Doug Swartz, Ph.D.

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics; Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 2012
• B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Oklahoma State University, 2006
• B.S. in Microbiology; Oklahoma State University, 2006

• Analytical Biotechnology (BIO3320)
• Cell and Molecular Biology (BIO3303)
• Concepts in Immunology (BIO3352)
• Introductory Genetics (BIO3301)

Dr. Swartz is a native of Clovis, NM. After completing dual B.S. degrees at Oklahoma State University in Biochemistry and Microbiology, he moved to Lubbock to pursue a Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences (TTUHSC). His dissertation work focused on using molecular biology and biochemistry techniques to create new tools for studying the transport mechanism of P-glycoprotein, an ABC Transporter that contributes to multidrug resistance. Upon completing his Ph.D., Dr. Swartz continued his research at TTUHSC through a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the American Heart Association. He also began teaching at LCU as an adjunct professor, and became a full time faculty member at LCU in the Fall of 2015.

At LCU, Dr. Swartz continues to pursue his research interests while mentoring undergraduate researchers in a variety of scientific areas including, structure and function of ABC transporters, effects of non-caloric sweeteners on living organisms, and interactions of treated wastewater with the environment. During graduate school, he met and married his wife, Dr. Lauren Swartz, who is currently a Texas Tech Family Medicine Resident.

Recent Publications:

o   Yang, Z., Zhoe, Q., Mok, L., Singh, A., Swartz, D. J., Urbatsch, I.L.,

Brouillette, C.G. (2016) Interactions and cooperativity between

P-glycoprotein structural domains determined by thermal unfolding provides

insights into its solution structure and function, Biochim.

Biophys. Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes (In Press) 

o   Swartz,

D. J., Mok, L., Botta, S.

K., Singh, A., Altenberg, G. A., and Urbatsch, I. L. (2014) Directed evolution

of P-glycoprotein cysteines reveals site-specific, non-conservative

substitutions that preserve multidrug resistance, Bioscience reports 34.

o   Ward, A. B., Szewczyk, P., Grimard, V., Lee,

C. W., Martinez, L., Doshi, R., Caya, A., Villaluz, M., Pardon, E., Cregger,

C., Swartz, D. J., Falson, P. G.,

Urbatsch, I. L., Govaerts, C., Steyaert, J., and Chang, G. (2013) Structures of

P-glycoprotein reveal its conformational flexibility and an epitope on the

nucleotide-binding domain, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 110,

13386-13391.

o  

Swartz, D.

J., Weber, J., and Urbatsch, I. L. (2013) P-glycoprotein is fully active

after multiple tryptophan substitutions, Biochim. Biophys. Acta

(BBA)-Biomembranes 1828, 1159-1168.

o  

Bai, J. P., Swartz, D. J., Protasevich, I.I.,

Brouillette, C. G., Harrell, P. M., Hildebrandt, E., Gasser, B., Mattanovich,

D., Ward, A., Chang, G., and Urbatsch, I. L. (2011) A gene optimization

strategy that enhances production of fully functional P-glycoprotein in Pichia

pastoris. PLoS One 6. 

o  

Cornwall, G.A., von Horsten, H. H., Swartz, D., Johnson, S., Chau, K.,

Whelly, S. (2007) Extracellular

quality control in the epididymis. Asian Journal of Andrology 9(4): p. 500-507.