The overall focus of several ongoing projects in my laboratory is to understand the molecular basis for enzyme catalysis and substrate/inhibitor/ligand specificity.  In these endeavors we utilize a variety of molecular biology, biochemical and X-ray crystallographic methods. Current projects in the lab include:

  1. an analysis of the molecular basis for the repair or retro-reduction of hyperoxidized peroxiredoxins by an enzyme called surfiredoxin
  2. the characterization of enzymes involved in glyoxylate metabolism and kidney stone formation
  3. the study of the thioesterase domain of human fatty acid synthase and its inhibition by the anti-cancer compound Orlistat
  4. the study of methionine sulfoxide reductases