The focus of my research is the elucidation of collagen-binding integrin structure/function mechanisms in order to understand their regulation in health and disease. Integrins are widely expressed, bidirectional signaling, transmembrane receptors essential for regulating cell growth and function. The diversity of diseases in which integrins play key roles, e.g. cancer metastasis, thrombosis, fibrosis, and diabetes, punctuates their biological importance and attractiveness as therapeutic targets. Notwithstanding their substantial potential, development of selective integrin therapeutics have been limited. Logically, rational drug design benefits from knowledge of structural mechanisms governing integrin function. The overarching question of "what is the molecular architecture of integrin-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and how are they disrupted in disease" guides my research. More specifically, I focus on the interactions between integrins a1b1 and a2b1 with collagens and laminins of the ECM. My philosophy is that direct observation of biological phenomena on an atomic level provides an essential basis for deciphering molecular interactions. Therefore, I subdivide my research to (1) determine integrin-ECM interactions with atomic resolution, (2) develop mechanistic models of integrin-ligand specificity and binding, (3) then test the impact of mutations and small molecules on these models. I utilize state-of-the-art biochemical, bioinformatic, structural, and computational technologies in conjunction with cell-based techniques to achieve these aims. Although initial observations are based on static structures, it is well known that motion is the basis for biological macromolecular function. While X-ray crystallography is a staple of my structural work, the innovation I bring to this endeavor is the integration of molecular dynamics simulations and NMR spectroscopy to provide time-resolved atomistic insight to integrin structure/function relationships. My ultimate goal is to use this information to guide development of more effective and safer therapeutic strategies for the treatment of fibrotic conditions.
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- Vanderbilt Center for Matrix Biology
Faculty Member
1161 21st Ave South
MCN, S-3223
Nashville, TN 37232-2372
6153221298 (p)
MeSH terms are retrieved from PubMed records. Learn more.
Key: MeSH Term Keyword
Amino Acid Motifs Amino Acid Oxidoreductases Animals Base Sequence Catalysis Cell Line, Tumor Chlorides Deoxyguanosine Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental DNA Adducts DNA Damage DNA Polymerase beta Eukaryotic Cells Gene Expression Regulation Humans Hypochlorous Acid Integrin Integrins Kinetics Mice Mice, Knockout Molecular Dynamics Simulation Mutation Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III NMR spectroscopy Oligonucleotides Phylogeny Poisons Protein Conformation Protein structure Protein Structure, Secondary Protein Structure, Tertiary Rats Structural Biology Sulfolobus solfataricus X-ray crystallography