Current laboratory members (left to right): Bethany Lee (BCMB, Class of 2020), Amy Zheng (PhD student), Merc Kemeh (PhD student), Dr. Noel Lazo, Henrique Lemos-Brito (BCMB, Class of 2020), Timothy Soldano (BCMB, Class of 2020), Ibrahim Ozgenc (BCMB, Class of 2020), and Saadman Islam (BCMB, BA/MS expected in 2020).
OUR MAIN AREA OF INTEREST IS PROTEIN MISFOLDING AND SELF-ASSEMBLY ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASE
Proteins of interest:
Amyloid proteins associated with amyloidoses including the islet amyloid polypeptide in type 2 diabetes, the amyloid-β protein in Alzheimer’s disease, and lysozyme in systemic amyloidosis; keratins and collagens in the skin blistering disease called epidermolysis bullosa.
Methods:
We use a variety of biophysical and biochemical techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism, limited proteolysis/mass spectrometry, electron microscopy and molecular modeling to probe the folding and self-assembly of proteins associated with disease.
LAB NEWS…
Fall 2021:
- Our paper co-first authored by Amy, Mike and Bethany on the differential effects of polyphenols on insulin proteolysis by the insulin-degrading enzyme is now in Antioxidants 2021 10(9), 1342.
Summer 2021:
- Bethany Lee [BCMB (Class of 2020)] successfully defended her MS thesis! Congratulations, Bethany! All the best in your junior scientist position at AbbVie Pharmaceuticals!
