Current Research Projects in the SBI Core
Research projects currently being completed using SBI core resources are briefly described below.
Laboratory of David Siderovski
The Siderovski lab has previously studied GoLoco motif/Galpha interactions by X-ray diffraction crystallography. Their recent structural studies of the KB-752 peptide/Galphai1·GDP dimer represented the first to describe the structural determinants of a Galpha subunit engaging an exchange factor providing strong evidence for a proposed mechanism of GPCR-catalyzed nucleotide exchange. This peptide was one of a collection identified via phase-display screening. They have also solved the structure of a second peptide from this collection, KB-1753, which recognizes the activated forms of Galphai1. They plan to solve several additional structures from this novel collection of nucleotide-state-selective Galpha binding peptides to illuminate key structural determinants for modulation of Galpha nucleotide cycling.
Laboratory of Pilar Blancafort
The SBI Core is helping Dr. Blancafort and researchers in her laboratory design artificial transcription factors. We are involved in designing linkers joining individual transcription factor elements resulting in a new molecule with a unique binding site. We are also aiding design of these transcription factors by analyzing the promotor regions of targeted genes for potential unique binding sites.
Laboratory of Vytas Bankaitis
Dr. Bankaitis and colleagues are using molecular dynamics to study the phosphatidylinositol/ phosphatidylcholine transfer protein Sec14p. Using dynamics they are able to obtain detailed data on crical residues involved in opening and closing of the helical flap. These residues undergo small local conformational changes driving the larger global movements of the helical flap.
Laboratory of Matt Redinbo
Molecular dynamics studies are also aiding Dr. Redinbo and researchers in his laboratory address the question of why the nuclear receptor PXR is functional as a homodimer. PXR is unique since all other previously studied nuclear receptors are functional as monomers. MD studies have allowed characterization of the dynamical behavior of the monomer and dimer in different liganded states.
Laboratories of Stephen Chaney and Nikolay Dokholyan
The laboratories of Dr. Chaney and Dr. Dokholyan have joined efforts to study the relationship between structural properties of Pt-DNA adducts and their biological role as anti-cancer drugs. Again, molecular dynamics studies as well as NMR structural studies have elucidated structural differences in oxaliplatinated- and cisplatinated-dna adducts.