Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

Using the power of comics, I have illustrated why I am studying Myosin 10, a protein that helps cells form finger-like protrusions. In these thin protrusions crowded with[...]

Spermidine/spermine N-acetyltransferases (SSATs) and other types of polyamine acetyltransferases (PAATs) acetylate diamines and/or polyamines. These enzymes are evolution [...]

Electron transfer across the cell envelope is a critical process in all cellular organisms. Proteins with redox-active cofactors construct insulated circuits that span [...]

This thesis examines the relationship between conditional neutrality, protein sequence encoding, and the role of evolutionary history in shaping protein adaptability. By [...]

The emergence of multicellular organisms coincided with the expansion of families of cell adhesion proteins and other cell surface molecules that mediate intercellular co [...]

When cells experience stress, they undergo a number of dramatic intracellular molecular changes. One of these changes is the formation of biomolecular condensates, or [...]

To date, over 170 types of modifications have been identified in RNA, in which around 10 types are discovered in mRNA. RNA modifications play important roles in transcrip [...]

Phytosulfokine (PSK) is a plant growth-promoting peptide hormone that is perceived by its cell surface receptors PSKR1 and PSKR2 in Arabidopsis. Plants lacking the PSK re [...]

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form the largest superfamily of cell membrane receptors in eukaryotes and are prime targets for therapeutic development. Among them, a [...]

Membrane proteins (MPs) are critical contact points for transducing environmental cues across cell membranes and hence have become major pharmaceutical targets. Despite r [...]

All cells contain hydrophobic lipid bilayers, or membranes, which act as a barrier to the outside of the cell. Additionally, eukaryotic cells contain additional internal [...]

Given the magnitude of the neuronal population and the degree of neural connectivity, the intricate nature of the human nervous system is undeniable. How do neurons reach [...]

Among the most intriguing mysteries in contemporary biology is the functional mechanism of the vault complex. Renowned for its immense size and arched structure resemblin [...]

In lieu of peptides, the monomorphic MHC-I-like molecule MR1 is thought to present small molecule antigens to stimulate a semi-invariant, phenotypically distinct subset o [...]

Antibodies have the unique property of recognizing and binding specific antigens, making them valuable tools for studying biological processes and developing new disease [...]

Earth's daily rotation creates a cyclic solar environment to which every living thing is subjected. Naturally, organisms in all kingdoms of life have evolved ways to gove [...]

The cellular transcriptome is predominantly composed of RNAs less than 200 nucleotides in length. These small RNAs participate in and regulate numerous biological process [...]

To import large metabolites across the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria, TonB dependent transporters (TBDTs) undergo significant conformational change. After [...]

RNA is an incredibly diverse molecule, simultaneously encoding for proteins and adopting tertiary structures capable of recruiting macromolecular components, binding liga [...]

Stresses such as heat shock trigger formation of protein aggregates and induction of a disaggregation system composed of molecular chaperones. Recent work reveals that se [...]

Protein post-translational modification (PTM) represents an important functional regulatory mechanism in the cell. Technological advances in the field of LC-MS/MS-based q [...]

Our body responds to self and foreign agents through a myriad collection of effector cells and molecules that together form the immune system. The innate response is broa [...]

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a devastating neurological disorder that impacts millions of people around the world. There is strong evidence that the class of peptides, A [...]

Gene expression regulation at the RNA level has emerged as a key point of control of information flow through the central dogma. RNA stability, trafficking, and translati [...]

All cells possess hydrophobic plasma membranes which separate the cellular cytosol from the external environment. Anchored within the membrane are specialized proteins wh [...]