Structural Cell Biology

Research in my lab addresses the molecular basis of cellular function, growth, and apoptosis. We use multinuclear multi-dimensional solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to elucidate the three-dimensional structures, binding interactions, and dynamics of proteins involved in critical cellular activities. DNA microarray technology is utilized to establish novel pathways and macromolecular interactions for structural studies. Structural information, together with biochemical data is used to gain insight into protein function.

Our investigations focus on proteins that regulate the cell cycle and/or those that are essential for organ development. The regulated expression of specific proteins in the cells of an embryo determine cellular fates and lead to normal development of an organism. The molecular basis for and the identities of all the macromolecules responsible for many of these events are unknown. Our interest in these cellular events has led us to investigate the structures of and interactions between proteins that (a) bind DNA, (b) regulate the cell cycle, and/or (c) are involved in tissue development. Current research focus in the laboratory inlcudes studies on the structural bases for the regulatory functions of angiogenic peptides and TEA domain transcription factors.