Macromolecular machines; protein sorting and localization; molecular recognition and regulation by novel GTPases; protein and nucleic acid structure and function
Our research interfaces between chemistry and biology to try to understand fundamental biological processes at the level of biochemical and biophysical principles. We focus on the following questions:
How do cells efficiently and accurately sort all its proteins to the correct subcellular destinations? What are the molecular principles of recognition and regulation that underlie such complex biological phenomena?
Our attention currently focuses on a pair of molecular adapters - the signal recognition particle (SRP) and the SRP receptor (SR) - that deliver newly synthesized proteins to particular membrane systems within the cell. This process is responsible for the sorting of all the ER resident and secretory proteins within the cell (accounting for roughly one third of cellular proteins) and is essential to establish and maintain the amazing degree of order and organization required to sustain life.
BMB/Ch 178. Macromolecular Function: kinetics, energetics, and mechanisms.9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2022-23.Prerequisites: Ch/Bi 110 or equivalent.
Discussion of the energetic principles and molecular mechanisms that underlie enzyme's catalytic proficiency and exquisite specificity. Principles of allostery, selectivity, and enzyme evolution. Practical kinetics and their application to more complex biological systems, including steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics, kinetic simulations, and kinetics at single molecule resolution.
Instructor: Shan
BMB/Bi/Ch 174. Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Biophysics.6 units (3-0-3); first term, 2019-20.Prerequisites: Bi/Ch 110 or equivalent.
Discussion of research fields in biochemistry and molecular biophysics at Caltech.
Instructors: Clemons, Hoelz, Shan and various guest lecturers
