CONTACT INFORMATIONCREDENTIALSAWARDSPUBLICATIONSJoseph E. Wedekind, Ph.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 273-4516Fax: (585) 271-2683Research LabsThe Wedekind lab uses biophysical, biochemical and cell-based techniques to investigate: (i) bacterial riboswitches, and (ii) lab-evolved proteins that target HIV-1 RNA. Visit The Wedekind lab uses biophysical, biochemical and cell-based techniques to investigate: (i) bacterial riboswitches, and (ii) lab-evolved proteins that target HIV-1 RNA. Lab WebsiteLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 712Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsProfessor - Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (SMD) BiographyResearchThe Wedekind lab investigates the mechanisms of action of non-protein-coding (nc)RNAs. We are interested especially in the elegant, three-dimensional architectures of these RNAs, and how they bind to specific small molecules or peptides, leading to conformations that alter biological function. Model systems include: (i) metabolite-sensing riboswitches that regulate protein translation, and (ii) the application of lab-evolved proteins to target HIV-1 RNA. This work is relevant to the development of new antibiotics and anti-retroviral therapies. This work is funded by NIH/NIGMS grants R01 GM063162 and R01 GM123864. Our lab employs a variety of biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches, such as X-ray crystallography. We greatly acknowledge NIH/NCRR award S10 RR026501 for supporting this instrumentation. For access or further information see: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/structural-biology-biophysics.aspxCredentialsEducation1990B.Sc. | University of California at RiversideBiochemistry (Magna Cum Laude)1995Ph.D. | University of Wisconsin at MadisonBiochemistry (Structural Enzymology)Post-doctoral Training & Residency1995 - 1999RNA Biophysics, Dept. of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine. 1995-1999Awards2018 - 2022Member, MSFB Study SectionSponsor: Center for Scientific Review, NIH/PHS2017 - 2019Secretary, Medical Faculty CouncilLocation: University of Rochester SMD2015Faculty Teaching Award in BiophysicsSponsor: University of Rochester SMDLocation: Dept. Biochemistry & Biophysics2011 - 2016Editorial Board Member, The Journal of Biological ChemistrySponsor: ASBMB2010 - 2012Executive Committee Member, CHESS Users' GroupSponsor: Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Ithaca NY2010Faculty Teaching Award in BiophysicsLocation: University of Rochester SMD | Dept. Biochemistry & Biophysics2007 - 2009Elected Secretary (The Board of Directors)Sponsor: The Pittsburgh Diffraction SocietyLocation: Pittsburgh, PA2005Faculty Teaching Award in BiophysicsLocation: University of Rochester SMD | Dept. Biochemistry & Biophysics1996 - 1999Life Sciences Research Foundation FellowSponsor: Burroughs Wellcome FundLocation: Dept. Structural Biology, Stanford, CA1996Individual NRSA Post-doctoral Fellowship (declined)Sponsor: NIHLocation: Stanford, CA1996Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Post-Doctoral Award (declined)Sponsor: Leukemia and Lymphoma SocietyLocation: Stanford, CA1995 - 1996Dean's FellowLocation: Stanford University School of Medicine1992 - 1995NIH Biophysics Training Grant RecipientSponsor: NIH/NIGMS1990Elected Member, Phi Beta KappaLocation: Iota Chapter of California1989Edmondson Summer Research FellowSponsor: Dept. of PathologyLocation: University of Southern CaliforniaVIEW ALL expand_morePublicationsJournal Articles3/2021Srivastava Y, Bonn-Breach R, Chavali SS, Lippa GM, Jenkins JL, Wedekind JE. "Affinity and Structural Analysis of the U1A RNA Recognition Motif with Engineered Methionines to Improve Experimental Phasing." . 2021 Mar; 11(3)Epub 2021 Mar 10. 12/4/2020Chavali SS, Mali SM, Jenkins JL, Fasan R, Wedekind JE. "Co-crystal structures of HIV TAR RNA bound to lab-evolved proteins show key roles for arginine relevant to the design of cyclic peptide TAR inhibitors." The Journal of biological chemistry.. 2020 Dec 4; 295(49):16470-16486. 11/10/2020Chavali SS, Cavender CE, Mathews DH, Wedekind JE. "Arginine Forks Are a Widespread Motif to Recognize Phosphate Backbones and Guanine Nucleobases in the RNA Major Groove." Journal of the American Chemical Society.. 2020 Nov 10; Epub 2020 Nov 10. Books & Chapters2015 Chapter Title: Tails of Three Knotty Switches: How PreQ1 Riboswitch Structures Control Protein Translation Book Title: eLifeSciences Author List: Belashov I.A., Dutta D., Salim M., Wedekind J.E. Published By: John Wiley & Sons, Inc 20152014 Chapter Title: Metal Dependence of Ligand Binding and Heavy-Atom Derivatization of Evolutionarily Distinct PreQ1 Riboswitches Book Title: Chemical Biology of Nucleic Acids Author List: Joseph E. Wedekind, Joseph A. Liberman, Jermaine L. Jenkins, Mohammad Salim Published By: Springer 20142010 Chapter Title: Structural aspects of metal ion binding in small natural and artificial RNA enzymes Book Title: Metal Ions in Life Sciences: Structural and Catalytic Roles of Metals in RNA Author List: J.E. Wedekind Edited By: A. Sigel, S. Sigel, R. Sigel Published By: Wiley-Blackwell 2010VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONSClose WindowSchedule an appointment with Joseph E. Wedekind, Ph.D.Please answer the following questions to help us find the right appointment for you.Important: If you believe that you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. This website is not intended for emergency care.Have you seen this provider in the last 2 years?YesNoExisting Patient Schedule or request a follow up appointment online through MyChart. If you do not have a MyChart account, please close this window and call the appointment phone number. Joseph E. 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