My lab has had a long-standing interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate human gene expression. Our primary focus is the human Pre-Initiation Complex (PIC), which consists of Mediator, RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH and is approximately 4.0 MDa in size. Broadly speaking, the PIC functions to regulate the activity of the RNAPII enzyme, which transcribes all protein-coding genes and most non-coding RNAs in the human genome. Within the PIC, the 1.4 MDa Mediator complex, the 1.3 MDa TFIID complex, and the 0.5 MDa TFIIH complex help regulate RNAPII activity in ways that remain poorly understood. At a basic level, TFIIH regulates transcription initiation and post-initiation steps (e.g. RNA processing), whereas Mediator and TFIID function by converting biological inputs (communicated by sequence-specific, DNA-binding transcription factors) into physiological responses (via changes in gene expression). Our lab uses an array of experimental approaches, ranging from basic biochemistry, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, biophysics and molecular biology, to study regulatory mechanisms that govern human gene expression.
keywords
Transcription, biophysics, proteomics, transcriptomics, biochemistry and molecular biology, signaling, metabolism, chemical biology
BCHM 2700 - Foundations of Biochemistry
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Covers chemistry of aqueous solutions; energetics in biology; structure of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and membranes; protein evolution; macromolecular interactions; enzyme kinetics, mechanism and regulation. Will be taught from a strong chemical perspective and mastery of basic concepts of general and organic chemistry will be required. Familiarity with basic concepts of molecular and cellular biology encouraged. Formerly CHEM 4700.
BCHM 4761 - Biochemistry Laboratory
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2020
Two 4-hour periods per week. Introduction to modern biochemical techniques. Topics include enzymology, spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, multi-step protein purification, recombinant DNA techniques and molecular cloning. Formerly CHEM 4761.
BCHM 6901 - Research in Biochemistry
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
May be repeated up to 15 total credit hours.
BCHM 6951 - Master's Thesis
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2023
Students are not admitted for the master's degree but may be transferred to the MS plan if they are unable to meet the demands of the PhD program.
CHEM 4400 - Core Concepts in Physical Chemistry for Biochemists
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Introduces thermodynamics, kinetics and spectroscopy, emphasizing macromolecule and biochemical applications. Includes thermodynamics, chemical and physical equilibriums, solution chemistry, rates of chemical and biochemical reactions, chemical bonds and principles and selected examples of spectroscopies applied to biological systems. Department enforced prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 1120 or PHYS 2020. Formerly CHEM 4411. Same as BCHM 5400 and CHEM 4511.
CHEM 5781 - Advanced General Biochemistry 2
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Lect. Detailed consideration of contemporary topics in biochemistry, including protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary), methods of structure determination and prediction, protein folding (kinetics, thermodynamics, denaturation, and renaturation), and protein dynamics (internal motions and methods of analysis). Formerly CHEM 5781.
CHEM 6901 - Research in Chemistry
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019
May be repeated up to 15 total credit hours.
MCDB 4980 - Honors Research
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Provides faculty-supervised research for students who have been approved by the departmental honors committee. Normally taken during the semester before completion of the honors thesis. Recommended prerequisite: MCDB 4840 or comparable research experience, and minimum GPA of 3.20.
