Biosciences Division

Membrane Protein Engineering

	Deborah Hanson Biochemist Bldg: 202. Room: B137 E-mail: dkhanson@anl.gov Phone: (630) 252-4189 Biographical Sketch Publications Lab Personnel	Philip Laible Biophysicist Bldg: 202. Room: B129 E-mail: laible@anl.gov Phone: (630) 252-4875 Biographical Sketch Publications Lab Personnel
> Research Highlights

	Membrane protein expression system The cell membrane serves as the interface between an organism and its environment, and internal membranes in eukaryotes separate functional compartments within cells. Proteins inserted in these membranes carry out many essential biological processes including uptake of nutrients, excretion of wastes, signal transduction, and response to external stimuli. read more

	Nanobiology: Biomimetic nanostructures for membrane protein structure and function Membrane proteins facilitate many key cellular processes including signal recognition, ion transport, and energy transduction. The study and subsequent exploitation of membrane proteins has, however, received considerably less attention than have soluble proteins, primarily due to difficulties encountered in stabilizing these biological molecules after they are removed from their native lipid bilayer environment. read more

	Site-directed mutagenesis: Directionality of primary electron transfer in the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center The initial steps in the conversion of light energy to chemical energy are performed by the photosynthetic reaction center. This protein-cofactor complex, one of a very few membrane proteins whose structure is known to nearly atomic resolution, serves as an important model for other membrane-bound energy-transducing proteins. read more

	Overexpression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) coreceptors in Rhodobacter Structural information revealing the interactions that occur between host and viral proteins in HIV infection is growing. The HIV coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4 represent promising untapped opportunities for anti-HIV drug development. read more

	Site-directed mutagenesis of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center This effort concentrates on understanding the structure/function relationships in a model transmembrane protein-cofactor complex, the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center. The project involves construction and characterization of the effects of site-specific mutations of the reaction centers of Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter shpaeroides. read more

	Site-directed mutagenesis: Structural basis of proton transfer pathways The coupling of protein-mediated electron and proton transfer across a membrane of a cell or organelle is essential for life, as it is the means by which biological systems establish an electrochemical gradient that can be used for the generation and storage of energy in the form of ATP. read more

Photosynthetic reaction center: A novel quantum electronic circuit element Living cells contain a large variety of biomolecular complexes which self-assemble, recognize and control each other. These nanoscale devices, referred to as bionanodevices, perform critical cell functions such as gene expression, energy conversion, motion, signaling and metabolism. read more

Nanosensors for label-free detection of protein-ligand binding at biological membrane surfaces Living cells contain a large variety of biomolecular complexes which self-assemble, recognize and control each other. These nanoscale devices, referred to as bionanodevices, perform critical cell functions such as gene expression, energy conversion, motion, signaling and metabolism read more