Research Interests
Biological
Electron Transfer, Membrane Biophysics, Vibrational Spectroscopy, EPR
Spectroscopy, Photosynthesis. Oxido-reductase enzymes play central
roles in cellular metabolism. For example, membrane-associated redox enzymes
carry out photosynthetic and respiratory energy conversion. Work in my
laboratory is centered on these enzymes, in particular, on the mechanism
of energy conversion in plant photosynthesis. In plant photosynthesis,
light absorption leads to a long distance electron transfer reaction.
We are interested in how proteins control the direction and rate of the
electron transfer reactions and in how the electron transfer reactions
are coupled with protonation reactions, conformational changes, and other
chemical reactions, such as photosynthetic oxygen production. We study
the structure and function of photosynthetic reaction centers that have
been isolated from plants and cyanobacteria. We are also building simple
models of these complex proteins, in order to elucidate fundamental principles.
To reach our goals, my laboratory employs a broad combination of techniques,
including vibrational spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, site-directed mutagenesis,
and mass spectrometry.
Structure and function of photosynthetic reaction centers
Structure and function of ribonucleotide reductase
Isotopic labeling of cofactors and amino acids
Biomimetic models for redox active amino acids
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Last Update: August 19, 2009