Molecular Motors

Research in the lab is aimed at understanding molecular motors, i.e. how motor enzymes convert chemcial energy into mechanical energy. Advanced physical techniques, such as single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and optical tweezers are used to record the pN-sized forces and nm-scaled displacements produced by individual motor enzymes. A recently developed molecular force clamp has considerably improved such measurements by enabling precise control of the force exerted on a single (moving) molecule at work (Visscher et al., Nature 400, 184-189). Our current interest is in ribosome-directed protein synthesis, with the ribosome being one of nature's most complex and versatile nanomachines, which moves along mRNA and at the same time pieces together amino acids to form a functional protein.

Structure of 70S ribosome (Thermus terhmophilus ) at 5.5 Angstrom resolution, with the the 30S subunit on the left, and the 50S subunit on the right. (From Yusupov et. al. www.science.express.org 29 March 2001)

Gary Skinner , Postdoc
520-621-8218

Yeonee Seol Graduate Student 520-626-8480

Brice Akgridge Graduate Student 520-626-8480

Dominic Jezierski Undergraduate 520-626-8480