Jeffrey Esko

About

Jeffrey Esko is a Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at UC San Diego, located in the School of Medicine. His research focuses on the structure, biosynthesis, and function of proteoglycans. His laboratory conducts structural studies of heparan sulfate using mass spectrometry, develops animal models lacking key enzymes involved in proteoglycan assembly, and applies genome-wide methods to identify novel genes involved in heparan sulfate biosynthesis. His work also includes analyzing guanidinylated glycosides that bind to proteoglycans to facilitate delivery of high molecular weight cargo into cells for enzyme replacement therapy, as well as studying proteoglycans in lipoprotein metabolism in the liver and macrophages. Additionally, he investigates proteoglycan-associated receptors with an emphasis on the vasculature. Esko has extensive experience in the isolation and characterization of glycosaminoglycans, developing genetic models altered in glycosaminoglycan metabolism, and creating small molecule agents for treating disorders involving glycosaminoglycans. His contributions have been recognized through numerous awards, including the NIH MERIT award, the Society for Glycobiology Karl Meyer Award, and election as a Fellow of the AAAS.

Research topics

• Biology
• Internal medicine
• Virology
• Biochemistry
• Cell biology
• Medicine
• Chemistry
• Immunology

Selected publications

• SARS-CoV-2 Infection Depends on Cellular Heparan Sulfate and ACE2

  Cell · 2020 · 1193 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  DOI

• SARS-CoV-2 Infection Depends on Cellular Heparan Sulfate and ACE2

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2020 · 247 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding

  We show that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts with cell surface heparan sulfate and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through its Receptor Binding Domain. Docking studies suggest a putative heparin/heparan sulfate-binding site adjacent to the domain that binds to ACE2. In vitro, binding of ACE2 and heparin to spike protein ectodomains occurs independently and a ternary complex can be generated using heparin as a template. Contrary to studies with purified components, spike protein binding…

  DOI

• Clofazimine broadly inhibits coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2

  Nature · 2021 · 208 citations

  DOI

• B3GALT6 promotes dormant breast cancer cell survival and recurrence by enabling heparan sulfate-mediated FGF signaling

  Cancer Cell · 2023-12-07 · 33 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Endothelial Glycocalyx Turnover in Vascular Health and Disease: Rethinking Endothelial Dysfunction

  Annual Review of Biochemistry · 2025-03-25 · 30 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author

  The endothelial glycocalyx, a glycan-rich layer on the luminal surface of endothelial cells lining blood and lymphatic vessels, plays a crucial role in vascular homeostasis by regulating vascular permeability, immune cell trafficking, and vascular tone. Dysregulated endothelial glycocalyx turnover-whether through altered synthesis, intracellular degradation, or shedding-contributes to endothelial dysfunction in conditions such as sepsis, ischemic events, and chronic inflammatory disorders includ…

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• CORE D - Proteomics Core

  NIH · $52.4M · 2016–2026

• NIH Grant R21HD052920

  NIH · $348k · 2009

• NIH Grant R01CA046462

  NIH · $2.1M · 2002

Frequent coauthors

• Jamey D. Marth

  Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

  66 shared

• Patricia Dickson

  62 shared

• Yu Yamaguchi

  Gunma Children's Medical Center

  59 shared

• Maurizio Pacifici

  56 shared

• David M. Ornitz

  Washington University in St. Louis

  52 shared

• C Merry

  52 shared

• Andrea Vortkamp

  University of Duisburg-Essen

  52 shared

• Joanna Phillips

  52 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Medicine

  University of California, San Diego

  1995

• B.S., Biology

  University of California, San Diego

  1989

Awards & honors

• NIH MERIT award (1999 - 2009)
• Society for Glycobiology Karl Meyer Award (2007)
• Uppsala University Doctor of Medicine (honoris causa) (2010)
• International Glycoconjugate Organization IGO award (2011)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Elected…

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