William R. Folk
Professor of Biochemistry
E-mail:folkw@missouri.edu
Office: 202D Schlundt Annex
Mail: Biochemistry
117 Schweitzer Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-884-2921
Fax: 573-884-4597
Lab: 573-882-9093
Educational background
| Degree | School | Location | Major |
| BA | Rice University | Houston, Texas | Biochemistry |
| PhD | Stanford University | Stanford, Calif. | Biochemistry |
Notable honors and service
- Principal investigaor and co-director, The International Center for Indigenous Phytotherapy Studies
- Director, Howard Hughes Science Education program Maps in Medicine
- Senior associate dean for research, University of Missouri School of Medicine 2002-2008
- Chairman, Dept of Biochemistry, University of Missouri 1989-2001
- American Cancer Society Faculty Research Award
- International Union Against Cancer, Eleanor Roosevelt Fellowship
- National Cancer Institute-ISERM Fellowship
- International Union Against Cancer, Yamagiwa-Yoshida Memorial Fellowship
Research description
Research interests utilize animal cell and plant systems.
Current objectives are:
- Understand activation of BK virus DNA replication in human kidney cells that initiate PVAN.
- Understand the use of traditional medicines for HIV/AIDS by the public in Africa.
- Modify plant gene expression and translation to alter proteins used for food and feed so as to improve health and food security.
Selected publications
Xie A and Folk WR, 2002. Inhibition of Polyomavirus ori-dependent DNA replication by mSin3B. J. Virology 76: 11809-11818.
Xie A, Bermudez VP, and Folk, WR, 2002. Stimulation of DNA replication from the Polyomavirus Origin by PCAF and GCN5 Acetyltransferases: Acetylation of large T-Antigen. Mol. Cell. Bioogy. 22: 7907-7918.
Wu ZR, Chen ZH, and Folk WR, 2003. Enrichment of Cereal Protein Lysine Content by Altered tRNA (lys) coding during protein synthesis. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 1: 187-194.
Qin W, Zhu W, Wagner-Mann C, Folk WR, and Sauter ER, 2003. Association of uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) with breast cancer. The Cancer Journal. 9: 293-310
Folk WR, 2003. How to Improve Plant Protein Quality: Err on the Side of Goodness. ISB News Report, August 2003 (http://www.isb.vt.edu).
Young CS, Folk WR. Formation of polyomavirus-like particles with different VP1 molecules, that bind the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor. J Virol 2003;77:11491-11498.
Benasciutti E, Pages G, Kenzior O, Folk WR, Blasi F, Crippa MP. MAPK and JNK transduction pathways can phosphorylate Sp1 to activate the uPA minimal promoter element and endogenous gene transcription. Blood 2004;104(1):256-62. Epub 2004 Mar 18.
Wu XR, Chen ZH, Shende A, Dooner HK, and Folk WR. Visualizing missense suppression of bz1 in Zea mays: an assay for expression, charging and Utilization of tRNAs. Plant Molecular Biology 2006;Vol. 61, Issue 4-5, pp.795-798.
Thamburan S, Klassen J, Cannon JF, Folk WR, Johnson Q. Tulbaghia alliacea Phytotherapy: A Potential Antiinfective Remedy for Candidiasis. Phytotherapy Research. 2006;20, 844-860
Johnson Q, Syce J, Nell H, Rudeen K, Folk WR. A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 1 Trial of Lessertia frutescens in adults. PLoS Clinical Trials 2007;2 (4): e16 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pctr.0020016
Wu XR, Kenzior A, Wilmot D, Scanlon S, Chen Z, Topin A, He S, Acevedo A, Folk WR. Altered expression of plant lysyl tRNA synthetase promotes tRNA misacylation and translational recoding of lysine. The Plant Journal 2007;50, 627-636.
Reid SE, Mulenga LB, Folk WR, Tambatamba B, Chi, BH. Abandonment of antiretroviral therapy for local AIDS remedies: a potential barrier to ART scale-up in sub-Saharan 2008 South African Medical Journal, Africa.
Sun PH, Hyun JC, Soo KS, Eun OK, Seung IJ, Eun HL, Yoo W, Folk WR, Kim SO. High Resolution Human Papillomavirus Genotyping by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. Nature Protocols, 2008 3: 1476-1484
Wu XR, Mutisya J, and Folk WR. Modification of Sorghum Seed Composition to Improve Health and Nutrition of Small Farmholders. Agronomy Monograph 51, 2008 ASA-CSSA-SSSA
Mahon C, Liang B, Tikhanovich I, Abend JR, Imperiale MJ, Nasheuer HP and Folk WR Restriction of Human Polyomavirus BK Virus DNA Replication in Murine Cells and Extracts. Journal of Virology, 2009, 83: 5708-5717
Employment opportunities
Opportunities exist for talented graduate students seeking a PhD degree, for medical students interested in research training and for undergraduates.
Electronic submission is encouraged: folkw@missouri.edu.