Office:
LSUHSC School of Medicine
533 Bolivar Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Bio
Dr. Buckley graduated from LSU Health Sciences Center with her PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Her research focused on understanding the role that allostery plays in the regulation of kinesin motor protein mechanochemistry and oligomerization. Since then, she has contributed to translational research projects focused on biomarker development for gastrointestinal diseases affecting preterm infants and children.
Recently, Dr. Buckley received funding through the National Science Foundation’s nationally designated EPSCoR CREST Center at LSU Health to continue her study of motor proteins with the goal of understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie cytoskeletal organization and transport.
Education
PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
BS, Biology
Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA
Teaching
Lecturer, BIOMED 111: Fundamental Concepts in Biomedical Sciences II
Lecturer, Louisiana Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LA LEND) program, Genetics lecture & lab
Publications
Selected publications:
Kim, E. Kim, L. Liu, R. Buckley, S. Parameswaram, S. Kim, E. Wojcik, Small molecule allosteric uncoupling of microtubule depolymerase activity from motility in human Kinesin-5 during mitotic spindle assembly. Nature Scientific Reports 9, 19900. DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-56173-9; [PMCID: PMC6934681].
Heath*, R. Buckley*, Z. Gerber, P. Davis, L. Linneman, Q. Gong, B. Barkemeyer, Z. Fang, M. Good, D. Penn, S. Kim. Association of intestinal alkaline phosphatase with necrotizing enterocolitis among premature infants. JAMA Network Open 2e1914996. DOI: 0.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.14996; [PMCID: PMC6902776]. *co-first author
E.J. Wojcik, R.S. Buckley, J Richard, L. Liu, T.M. Huckaba, S. Kim. Kinesin-5: cross-bridging mechanism to targeted clinical therapy. Gene 531:133-49 [PMCID PMC3801170]. Invited review by journal editorial board
Kim, R. Buckley, S. Learman, J. Richard, C. Parke, D. Worthylake, E. Wojcik, R. Walker, and S. Kim. Allosteric drug discrimination is coupled to mechanochemical changes in the Kinesin-5 motor core. Journal of Biological Chemistry 285:18650-61 [PMCID: PMC2881790]
See my complete list of publications: My Bibliography - NCBI
Research Interests
Molecular Mechanisms of motor-driven cytoskeleton organization:
My research seeks to understand how molecular motors generate, sense, and respond to force to organize the cellular cytoskeleton. Using kinesin motor proteins as a model system, I investigate how allosteric regulation couples ATP-driven conformational changes to microtubule interactions, force generation, and intracellular transport. My current work focuses on kinesin-5, defining how structural transitions within the motor domain regulate activity and mechanochemical responses under load. These studies provide a molecular framework for understanding how force-dependent motor behavior contributes to cytoskeletal organization during mitosis and neuronal structural remodeling.
Pediatric gastrointestinal biomarker research:
My lab also collaborates on translational research projects with the overarching goal of improving the diagnosis and clinical management of gastrointestinal disease in vulnerable pediatric populations. This work seeks to validate a host-derived biomarker that reflects the underlying dysregulated biological process proceeding gastrointestinal inflammation and mucosal injury in pediatric diseases originate in or are primarily driven by the gut. Our goal is to define biomarker signatures that not only distinguish disease states but also provide insight into disease severity, progression, and response to treatment to improve diagnostic and prognostic capabilities for pediatric patients.