Principal Investigator and Helen P. Rumbel Professor for Cancer Prevention, Linus Pauling Institute
University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
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Research Interests
My research interests are in the characterization and regulation of microsomal monooxygenase enzymes (Cytochromes P450 and Flavin-Containing Monooxygenases) active in drug metabolism and their involvement in the detoxication and/or bioactivation of drugs, xenobiotics, and endogenous compounds. In addition, a major focus of current research efforts is on diet and cancer. These studies employ both trout, mouse, rat, and human models to address mechanistic questions. Currently, we are working on a model that addresses the issue of maternal diet on cancer risk for the fetus in later life.
Education
- B.A., Biology, Reed College
- M.S., Biochemistry, Oregon State University
- Ph.D., Biochemistry, Oregon State University
- Parker B. Francis Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pulmonary Research from the Puritan Bennett Foundation, Biochemistry Department, Medical College of Wisconsin
Featured Publications
Krueger SK, Williams DE. (2005) Mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenases: structure/function, genetic polymorphisms and role in drug metabolism. Pharmacol Ther. 106(3):357-387. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2005.01.001.
Higdon JV, Delage B, Williams DE, Dashwood RH. (2007) Cruciferous vegetables and human cancer risk: epidemiologic evidence and mechanistic basis. Pharmacol Res. 55(3):224-236. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2007.01.009.
Vermillion Maier ML, Siddens LK, Uesugi SL, Choi J, Leonard SW, Pennington JM, Tilton SC, Smith JN, Ho E, Chow HHS, Nguyen BD, Kolluri SK, Williams DE. (2021) 3,3’-Diindolylmethane exhibits significant metabolism after oral dosing in humans. Drug Metab Dispos. 49(8):694-705. doi.org/10.1124/dmd.120.000346.
Williams DE (2021) Indoles derived from glucobrassicin: cancer chemoprevention by indole-3-carbinol and 3,3’-diindolylmethane. Front Nutr. 8:734334. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.734334. eCollection 2021.
Vermillion Maier ML, Siddens LK, Pennington JM, Uesugi SL, Tilton SC, Vertel EA, Anderson KA, Tidwell LG, Ognibene TJ, Turteltaub KW, Smith JN, Williams DE. (2023) Benzo[a]pyrene toxicokinetics in humans following dietary supplementation with 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) or Brussels sprouts. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 460:116377. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116377.
Shorey LE, Madeen EP, Atwell LL, Ho E, Löhr CV, Pereira CB, Dashwood RH, Williams DE. (2013) Differential modulation of dibenzo[def,p]chrysene transplacental carcinogenesis: maternal diets rich in indole-3-carbinol versus sulforaphane. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 270(1):60-69. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.02.016.