Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics

Protein structure and function; membrane proteins; crystallography.

The major focus of my research is to use biochemical analyses, biophysical tools, and x-ray crystallographic methods to understand how different classes of integral membrane enzymes carry out stereoselective oxygenations to generate unique signaling molecules from a defined set of polyunsaturated fatty acid substrates (PUFAs). To gain insight on the chemical determinants that drive stereoselective oxygenation of PUFAs at the molecular level, we are studying different integral membrane enzymes involved in the generation of these signaling molecules in plants, animals, and invertebrates, including mammalian and coral cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, and the fatty acid α-dioxygenase pathogen-inducible oxygenase (PIOX). Additional details can be found at: http://www.hwi.buffalo.edu.

• Mouse
• Human
• O. sativa
• A. thaliana

Cyclooxygenase (COX)

• Arthritis
• Cardiovascular disease
• Inflammatory response

• Protein expression
• Protein purification
• Protein crystallization
• X-ray crystallography

Detergents

• S. cerevisiae
• sf21 insect cells
• sf9 insect cells
• E. coli

• Arthritis
• Cardiovascular disease