Biochemistry
An understanding of the structure of biological macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, carbohydrates) is important in determining their function, and in the design of new medicinal agents. Research focuses on structural analysis of nucleic acids, protease-inhibitor complexes, high-resolution fluorescent probe technologies, recombinant DNA techniques, X–ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, and scanning probe microscopy. These tools, together with organic synthesis, enzymology, and fundamental studies in bio–organic and bioinorganic chemistry, are applied to the development of new pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer, AIDS, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, and drug abuse.
Biochemistry Faculty
Bridgette Barry
Biophysics and biochemistry of membranes, biological electron transfer,
photosynthesis, EPR and vibrational spectroscopy
Andreas S. Bommarius
Biomolecular engineering, biocatalysis, biotransformations
Donald F. Doyle
Nuclear hormone receptors, small-molecule-based genetic selection
Christoph J. Fahrni
Intracellular transport, storage, and homeostasis of zinc and copper,
study of metal-ion distribution and subcellular localization using two-photon
excitation microscopy (live cell imaging) and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence
(SXRF) microscopy. Bioorganometallic catalysis
Stephen Harvey
Ribosome structure and function, lipoproteins, viral assembly
Nicholas V. Hud
Biophysical chemistry, nucleic acid structure and function
Wendy Kelly
Biosynthesis and enzymology of medicinally relevant polyketides and nonribosomal
peptides, biosynthetic engineering
Nils Kröger
Cell biology and biochemistry of biomineralization, posttranslational
protein modifications, silica biotechnology
Julia Kubanek
Chemical ecology, chemical communication in aquatic environments
Raquel L. Lieberman
Structural, biochemical, biophysical, and chemical biological studies
of enzymes implicated in diseases of protein misfolding and mistrafficking
Sheldon W. May
Molecular neurochemistry, enzyme technology and biomaterials
James C. Powers
Protease inhibitors
Gary B. Schuster
Photochemistry and laser spectroscopy of DNA-photocleaving systems
Loren D. Williams
Structural and dynamic characterization of nucleic acid and protein complexes