Lukasz Joachimiak, Ph.D. Titles and Appointments Associate Professor Endowed Title Effie Marie Cain Scholar in Medical Research School Medical School Department Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases | Biochemistry Graduate Programs Molecular Biophysics Biography Download Curriculum Vitae Lukasz Joachimiak received his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000. He received his Ph.D. in 2007 working in the lab of David Baker at University of Washington where he established computational tools to define the energetic and structural principles that underlie protein-protein interactions. He completed his postdoctoral work with Judith Frydman at Stanford University where he developed innovative approaches to understand the structure and mechanics of substrate interaction by the eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC/CCT. At UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Joachimiak's laboratory utilizes structural and biochemical approaches to dissect the role of chaperones and protein misfolding in neurodegenerative diseases. His group is also interested in integrating computatioanl and experimental methods to design molecular interactions to control amyloid assembly. The Joachimiak Lab is a collaborative environment focused on uncovering the molecular origins of neurodegenerative disease. We value scientific rigor, creativity, and interdisciplinary thinking, and support trainees in taking ownership of their research to advance the field. Education Undergraduate Uni of Wisconsin-Madison (2001), Biochemistry Graduate School University of Washington (2007), Biochemistry Research Interest Chaperone structural biology Design of molecular recognition and specificity Protein (mis)folding in neurodegenerative diseases Publications Featured Publications DNAJB8 oligomerization is mediated by an aromatic-rich motif that is dispensable for substrate activity. Ryder BD, Ustyantseva E, Boyer DR, Mendoza-Oliva A, Kuska MI, Wydorski PM, Macierzynska P, Morgan N, Sawaya MR, Diamond MI, Kampinga HH, Joachimiak LA, Structure 2024 Mar Network of hotspot interactions cluster tau amyloid folds. Mullapudi V, Vaquer-Alicea J, Bommareddy V, Vega AR, Ryder BD, White CL, Diamond MI, Joachimiak LA, Nat Commun 2023 Feb 14 1 895 DnaJC7 binds natively folded structural elements in tau to inhibit amyloid formation. Hou Z, Wydorski PM, Perez VA, Mendoza-Oliva A, Ryder BD, Mirbaha H, Kashmer O, Joachimiak LA, Nat Commun 2021 09 12 1 5338 Regulatory inter-domain interactions influence Hsp70 recruitment to the DnaJB8 chaperone. Ryder BD, Matlahov I, Bali S, Vaquer-Alicea J, van der Wel PCA, Joachimiak LA, Nat Commun 2021 02 12 1 946 Tau local structure shields an amyloid-forming motif and controls aggregation propensity. Chen D, Drombosky KW, Hou Z, Sari L, Kashmer OM, Ryder BD, Perez VA, Woodard DR, Lin MM, Diamond MI, Joachimiak LA, Nat Commun 2019 06 10 1 2493 Mapping Hsp104 interactions using cross-linking mass spectrometry. Westphal K, Michalska K, Joachimiak A, Joachimiak LA, FEBS Open Bio 2025 Feb Functional classification of tauopathy strains reveals the role of protofilament core residues. Vaquer-Alicea J, Manon VA, Bommareddy V, Kunach P, Gupta A, Monistrol J, Perez VA, Tran HT, Saez-Calveras N, Du S, Batra S, Stoddard D, White CL, Joachimiak LA, Shahmoradian SH, Diamond MI, Sci Adv 2025 Jan 11 4 eadp5978 ARF alters PAF1 complex integrity to selectively repress oncogenic transcription programs upon p53 loss. Wang J, Fendler NL, Shukla A, Wu SY, Challa A, Lee J, Joachimiak LA, Minna JD, Chiang CM, Vos SM, D'Orso I, Mol Cell 2024 Nov Multivalent coiled-coil interactions enable full-scale centrosome assembly and strength. Rios MU, Bagnucka MA, Ryder BD, Ferreira Gomes B, Familiari NE, Yaguchi K, Amato M, Stachera WE, Joachimiak LA, Woodruff JB, J Cell Biol 2024 Apr 223 4 Hairpin trimer transition state of amyloid fibril. Sari L, Bali S, Joachimiak LA, Lin MM, Nat Commun 2024 Mar 15 1 2756 Results 1-10 of 44 1 2 3 4 5 Next Last Honors & Awards Endowed Scholar Award (2016-2020)
