生物化学与分子生物学
生物化学系 & 分子生物学 offers a highly collaborative community in which researchers employ state-of-the-art equipment, 设施, and approaches to investigate molecular mechanisms that form the basis of life. The fields of biochemistry and molecular biology have been transformed by recent innovations in genomics, 结构生物学, 计算工具, 仪表技术. The integration of these advancements creates unprecedented opportunities for scientific research and breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of disease. Our faculty work closely with postdocs and students to provide a vibrant mentoring and training experience for young scientists.
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斯图尔特Loh博士
临时主席及教授
在生物化学系 & 分子生物学, our goals are to: (1) uncover fundamental mechanisms of living systems, from molecular structures and interactions to cellular processes to human health and disease; (2) train the next generation of young scientists. 阅读更多...
研究强调
- Oxr1 -一种新的v - atp酶调节因子
The vacuolar ATPase (V腺苷三磷酸酶) is a highly conserved rotary motor proton pump that plays an essential role in cellular housekeeping functions. 不足为奇的是, V腺苷三磷酸酶 activity (or loss thereof) has been linked to several disease states including renal tubular acidosis, 骨质疏松症, 神经退化, 和癌症. V腺苷三磷酸酶 is made of two subcomplexes: a cytosolic V1 that carries out ATP hydrolysis, and a membrane bound Vo that is responsible for proton translocation. The enzyme’s proton pumping function is regulated by a unique process called “reversible disassembly”, 在V1 游离于Vo 以例如营养依赖的方式. To understand V腺苷三磷酸酶’s role in health and disease, the Wilkens lab studies the structure and mechanism of the enzymes from yeast and human. 阅读更多... - Implication of Organelle pH Regulation by Phosphoinositides through “Zip Codes” in Vacuolar H+腺苷三磷酸酶
The organelles of the secretory and endocytic pathway include the ER, 高尔基网络, 核内体和溶酶体, 溶酶体像酵母液泡. All of these organelles maintain a distinct and tight range of pH. 液泡/溶酶体(pH 4/5).5) is the most acidic compartment in eukaryotes, whereas the Golgi is relatively alkaline (pH 6.6). Variation in pH largely affects the function of these organelles. 例如, alkaline vacuole/lysosome are deficient in autophagy, Golgi pH regulates its ability to glycosylate proteins and failure to maintain endosomal pH perturbs with its ability to recycle receptors to the Plasma membrane or, 的trans-Golgi. 阅读更多... - Structure of Lipid Nanodisc-reconstituted Vacuolar ATPase Proton Channel: Defining the Interaction of Rotor and Stator
The Wilkens lab focuses on the structural characterization of the vacuolar ATPase (or V腺苷三磷酸酶) in order to elucidate its mechanism of activity and regulation. V腺苷三磷酸酶 is a ubiquitous eukaryotic rotary proton pump that is foiund in the endomembrane system and serves to acidify a variety of intracellular compartments as well as the extracellular space in higher eukaryotes. V腺苷三磷酸酶 is essential in animals; full loss of activity is embryonic lethal and partial loss of function has been associated with various human diseases including 骨质疏松症, 男性不育, 神经性耳聋, 糖尿病和各种癌症. 阅读更多...
- The Smc5/6 complex at the crossroads of DNA replication, repair and recombination
由于“立体门”的不完善, DNA polymerase intrinsically mis-incorporates not only mismatched deoxyribonucleosides monophosphates but also ribonucleoside monophosphates (rNMPs) during DNA replication at a rate of 10−7 4 × 10−4，分别为(1). To repair these DNA damages it requires specific recognition and excision proteins to remove the damage and create a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gap, followed by the DNA polymerase to fill the gap and the DNA ligase to seal the nick. 阅读更多...
- New class of p53-reactivating compounds provides novel mechanism to treat cancer - August 2015
“基因组守护者”," p53, is a tumor suppressing transcription factor that has long been recognized as perhaps the most important protein in human cancer. Approximately 50% of human cancers harbor mutations in p53, which render the protein inactive and unable to protect the cells from cancerous transformation. 阅读更多...
- Mechanism of Ant1-induced human diseases unraveled by the Chen lab - July 2015
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell. About 90% of the energy that cells need is produced in the form of ATP by the OXPHOS apparatus on the mitochondrial inner membrane. 在它被F合成之后0F1 对比, ATP is exported out of mitochondria via adenine nucleotide translocase (Ant) by exchanging with the cytosolic ADP. 阅读更多...
- Using disease-associated mutations to understand the biochemical regulation of a multi-subunit histone methyltransferase complex - June 2014
真核生物的DNA被压缩成染色质, which must be continually remodeled to allow for DNA processes such as transcription. 染色质的基本重复单位, 的核小体, is composed of an octomer of histone proteins around which 147 base pairs of DNA is wrapped. One way chromatin remodeling is achieved is by posttransitional modification of histones. 阅读更多...