Welcome
My research utilizes various bioanalytical and biophysical methods to investigate cellular processes at the molecular and atomic levels in relation to human disease. To that end, I utilize molecular biology and protein biochemistry to obtain functionally active recombinant protein and protein complexes, and reconstitute those processes. Investigation of protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions in important biological pathways will allow us to unravel the complex mechanisms associated with disease.
My current research focuses on investigating the molecular and structural basis of HIV/host protein-protein interactions during early states of HIV cellular infection. Specifically, we are focused on understanding mechanisms of interaction between virus structural and accessory proteins (CA, Vif, Vpr and Vpx) and respective host protein partners including Trim5-alpha, CPSF6, Apobec3G, SAMHD1 and CRL4-DCAF1 E3 ubiquitin ligases. We reconstitute events of protein-protein interaction and monitor biologically relevant outcome by using various bioanalytical and biophysical methods including CD, fluorescence, SEC-MALS, ITC, SWAX, X-ray crystallography, NMR and HPLC as well as conventional biochemistry.