PhD, Biochemistry, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Byelorussian Academy of Science, Minsk, USSR, 1987; joined UNC faculty in 2014

Dr. Krupenko’s research aims to understand mechanisms of regulation of cellular homeostasis by folate pathways. He is especially interested in the role of the major folate enzyme, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH, ALDH1L1), in cell and organ homeostasis, and how its deregulation promotes pathological conditions. He has studied numerous aspects of this enzyme biology including its catalytic mechanism, structure and metabolic role. His team has discovered that functional ALDH1L1 requires the covalently bound prosthetic group phosphopantetheine, which is rare in human proteins. Recently, they have also solved the structure of this complex enzyme by cryo-electron microscopy. Overall, his studies have established ALDH1L1 as a key regulator of folate metabolism and a putative tumor suppressor. He also has discovered a mitochondrial counterpart of ALDH1L1, ALDH1L2, and found that the loss of this enzyme leads to a rare human disorder. Most recently, his research examines the role of dietary folate in cell death and survival, malignant tumor growth and cancer metastasis.