See Google Scholar for a complete list.
Hunter CD*, Derksen T*, Makhsous S, Doll M, Rodriguez Perez S, Scott NE, Willis LM (2024) Site-specific immobilization of the endosialidase reveals QSOX2 is a novel polysialylated protein. Accepted at Glycobiology *These authors contributed equally to the work
Khan L, Derksen T, Redmond D, Storek J, Durand C, Gniadecki R, Korman B, Cohen Tervaert JW, D’Aubeterre A, Osman MS, Willis LM (2023) The cancer-associated glycan polysialic acid is dysregulated in systemic sclerosis and is associated with fibrosis. Journal of Autoimmunity Sep 22:140:103110 ***Chosen as one of the Top 10 research advances of 2023 by Arthritis Society Canada***
Hunter CD, Morris KM, Derksen T, Willis LM (2023) The sweet side of sex as a biological variable. Glycobiology Jun 3;33(5):369-383
Hunter C, Gao Z, Chen HM, Thompson N, Wakarchuk W, Nitz M, Withers SG, Willis LM (2023) Attenuation of Polysialic Acid Biosynthesis in Cells by the Small Molecule Inhibitor 8-Keto-sialic acid. ACS Chemical Biology Jan 20;18(1):41-48
Resl P, Bujold AR, Tagirdzhanova G, Meidl P, Freire Rallo S, Kono M, Fernández-Brime S, Guðmundsson H, Andrésson ÓS, Muggia L, Mayrhofer H, McCutcheon JP, Wedin M, Werth S, Willis LM, Spribille T (2022) Large differences in carbohydrate degradation and transport potential among lichen fungal symbionts. Nature Communications May 12;13(1):2634
Liston SD, Willis LM (2021) Racing to build a wall: glycoconjugate assembly in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Current Opinion in Structural Biology. Jun;68:55-65
Willis, LM, Mehta, D, Davis A (2020) Twelve Principles Trainees, PIs, Departments, and Faculties Can Use to Reduce Bias and Discrimination in STEM. ACS Central Science Dec 23;6(12):2294-2300 ***Article has been downloaded over 9000 times***
Tajik, A, Phillips KL, Nitz M, Willis LM (2020) A new ELISA assay demonstrates sex differences in the concentration of serum polysialic acid. Analytical Biochemistry 600:113743
Bassan, J.*, Willis L.M.*, Vellanki, R.N., Nguyen, A., Edgar, L.J., Wouters, B.G., Nitz, M. (2019) TePhe, a tellurium-containing phenylalanine mimic, allows monitoring of protein synthesis in vivo with mass cytometry. PNAS 116(17):8155-8160
*Authors contributed equally to this work.
Willis, L.M., Park, H., Watson, M., Majonis, D., Nitz, M. (2018) Tellurium-based mass tag barcodes live and fixed cells for use with mass cytometry. Cytometry A. 93(7):685-694
Lumba, M.*, Willis, L.M.*, Santra, S., Nitz, M. (2017) A beta-galactosidase activity-based probe for detection of cellular senescence by mass cytometry. Org. Biomol. Chem. 15(30):6388-6392
*Authors contributed equally to this work.
Sun, Y., Willis, L.M., Batchelder, H., Nitz, M. (2016) Site specific protein O-glucosylation with bacterial toxins. Chem. Comm. 52(88):13024-13026.
Park, H., Edgar, L.J., Lumba, M., Willis, L.M., Nitz, M. (2015) Organotelluriums for mass cytometry reagent development. Org. Biomol. Chem. 13(25):7027-7033.
*One of the 2015 Hot Articles in Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry.
Willis, L.M., Whitfield, C. (2013) KpsC and KpsS are retaining 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) transferases involved in synthesis of capsular polysaccharides in Gram-negative bacteria. PNAS USA. 110(51):20753-20758.
Willis, L.M., Whitfield, C. (2013) Structure, biosynthesis and function of bacterial capsular polysaccharides synthesized by ABC transporter-dependent pathways. Carbohydrate research. 378:35-44. Review.
*One of the Top 10 most cited articles published in Carbohydrate Research (2013-2014).
Willis, L.M., Stupak, J., Richards, M.R., Lowary, T.L., Li, J, Whitfield, C. (2013) Conserved glycolipid termini in capsular polysaccharides synthesized by the ATP-binding cassette transporter-dependent pathways in Gram-negative pathogens. PNAS USA. 110(19):7868-7873.
Willis, L.M., Whitfield, C. (2013) in Escherichia coli: Virulence Mechanisms of a Versatile Pathogen. ed Donnenberg, M. (Elsevier Inc., Maryland), pp 533-556.
Lindhout, T., Iqbal, U., Willis, L.M., Reid, A.N., Li, J., Liu, X., Moreno, M., Wakarchuk, W.W. (2011) Site-specific enzymatic polysialylation of therapeutic proteins using bacterial enzymes. PNAS USA. 108(18):7397-7402
Larue, K., Ford, R.C., Willis, L.M., Whitfield C. (2011) Functional and structural characterization of polysaccharide co-polymerase proteins required for polymer export in ABC transporter-dependent capsule biosynthesis pathways. J. Biol. Chem. 286(19):16658-16668
Howard, M.D., Willis, L., Wakarchuk, W., St Michael, F., Cox, A., Horne, W.T., Hontecillas, R., Bassaganya-Riera, J., Lorenz, E., Inzana, TJ. (2011) Genetics and molecular specificity of sialylation of Histophilus somni lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and the effect of LOS sialylation on Toll-like receptor-4 signaling. Vet. Microbiol. 153(1-2):163-172
Willis, L.M., Zhang, R., Reid, A., Withers, S.G., and Wakarchuk, W.W. (2009) Mechanistic investigation of the endo-a-N-acetylgalactosaminidase from Streptococcus pneumoniae R6. Biochemistry. 48(43):10334-10341 *These authors contributed equally to the work.
Morley, T.J., Willis, L.M., Whitfield, C., Wakarchuk, W.W., and Withers, S.G. (2009) A new sialidase mechanism: bacteriophage K1F endo-sialidase is an inverting glycosidase. J. Biol. Chem. 284:17404-17410
Caines, M.E., Zhu, H., Vuckovic, M., Willis, L.M., Withers, S.G., Wakarchuk, W.W., and Strynadka, N.C. (2008) The structural basis for T-antigen hydrolysis by Streptococcus pneumoniae: a target for structure-based vaccine design. J. Biol. Chem. 283:31279-31283
Willis, L.M., Gilbert, M., Karwaski, M.-F., Blanchard, M.-C., and Wakarchuk, W. (2008) Characterization of α-2,8-polysialyltransferase from Neisseria meningitidis with synthetic acceptors, and the development of a self-priming polysialyltransferase fusion enzyme. Glycobiol. 18:177-186
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