William Chan
At Pacific Since: 1996
William K. Chan, PharmD, PhD graduated from University of California, San Francisco in 1986 with a doctor of pharmacy and a doctor of philosophy in 1991. He then received post-doctoral training at University of California, Davis in 1992 for one year in environmental toxicology. He followed this with another post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University Medical School for four years in molecular pharmacology. In 1996, Dr. Chan joined the faculty at University of the Pacific as Assistant Professor. In the future, he hopes to continue gaining funding for his lab to make new discoveries that benefit the community, as well as have more opportunities for collaboration with his fellow faculty members on and off campus.
Dr. Chan enjoys University of the Pacific for its beautiful campus and good working environment. He also enjoys teaching, Pacific's student-centered learning environment, and Pacific's support of faculty research.
PharmD, University of California, San Francisco, 1986
PhD, University of California, San Francisco, 1991
PostDoc in Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, 1992
PostDoc in Molecular Pharmacology, Northwestern University Medical School, 1993-1996
Teaching Philosophy
"Encourage conceptual understanding and develop critical thinking through discussion."
Courses
PHAR 116 — Principles of Biological Mechanisms
PCSP 214 — Advanced Molecular Biochemistry
Research Summary
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an important signaling molecule in response to human exposure of numerous environmental contaminants that are unavoidable in our daily diet and living. This receptor affects our immune response and cell growth, a prime target for rational drug design. Understanding of how our body controls the AHR cellular levels is a fundamental knowledge of this receptor. His lab focuses on mechanisms that control the AHR protein levels in human cells. Dr. Chan has been studying AHR since 1993 and has received seven grants (R15 and R01) from the National Institutes of Health since 1999.
Research Interests
- Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Arnt-dependent Pathways
- Rational Drug Design
- Cytochrome P450 Mediated Drug Interactions
- Recombinant Protein Expression
Scholarly Activity
Xiong, R., Shao, D., Do, S. and Chan, W. K. (2023) Activation of chaperone-mediated autophagy inhibits the aryl hydrocarbon receptor function by degrading this receptor in human lung epithelial carcinoma A549 cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24, 15116.
Yang, Y. and Chan, W. K. (2021) Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta regulates the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor cellular content and activity. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22, 6097.
Chen, J., Yang, Y. Russu, W. A. and Chan, W. K. (2021) The aryl hydrocarbon receptor undergoes chaperone-mediated autophagy in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22, 1654.
Yang, Y. and Chan, W. K. (2020) Selective autophagy maintains the aryl hydrocarbon receptor levels in HeLa cell: a mechanism that is dependent on the p23 co-chaperone. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 3449.
Yakkundi, P., Gonsalves, E., Galou-Lameyer, M., Selby, M. J. and Chan, W. K. (2019) Aryl hydrocarbon receptor acts as a tumor suppressor in a syngeneic MC38 colon carcinoma tumor model. Hypoxia 7, 1-16.
Chen, J., Yakkundi, P. and Chan, W. K. (2019) Down-regulation of p23 in normal lung epithelial cells reduces toxicities from exposure to benzo[a]pyrene and cigarette smoke condensate via an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent mechanism. Toxicol. Sci. 167, 239-248.
Pappas, B., Yang, Y., Wang, Y., Kim, K., Chung, H. J., Cheung, M., Ngo, K., Shinn, A. and Chan, W. K. (2018) p23 protects the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor from degradation via a heat shock protein 90-independent mechanism, Biochem. Pharmacol. 152, 34-44.
Ren, L., Thompson, J. D., Cheung, M., Ngo, K., Sung, S., Leong, S. and Chan, W. K. (2016) Selective suppression of the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor function can be mediated through binding interference at the C-terminal half of the receptor, Biochem. Pharmacol. 107, 91-100.
Zheng, Y., Xie, J., Huang, X., Dong, J., Park, M. S. and Chan, W. K. (2016) Binding studies using Pichia pastoris expressed human aryl hydrocarbon receptor and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator proteins, Prot. Exp. Purific. 122, 72-81.
