2021, June 1) Getting Started with Equity: A Guide for Academic Department Leaders; A Discipline Brief for Equity in Chemistry. Every Learner Everywhere/ Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. https://solve.everylearnereverywhere.org/asset/6WgonsELT0SGOQ5y4520
14. White, K. N.; Vincent-Layton, K.; Villarreal, B. Equitable and Inclusive Practices Designed to Minimize Equity Gaps in Undergraduate Chemistry Courses. J. Chem. Ed., 2020, 98, 330-339.
13. White, K. N.; Tenney, K.; Crews, P. The bengamides – a mini-review of natural sources, analogues, biological properties, biosynthetic origins, and future prospects. J. Nat. Prod. 2017, 80, 740-755.
12. Mejia, E.; Loveridge, S.; Stepan, G.; Tsai, A.; Jones, G.; Barnes, T.; White, K.; Draskovic, M.; Tenney, K.; Tsiang, M.; Geleziunas, R.; Cihlar, T.; Pagratis, N.; Tian, Y.; Yu, H.; Crews, P. A Study of Marine Natural Products Including Resorcylic Acid Lactones from Humicola fuscoatra that Reactivate Latent HIV-1 Expression in an in vitro Model of Central Memory CD4+ T Cells. J. Nat. Prod. 2014, 77, 618-624.
11. Johnson, T.A.; Sohn, J.; Vaske, Y.M.;White, K. N.;Cohen, T.L.; Vervoort, H.C.; Tenney, K.; Valeriote, F.A.; Bjeldanes, L.F.; Crews, P. Myxobacteria versus sponge-derived alkaloids: The bengamide family identified as potent immune-modulating agents by scrutiny of LC-MS/ELSD libraries. Bioorg. & Med. Chemistry 2012, 20, 4348-4355.
10. Offenbacher, A.; White, K. N.; Sen, I.; Oliver, A. G.; Konopelski, J. P.; Barry, B. A.; Einarsdóttir, Ó. A Spectroscopic Investigation of a Tridentate Cu-Complex Mimicking the Tyrosine-Histidine Cross-link of Cytochrome c Oxidase. J. Phys. Chem. B 2009, 113, 7407-7417.
9. Sashidhara, K.N.; White, K. N.; Crews, P. A Selective Account of Effective Paradigms & Significant Outcomes in the Discovery of Inspirational Marine Natural Products. J. Nat. Prod. 2009, 72, 588-603.
8. Calcul, L.; Chow, R.; Oliver, A. G.; Tenney, K.; White, K. N.; Wood, A. W.; Fiorilla, C.; Crews, P. An NMR Strategy for Unraveling Structures of Bioactive Marine-Derived Oxy-Polyhalogenated Diphenyl Ethers. In Press. J. Nat. Prod., 2009, 72, 443-449.
7. White, K. N.; Amagata, T.; Oliver, A.G.; Tenney, K.; Wenzel, P. J.; Crews, P. Structure Revision of Spiroleucettadine, a Sponge Alkaloid with a Bicyclic Core Meager in H-Atoms. J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 8719-8722.
6. Johnson, T.A.; Tenney, K.; Cichewicz, R.H.; Morinaka, B.I.; White, K. N.; Amagata, T.; Subramanian, B.; Media, J.; Mooberry, S.L.; Valeriote, F.A.; Crews, P. The Sponge-Derived Fijianolide Polyketide Class: Further Evaluation of Their Structural and Cytotoxicity Properties. J. Med. Chem. 2007, 50, 3795-3803.
5. White, K.N.; Sen, I.; Szundi, I.; Landaverrry, Y.R.; Konopelski, J.P.; Einarsdóttir., Ó. Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Cross-Linked Histidine-Phenol Cu(II) Complexes as Models for the Active Site of Cytochrome c Oxidase. Chemical Comm. 2007, 31, 3252-3254.
4. Pina, I. C.; White, K. N.; Cabrera, G.; Rivero, E.; Crews, P. Bromopyrrole Carboxamide Biosynthetic Products from the Caribbean Sponge Agelas dispar. J. Nat. Prod. 2007, 70, 613-617.
3. Gassner, N. C.; Tamble, C. M.; Bock, J. E.; Cotton, N.; White, K. N.; Tenney, K.; St.Onge, R. P.; Proctor, M. J.; Giaever, G.; Nislow, C.; Davis, R. W.; Crews, P.; Holman, T. R.; Lokey, R. S. Accelerating the Discovery of Biologically Active Small Molecules Using a High-Throughput Yeast Halo Assay. J. Nat. Prod. 2007, 70, 383-390.
2. Landaverry, Y. R.; White, K. N.; Olmstead, M.M.; Einarsdóttir, Ó.; Konopelski, J.P.; Cytochrome c Oxidase Active Site Mimics: New Ligands for Copper and an Unexpected Oxidative C-C Bond Formation. Heterocycles 2006, 70,147-152.
1. White, K. N.; Konopelski, J. P., Facile Synthesis of Highly Functionalized N-Methyl Amino Acid Esters Without Side-Chain Protection. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 4111-4112.
