Rheem Totah
Professor, Medicinal Chemistry; Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry Faculty, Office of Research, Office of the Dean, Plein Center for Aging Faculty, School Faculty, Totah Lab
Telephone: (206) 543-9481
Email: rtotah@uw.edu
Website: Totah Lab
Education
- B.S. (Honors), 1995, Birzeit University, Palestine
- Masters (Honors), 2000, University of Kansas
- Ph.D. (Honors), 2002, University of Kansas
Research Interests
- Prescription drug negative side effects in the heart, skeletal muscle and bone; associated chemical mechanisms for this toxicity
- Drug-endogenous substrate interactions
- Pharmacogenetics
Taking Students: Yes
Biography
Dr. Totah obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Birzeit University in Palestine and her master’s and PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Kansas. Dr. Totah is currently a professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. Her research is in the area of prescription drug negative side effects especially in the heart, skeletal muscle and bone. She focuses on researching the chemical mechanisms for this toxicity. Her research is important in guiding research towards medicines with fewer side effects and safer use. Research in the Totah lab is broadly centered on drug-endogenous substrate interactions.
Recent Publications
A Rapid and Reliable Absorbance Assay to Identify Drug-Drug Interactions with Thiopurine Drugs. Metabolites. 2024 Dec 19;14(12):715. doi: 10.3390/metabo14120715. PMID: 39728496
Liver CYP4A autophagic-lysosomal degradation (ALD): A major role for the autophagic receptor SQSTM1/p62 through an uncommon target interaction site. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Oct 14:2024.10.14.618315. doi: 10.1101/2024.10.14.618315. PMID: 39464120 Preprint.
A Rapid and Reliable Absorbance Assay to Identify Drug-Drug Interactions with Thiopurine Drugs. Russell DA, Stafford C, Totah RA. Metabolites. 2024 Dec 19;14(12):715.
Editorial: Cytochromes P450, their modulators and metabolites in cardiovascular function and disease. Adebesin AM, Roman RJ, Campbell WB, Seubert JM, Totah RA. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Dec 3;15:1531166.
Liver CYP4A autophagic-lysosomal degradation (ALD): A major role for the autophagic receptor SQSTM1/p62 through an uncommon target interaction site. He L, Kwon D, Trnka MJ, Liu Y, Yang J, Li K, Totah RA, Johnson EF, Burlingame AL, Correia MA. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Oct 14:2024.10.14.618315.
A Case to Support the Continued Use of Rifampin in Clinical Drug-Drug Interaction Studies. Bercu JP, Ponting DJ, Ripp SL, Dobo KL, Totah RA, Bolleddula J. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2024 Jul;116(1):34-37.
Investigating the association between CYP2J2 inhibitors and QT prolongation: a literature review. Wiley AM, Yang J, Madhani R, Nath A, Totah RA. Drug Metab Rev. 2024 Mar 20:1-19.
The methyltransferases METTL7A and METTL7B confer resistance to thiol-based histone deacetylase inhibitors. Robey RW, Fitzsimmons CM, Guiblet WM, Frye WJE, González Dalmasy JM, Wang L, Russell DA, Huff LM, Perciaccante AJ, Ali-Rahmani F, Lipsey CC, Wade HM, Mitchell AV, Maligireddy SS, Terrero D, Butcher D, Edmondson EF, Jenkins LM, Nikitina T, Zhurkin VB, Tiwari AK, Piscopio AD, Totah RA, Bates SE, Arda HE, Gottesman MM, Batista PJ. Mol Cancer Ther. 2023 Dec 28.
Cardioprotective mechanisms of cytochrome P450 derived oxylipins from ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs. Cho C, Aliwarga T, Wiley AM, Totah RA. Adv Pharmacol. 2023;97:201-227.
METTL7A (TMT1A) and METTL7B (TMT1B) are responsible for alkyl S-thiol methyl transferase activity in liver. Russell DA, Chau MK, Shi Y, Levasseur IN, Maldonato BJ, Totah RA. Drug Metab Dispos. 2023 May 3:DMD-AR-2023-001268.
Effects of Pregnancy on Plasma Sphingolipids Using a Metabolomic and Quantitative Analysis Approach. Enthoven LF, Shi Y, Fay E, Kim A, Moreni S, Mao J, Isoherranen N, Totah RA, Hebert MF. Metabolites. 2023 Sep 21;13(9):1026.
CYP2D6 Activity Is Correlated with Changes in Plasma Concentrations of Taurocholic Acid during Pregnancy and Postpartum in CYP2D6 Extensive Metabolizers. Czuba LC, Malhotra K, Enthoven L, Fay EE, Moreni SL, Mao J, Shi Y, Huang W, Totah RA, Isoherranen N, Hebert MF. Drug Metab Dispos. 2023 Nov;51(11):1474-1482.
Cardioprotective mechanisms of cytochrome P450 derived oxylipins from ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs. Cho C, Aliwarga T, Wiley AM, Totah RA. Adv Pharmacol. 2023;97:201-227.
METTL7A (TMT1A) and METTL7B (TMT1B) Are Responsible for Alkyl S-Thiol Methyl Transferase Activity in Liver. Russell DA, Chau MK, Shi Y, Levasseur IN, Maldonato BJ, Totah RA. Drug Metab Dispos. 2023 Aug;51(8):1024-1034.
Plasma hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, and thiocyanate levels are lower during pregnancy compared to postpartum in a cohort of women from the Pacific northwest of the United States. Zeigler MB, Fay EE, Moreni SL, Mao J, Totah RA, Hebert MF. Life Sci. 2023 Jun 1;322:121625.
The Effects of Pregnancy on Amino Acid Levels and Nitrogen Disposition. Enthoven LF, Shi Y, Fay EE, Moreni S, Mao J, Honeyman EM, Smith CK, Whittington D, Brockerhoff SE, Isoherranen N, Totah RA, Hebert MF. Metabolites. 2023 Feb 7;13(2):242.
Cardiac Disease Alters Myocardial Tissue Levels of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids and Key Proteins Involved in Their Biosynthesis and Degradation. Aliwarga T, Dinh JC, Heyward S, Prasad B, Gharib SA, Lemaitre RN, Sotoodehnia N, Totah RA. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Oct 17;23(20):12433.
Selective deuteration of bupropion slows epimerization and reduces metabolism. Shi Y, Dinh J, Pelletier R, Raccor B, Yusuff N, Morgan AJ, Harbeson S, Uttamsingh V, Totah RA. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2022 Nov 15;76:129009.
Plasma epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and diabetes-related cardiovascular disease: The cardiovascular health study. Lemaitre RN, Jensen PN, Zeigler M, Fretts AM, Umans JG, Howard BV, Sitlani CM, McKnight B, Gharib SA, King IB, Siscovick DS, Psaty BM, Sotoodehnia N, Totah RA. EBioMedicine. 2022 Sep;83:104189.
Reductions in Hydrogen Sulfide and Changes in Mitochondrial Quality Control Proteins Are Evident in the Early Phases of the Corneally Kindled Mouse Model of Epilepsy. Cho C, Zeigler M, Mizuno S, Morrison RS, Totah RA, Barker-Haliski M. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 27;23(3):1434.
Future of Biotransformation Science in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Kramlinger VM, Dalvie D, Heck CJS, Kalgutkar AS, O’Neill J, Su D, Teitelbaum AM, Totah RA. Drug Metab Dispos. 2022 Mar;50(3):258-267.