# Wesley Sundquist

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wesley_Sundquist
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wesley_Sundquist.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sundquist
> Source revision: 1346437103
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|American biochemist (born 1959)}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Wesley I. Sundquist
| image             = Wes Sundquist 12-5-2024-1.jpg
| caption           = Sundquist in December,  2024
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1959|09|11}}
| birth_place       = [Saint Paul, Minnesota](/source/Saint_Paul%2C_Minnesota), US
| fields            = [Structural biology](/source/Structural_biology), [biochemistry](/source/biochemistry), [virology](/source/virology), [cell biology](/source/cell_biology)
| workplaces        = [University of Utah](/source/University_of_Utah) (1992)
[MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology](/source/MRC_Laboratory_of_Molecular_Biology)
| alma_mater        = [Carleton College](/source/Carleton_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor's_degree); 1981){{br}}[Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology) ([PhD](/source/PhD); 1988)
| known_for         = Research in HIV assembly and membrane remodeling
| awards            = [Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize](/source/Louisa_Gross_Horwitz_Prize) (2024)

[Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award](/source/Mani_Lal_Bhaumik)

[TIME100](/source/TIME100): The Most Influential People of 2025

[Warren Alpert Foundation Prize](/source/Warren_Alpert_Foundation_Prize) (2025)

[World Laureate Association (WLA) Prize](/source/World_Laureate_Association_(WLA)_Prize) (2025)
| spouse            = Nola Sundquist
| children          = 2
}}
'''Wesley I. Sundquist''' is an American [biochemist](/source/biochemist). Sundquist is Samuels Chair, Distinguished Professor, and Chair of the [https://medicine.utah.edu/biochemistry University of Utah Department of Biochemistry].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=Wesley I. Sundquist {{!}} School of Medicine |url=https://medicine.utah.edu/faculty/wesley-i-sundquist |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=medicine.utah.edu |language=en}}</ref> Sundquist's research focuses on cellular, molecular and structural biology of retroviruses, particularly [Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)](/source/HIV), and on cellular membrane remodeling by the Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport ([ESCRT](/source/ESCRT)) pathway.

== Early life, education, and career ==
Sundquist was born in [Saint Paul, Minnesota](/source/Saint_Paul%2C_Minnesota) on September 11, 1959. He grew up in Saint Paul and [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.) He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from [Carleton College](/source/Carleton_College) in Minnesota in 1981. Sundquist completed a PhD in chemistry at the [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology) with [Stephen J. Lippard](/source/Stephen_J._Lippard) in 1988. He was then a postdoctoral fellow at the [MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology](/source/Laboratory_of_Molecular_Biology) in [Cambridge, England](/source/Cambridge) with [Sir Aaron Klug](/source/Aaron_Klug). In 1992, Sundquist joined the [https://medicine.utah.edu/biochemistry University of Utah Department of Biochemistry].

== Research ==
The [HIV capsid](/source/Structure_and_genome_of_HIV) encloses the viral RNA genome and facilitates viral replication. Sundquist and colleagues defined the unusual fullerene cone architecture of the viral capsid<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ganser |first1=Barbie K. |last2=Li |first2=Su |last3=Klishko |first3=Victor Y. |last4=Finch |first4=John T. |last5=Sundquist |first5=Wesley I. |date=1999 |title=Assembly and Analysis of Conical Models for the HIV-1 Core |journal=Science |volume=283 |issue=5398 |pages=80–83 |doi=10.1126/science.283.5398.80 |bibcode=1999Sci...283...80G |issn=0036-8075}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Su |last2=Hill |first2=Christopher P. |last3=Sundquist |first3=Wesley I. |last4=Finch |first4=John T. |date=2000 |title=Image reconstructions of helical assemblies of the HIV-1 CA protein |journal=Nature |volume=407 |issue=6802 |pages=409–413 |doi=10.1038/35030177 |pmid=11014200 |bibcode=2000Natur.407..409L |issn=0028-0836}}</ref> and identified essential functions of the capsid in HIV-1 replication,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=von Schwedler |first1=Uta K. |last2=Stray |first2=Kirsten M. |last3=Garrus |first3=Jennifer E. |last4=Sundquist |first4=Wesley I. |date=2003 |title=Functional Surfaces of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Capsid Protein |journal=Journal of Virology |volume=77 |issue=9 |pages=5439–5450 |doi=10.1128/jvi.77.9.5439-5450.2003 |pmid=12692245 |pmc=153941 |issn=0022-538X}}</ref> which helped enable development of the potent and long-lasting [Lenacapavir](/source/Lenacapavir) capsid inhibitor by [Gilead Sciences](/source/Gilead_Sciences). The Sundquist lab also reconstituted capsid-dependent HIV reverse transcription and integration in a cell-free system.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Christensen |first1=Devin E. |last2=Ganser-Pornillos |first2=Barbie K. |last3=Johnson |first3=Jarrod S. |last4=Pornillos |first4=Owen |last5=Sundquist |first5=Wesley I. |date=2020-10-09 |title=Reconstitution and visualization of HIV-1 capsid-dependent replication and integration in vitro |journal=Science |volume=370 |issue=6513 |doi=10.1126/science.abc8420 |pmid=33033190 |pmc=8022914 |issn=0036-8075}}</ref>

To spread infection, [viruses must shed from infected cells](/source/Viral_shedding). Sundquist and colleagues found that retroviruses like HIV exit cells using the host [ESCRT](/source/ESCRT) pathway.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Garrus |first1=Jennifer E. |last2=von Schwedler |first2=Uta K. |last3=Pornillos |first3=Owen W. |last4=Morham |first4=Scott G. |last5=Zavitz |first5=Kenton H. |last6=Wang |first6=Hubert E. |last7=Wettstein |first7=Daniel A. |last8=Stray |first8=Kirsten M. |last9=Côté |first9=Mélanie |last10=Rich |first10=Rebecca L. |last11=Myszka |first11=David G. |last12=Sundquist |first12=Wesley I. |date=2001-10-05 |title=Tsg101 and the Vacuolar Protein Sorting Pathway Are Essential for HIV-1 Budding |journal=Cell |volume=107 |issue=1 |pages=55–65 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(01)00506-2 |pmid=11595185 |issn=0092-8674|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=von Schwedler |first1=Uta K. |last2=Stuchell |first2=Melissa |last3=Müller |first3=Barbara |last4=Ward |first4=Diane M. |last5=Chung |first5=Hyo-Young |last6=Morita |first6=Eiji |last7=Wang |first7=Hubert E. |last8=Davis |first8=Thaylon |last9=He |first9=Gong-Ping |last10=Cimbora |first10=Daniel M. |last11=Scott |first11=Anna |last12=Kräusslich |first12=Hans-Georg |last13=Kaplan |first13=Jerry |last14=Morham |first14=Scott G. |last15=Sundquist |first15=Wesley I. |date=2003-09-19 |title=The Protein Network of HIV Budding |journal=Cell |volume=114 |issue=6 |pages=701–713 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00714-1 |pmid=14505570 |issn=0092-8674|doi-access=free }}</ref> They also used this information to design new proteins that can assemble into nanocages, exit producer cells, and carry cargoes into new target cells.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Votteler |first1=Jörg |last2=Ogohara |first2=Cassandra |last3=Yi |first3=Sue |last4=Hsia |first4=Yang |last5=Nattermann |first5=Una |last6=Belnap |first6=David M. |last7=King |first7=Neil P. |last8=Sundquist |first8=Wesley I. |date=2016-11-30 |title=Designed proteins induce the formation of nanocage-containing extracellular vesicles |journal=Nature |volume=540 |issue=7632 |pages=292–295 |doi=10.1038/nature20607 |pmid=27919066 |pmc=5729044 |bibcode=2016Natur.540..292V |issn=0028-0836}}</ref>

[Cytokinesis](/source/Cytokinesis) separates one replicating cell into two daughter cells. Sundquist's lab studies this process by determining the structures and functions of factors that act to complete and regulate cytokinesis.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stuchell-Brereton |first1=Melissa D. |last2=Skalicky |first2=Jack J. |last3=Kieffer |first3=Collin |last4=Karren |first4=Mary Anne |last5=Ghaffarian |first5=Sanaz |last6=Sundquist |first6=Wesley I. |date=2007-10-11 |title=ESCRT-III recognition by VPS4 ATPases |journal=Nature |volume=449 |issue=7163 |pages=740–744 |doi=10.1038/nature06172 |issn=1476-4687 |pmid=17928862|bibcode=2007Natur.449..740S }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Morita |first1=Eiji |last2=Sandrin |first2=Virginie |last3=Chung |first3=Hyo-Young |last4=Morham |first4=Scott G. |last5=Gygi |first5=Steven P. |last6=Rodesch |first6=Christopher K. |last7=Sundquist |first7=Wesley I. |date=2007-10-03 |title=Human ESCRT and ALIX proteins interact with proteins of the midbody and function in cytokinesis |journal=The EMBO Journal |volume=26 |issue=19 |pages=4215–4227 |doi=10.1038/sj.emboj.7601850 |issn=0261-4189 |pmc=2230844 |pmid=17853893}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wenzel |first1=Dawn M. |last2=Mackay |first2=Douglas R. |last3=Skalicky |first3=Jack J. |last4=Paine |first4=Elliott L. |last5=Miller |first5=Matthew S. |last6=Ullman |first6=Katharine S. |last7=Sundquist |first7=Wesley I. |date=2022-09-15 |title=Comprehensive analysis of the human ESCRT-III-MIT domain interactome reveals new cofactors for cytokinetic abscission |journal=eLife |volume=11 |article-number=e77779 |doi=10.7554/eLife.77779 |doi-access=free |issn=2050-084X |pmc=9477494 |pmid=36107470}}</ref>

== Honors and awards ==

* [Searle Scholars Award](/source/Searle_Scholars_Award) (1993)
* ASBMB-Amgen Award for the application of biochemistry and molecular biology to the understanding of disease (2003)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-26 |title=U Biochemist Sundquist Receives National Honor For Research Into How HIV Assembles, Spreads - UNews Archive |url=https://archive.unews.utah.edu/news_releases/u-biochemist-sundquist-receives-national-honor-for-research-into-how-hiv-assembles-spreads/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=archive.unews.utah.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Member of the [American Academy of Arts and Sciences](/source/American_Academy_of_Arts_and_Sciences) (2011)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Member Directory {{!}} American Academy of Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.amacad.org/directory?search_api_fulltext=sundquist&field_class_section=All&field_class_section_1=All&field_deceased=All&sort_bef_combine=search_api_relevance_DESC |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.amacad.org}}</ref>
* Member of [National Academy of Sciences](/source/National_Academy_of_Sciences) (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley I. Sundquist – NAS |url=https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/wesley-i-sundquist-pthxml/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.nasonline.org/ |language=en}}</ref>
* [https://rosenblattprize.utah.edu Rosenblatt Prize for Excellence] (2017)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recipients – Rosenblatt Prize |url=https://rosenblattprize.utah.edu/recipients/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Fellow of the [American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology](/source/American_Society_for_Biochemistry_and_Molecular_Biology) (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |title=First class |url=https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/people/042721/first-class |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.asbmb.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize](/source/Louisa_Gross_Horwitz_Prize) (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-11 |title=The Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize |url=https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/research/louisa-gross-horwitz-prize |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=Columbia University Irving Medical Center |language=en}}</ref>
* [Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award](/source/Mani_Lal_Bhaumik) (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Road to Lenacapavir, a Breakthrough HIV Treatment {{!}} American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |url=https://www.aaas.org/news/road-lenacapavir-breakthrough-hiv-treatment |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=www.aaas.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [TIME100](/source/Time_100): The Most Influential People of 2025<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2025-04-16 |title=The 100 Most Influential People of 2025 |url=https://time.com/collections/100-most-influential-people-2025/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref>
* [Warren Alpert Foundation Prize](/source/Warren_Alpert_Foundation_Prize) (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warren Alpert |url=https://www.warrenalpert.org/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=Warren Alpert |language=en}}</ref>
* [https://www.thewlaprize.org World Laureate Association Prize] (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=WLA Prize |url=https://www.thewlaprize.org/ |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=www.thewlaprize.org}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Sundquist met his wife Nola in 1983 when they were graduate students at MIT, and they were married in 1987. As of 2025, their son Christopher is a Corporate and Securities Attorney at the [Gunderson Detmer Law Firm in Boston](/source/Gunderson_Dettmer_Stough_Villeneuve_Franklin_%26_Hachigian)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gunderson Dettmer |url=https://www.gunder.com/en/people/chris-sundquist |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP - Chris Sundquist |language=en}}</ref> and their daughter Emily is a resident in the family practice at [https://glfhc.org/lawrence-family-medicine-residency/ Lawrence Family Health Center] in Lawrence, MA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawrence Family Medicine Residency {{!}} GLFHC - Greater Lawrence Family Health Center |url=https://glfhc.org/lawrence-family-medicine-residency/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=glfhc.org}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sundquist, Wesley}}
Category:MIT School of Science alumni
Category:20th-century American chemists
Category:Scientists from Saint Paul, Minnesota
Category:Carleton College alumni
Category:University of Utah faculty
Category:1959 births
Category:Living people
Category:Scientists from Washington, D.C.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wesley Sundquist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sundquist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Sundquist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.