The Biochemistry and Structural Biology program offers opportunities to develop research training in the areas of molecular structure determination, molecular mechanism of membrane trafficking, protein folding, signal transduction, mechanisms, gene structure and nucleic acid chemistry. The Biochemistry and Structural Biology Program is a member of the Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) Allied Program, an alliance of three programs that includes Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Cell Biology and Genetics, and Molecular Biology.
Graduate Program Chairpersons
Frederick R. Maxfield, Department of Biochemistry, E-215, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, 212-746-6405, E-mail:
frmaxfie@med.cornell.edu
Nicola Pavletich, Structural Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, RRL 217-C Rockefeller Research Laboratories, 430 E. 67th Street, New York, NY 10021, 212-639-8544, E-mail: pavletin@mskcc.org
Graduate Program Directors
David Eliezer, Department of Biochemistry, Joan & Sanford I. Weill Cornell Medical College, Room E-505, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, 212-746-6557, E-mail:
dae2005@med.cornell.eduScott Keeney, Molecular Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Room RRL-1101B, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, 212-639-5182, E-mail:
s-keeney@ski.mskcc.org
Overview of Research Activities
Molecular biochemistry and structure is studied at different levels by investigators in the program.
Amy Lam utilizes biochemical approaches toward understanding the ubiquitin proteosome system.
Chris Lima studies molecular processes involved in protein sumoylation and mRNA metabolism.
Dimitar Nikolov also uses x-ray crystallography to study signal transduction elements of the nervous system, such as axon guidance molecules.
Nikola Pavletich analyzes the structures of oncogenes and tumor suppressors via x-ray crystallography. NMR approaches and studies of molecular dynamics are used by
Dinshaw Patel to determine solution structures of nucleic acids.
Jonathan Goldberg using x-ray crystallography and biochemical techniques to study vesicle transport and DNA repair pathways.
Hao Wu is studying the structural mechanisms of receptor signal transduction for the TNF family receptors in cell survival and cell death using x-ray crystallography.
The molecular mechanism of membrane trafficking are studied by several investigators. Frederick Maxfield's laboratory uses optical microscopy to observe and understand receptor trafficking and cell motility. Anant Menon utilizes biochemical and biophysical approaches in their studies of cellular membrane biogenesis. Tim McGraw uses molecular cell biological methods to study general endocytic membrane recycling and insulin-regulated membrane trafficking. Tim Ryan uses quantitative optical methods to study synaptic vesicle recycling. Olaf Andersen uses molecular modeling systems coupled with single-channel experiments to define the structure of ion conducting channels. Olga Boudker uses crystallography and biophysical techniques to study membrane transporters.
Protein folding and translocation are studied by several investigators. Scott Blanchard utilizes single-molecule studies to monitor conformational and compositional processes on the ribosome that regulate protein synthesis. Esther Breslow is currently studying how the structure of a pituitary protein, neurophysin, relates to exytocin and vasopressin binding and function. Min Lu uses biophysical and molecular biological methods to study the structure and function of the HIV-1 envelope protein. David Eliezer uses NMR and other biophysical techniques to study the roles of nonnative states of protein in biology and disease.
Several laboratories study signal transduction processes. Steven Gross is undertaking molecular studies to define nitric oxide biosynthesis and its physiological action. David Hajjar's laboratory is determining the structure-function relationship between lipoproteins and their receptors, and their impact on cholesterol trafficking. Jillian Zhang is studying the molecular mechanisms of cytokine-induced transcription activation in the JAK-STAT pathway. Richard Kolesnick examines how sphingomyelin and ceramide participate in signaling that can affect apoptosis in the cell. Marilyn Resh's laboratory focuses on the role of fatty acid acylation processes in the determination of the structure and functioning of signal transducing proteins.
DNA replication is studied by several investigators in the program. Jerard Hurwitz's laboratory studies DNA replication of SV40 DNA and DNA replication within eukaryotic cells. Kenneth Marians uses purified proteins to determine the enzymatic mechanisms required for DNA replication and the role of topoisomerases in this process. Stewart Shuman's laboratory examines transcription termination processes and topoisomerase function. Scott Keeney uses biochemical and genetic approaches to investigate meiotic recombination in yeast and mammals. Tom Kelly studies the regulation of chromosome replication in both mammalian cells and fission yeast.
Nucleic acid and organic chemistry are also actively investigated in the program. Francis Barany studies protein-DNA interactions and uses protein engineering to study cancer. Paul Tempst is interested in proteomics and develops methods for ultra-microsequencing of proteins through analytical techniques that include mass spectrometry.
Last Updated: Oct. 13, 2006
