Sarah Shuck, Ph.D.

800-826-4673
Shuck-Sarah-LAX
Assistant Professor, Department of Diabetes & Cancer Metabolism, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Institute

Dr. Shuck is an accomplished and dedicated researcher whose passion lies in the development of innovative methods to diagnose and predict diseases influenced by altered metabolism, such as diabetes and cancer. Through the application of novel analytical chemistry and biochemistry techniques, she has gained access to samples from various clinical studies, leading her to discover a groundbreaking class of biomarkers capable of predicting the risk of developing diabetes and its associated complications, including kidney disease and cancer.

Dr. Shuck's academic journey includes a Master of Science in physiology and a Ph.D. in biochemistry, both earned at Indiana University School of Medicine. As a Ruth Kirschstein postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University, she honed her expertise in devising cutting-edge analytical chemistry methods. Upon joining City of Hope, she brought these invaluable skills to the forefront, focusing on uncovering new avenues for predicting life-threatening complications arising from diabetes, particularly kidney disease and cancer. Her research not only centers on the development of innovative clinical tests but also delves into the fundamental biochemistry underlying these intricate processes. The ultimate aim of her work is to utilize this knowledge in the creation of precision medicine approaches.

Dr. Shuck's research endeavors have recently expanded to explore the role of diabetes in driving aggressive prostate cancer in both Black and White men. This captivating line of investigation seeks to shed light on how metabolic changes might contribute to health disparities in these specific populations. Her enthusiasm to understand these mechanisms and their implications is evident, and she looks forward to uncovering crucial insights that could bridge the gap in healthcare outcomes.

In summary, Dr. Shuck's outstanding contributions to the field of disease prediction and her commitment to understanding the biochemical intricacies driving these conditions make her a trailblazer in the pursuit of precision medicine. Her dedication to advancing medical knowledge and addressing health disparities in vulnerable populations underscores the profound impact of her work on the future of healthcare.

Visit the Shuck Lab

Location

Education & Experience

Degrees

  • 2010, Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine

  • 2005, M.S., Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine

  • 2003, B.S., Biology, General, Indiana University Bloomington

Fellowship

  • 2010-2014, Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University

Professional Experience
  • 2021-present, Assistant Professor, Department of Diabetes and Cancer Metabolism, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 2015-2021 Research Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 2014-2015 Staff Scientist, Department of Molecular Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

Publications

  • Lai SW T, Hernandez-Castillo C, Gonzalez EJL, Zoukari T, Talley M, Paquin N, Chen Z, Roep BO, Kaddis JS, Natarajan R, Termini J, Shuck SC. (2024). Methylglyoxal adducts are prognostic biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes, 73(4), 611–617. https://doi.org/10.2337/db23-0277
  • Lai SW T, Bhattacharya S, Lopez Gonzalez EJ, Shuck SC. (2024). Methylglyoxal- derived nucleoside adducts drive vascular dysfunction in a RAGE-dependent manner. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 13(1), 85. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13010085
  • Lopez K, Lai SWT, Lopez Gonzalez EJ, Davila RG, Shuck SC. (2023) Extracellular vesicles: a dive into their role in the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Mar 21; 11:1154576.
  • Shuck SC, Achenbach, Roep BO, Termini JS, Hernandez-Castillo C, Winkler C, Weiss A, Ziegler AG. (2023) Methylglyoxal products in pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes. Front in Endocrinology (Lausanne). 2023 Jan 19; 14: 1108910.
  • Lai SWT, Lopez Gonzalez EJ, Zoukari T, Ki P, Shuck SC. (2022) Methylglyoxal and its adducts: induction, repair, and association with disease. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2022 Oct 17; 35(10): 1720-1746.
  • Mazza MC, Shuck SC, Lin J, Moxley MA, Termini J, Cookson MR, Wilson MA. (2022) DJ-1 is not a deglycase and makes a modest contribution to cellular defense against methylglyoxal damage in neurons. Journal of Neurochemistry. 2022 Aug; 162(3): 245-261.
  • Eryun Zhang, Lihua JIN, Yangmeng Wang, Jui Tu, Ruirong Zheng, Lili Ding, Zhipeng Fang, Mingjie Fan, Ismail Al-Abdullah, Rama Natarajan, Ke Ma, Zhengtao Wang, Arthur Riggs, Sarah Shuck, Li Yang, and Wendong Huang (2022) Intestinal AMPK modulation of microbiota mediates cross-talk with brown fat to control thermogenesis. Nature Communications. 2022 Mar 3; 13(1): 1135.
  • Hernandez-Castillo C and Shuck SC. (2021) Diet and obesity-induced methylglyoxal production and links to metabolic disease. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2021 Dec 20; 34(12): 2424-2440.
  • Ciminera AK, Shuck SC, Termini J. Elevated glucose increases genomic stability by inhibiting nucleotide excision repair. Life Science Alliance. 2021 Aug 23; 4(10):e202101159.
  • Shuck SC, Nguyen C, Chan Y, O’Connor T, Ciminera AK, Kahn M, Termini J. (2020) Metal-assisted protein quantitation (MAPq): Multiplex analysis of protein expression using lanthanide-modified antibodies with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry. 2020 Jun 2; 92(11):7556-7564.
  • Hernandez-Castillo C, Termini J, Shuck SC. (2020) DNA adducts as biomarkers to predict, prevent, and diagnose disease – application of analytical chemistry to clinical investigations. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2020 Feb 17; 33(2): 286-307.
  • Shuck SC, Hong T, Kalkum M, Igarashi R, Kajiya K, Termini J, Yamamoto K, Fujita-Yamaguchi Y. (2019) MLS128 antibody-induced suppression of colon cancer cell growth is mediated by a desmocollin and 110 kDa glycoprotein. Bioscience Trends. 2019 Jul 22; 13(3): 216-224.
  • Shuck SC, Wuenschell GE, Termini J. (2018) Product Studies and Mechanistic Analysis of the Reaction of Methylglyoxal with Deoxyguanosine. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2018 Jan 24; 31: 105-115.
  • Jandial R, Neman J, Lim PP, Tamae D, Kowolik CM, Wuenschell GE, Shuck SC, Ciminera AK, De Jesus LR, Oyuang C, Chen MY, and Termini J. (2018) Inhibition of GLO1 in Glioblastoma Multiforme Increases DNA-AGEs, Stimulates RAGE Expression, and Inhibits Brain Tumor Growth in Orthotopic Mouse Models. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018 Jan 30; 19, 406.
  • Jaramillo R, Shuck SC (co-first author), Chan YS, Liu X, Bates SE, Lim PP, Tamae D, Lacoste S, O’Connor TR, Termini J. (2017) DNA Advanced Glycation End Products (DNA-AGEs) are Elevated in Urine and Tissue in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2017 Feb 20; 30(2): 689-698.7.
  • Shuck SC, Wauchope OR, Rose KL, Kingsley PJ, Shell SM, Sugitani N, Chazin WJ, Zagol-Ikapitte I, Boutaud O, Oates JA, Galligan JJ, Beavers WN, Marnett LJ. (2014) Protein Modification by Adenine Propenal. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2014; 27(10): 1732-1742.
  • Shuck SC, Rose KL, Marnett LJ. (2014) Mass Spectrometric Methods for the Analysis of Nucleoside-Protein Cross-Links: Application to Oxopropenyl-Deoxyadenosine. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2014 Jan 21; 27(1): 136-46.
  • Maddukuri L*, Shuck SC*, Eoff RL, Zhao L, Rizzo CJ, Guengerich FP, and Marnett LJ. (2013) N6-Oxopropenyl-2’-deoxyadenosine Bypass by Y-family Human DNA Polymerases η, κ, and ι. *Authors contributed equally. Biochemistry. 2013 Dec 3; 52(48): 8766-76.
  • Akingbade D, Kingsley PJ, Shuck SC, Cooper T, Carnahan R, Szekely J, Rizzo CJ and Marnett LJ. (2012) Selection of Monoclonal Antibodies Against 6-oxo-M1dG and Their Use in an LC-MS/MS Assay for the Presence of 6-oxo-M1dG in Vivo. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2012 Feb 20; 25(2): 454-61.
  • Anciano VG, Earley JN, Shuck SC, Georgiadis M, Fitch R, and Turchi JJ. (2010) Targeting the OB-Folds of Replication Protein A with Small Molecules. Journal of Nucleic Acids. 2010 Dec 6; 2010: 304035.
  • Neher TM*, Shuck SC*, Liu J, Zhang JT, and Turchi JJ. (2010) Identification of novel small molecule inhibitors of the XPA protein using in silico based screening. ACS Chemical Biology. 2010 Oct 15; 5(10): 953-65. *Authors contributed equally.
  • Shuck SC and Turchi JJ. (2010) Targeted inhibition of RPA reveals cytotoxic activity, synergy with chemotherapeutic DNA damaging agents and insight into cellular function. Cancer Research. 2010 Apr 15; 70(8): 3189-98.
  • Turchi JJ, Shuck SC, Short EA, and Andrews BJ. (2009) Targeting nucleotide excision repair as a mechanism to increase cisplatin efficacy, in Platinum and Other Heavy Metal Compounds in Cancer Chemotherapy, A.Bonetti, R.Leone, F.M.Muggia, and S.B.Howell, eds. (New York: Humana Press), pp. 177-188.
  • Shuck SC, Short EA, Turchi JJ. (2008) Eukaryotic nucleotide excision repair: from understanding mechanisms to influencing biology. Cell Res. 2008 Jan; 18(1): 64-72.