Job Openings

Biochemistry Technician

Graduate Student Positions

Positions are available for Ph.D. students to study the structure and mechanism of membrane transporters. Membrane transport in cells is a fundamental biological process that is mediated by transporter proteins, and many transporters have medical or pharmacological relevance. Two possible projects are: (1) structure-function relationship of the E. coli glycorel-3-phosphate transporter (GlpT). Our group has recently determined the structure of GlpT in its unliganded form by X-ray crystallography to 3.3 Å resolution. The structure suggests a "Rocker-switch" mechanism for substrate translocation. We intend to test this mechanism by a combination of mutagenesis, functional assays and spectroscopic approaches. We are also trying to determination the structure of GlpT in its liganded forms. (2) crystallization and structure determination of bacterial amino acid transporters. These proteins are homologues of mammalian neurotransmitter transporters, which play central roles in various synaptic activities in the central nerve system.