Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Professor

Email Dr. Lane
Phone Number: 502-852-3067

Ph.D.

Area of Interest:

My laboratory uses biophysical methods (e.g. high resolution NMR, optical spectroscopy, thermodynamics, theory and computation) to characterize the interactions and properties of macromolecules involved in cell regulation. These are all related to strategies for improved anticancer drug design and development. Specific projects include:

1. Protein-nucleic acid interactions and cell regulation The yeast cell cycle-regulating protein Mbp1 is being studied by NMR and thermodynamic techniques to determine the structure, dynamics and thermodynamics of its interaction with specific and non-specific DNA.
2. Interaction and characterization if nucleolin-DNA interactions (with J. Trent, P. Bates) Nucleolin is the target for the anticancer G-quartet aptamer discovered by Bates, Trent & Miller. We are using NMR, modeling to determine the structures and binding mode.
3. Chemokine receptor-ligand interactions (with J.O. Tent) CXCR4: biophysics of ligand binding in membrane systems. This receptor and its natural ligand SDF-1 have been implicated in the signaling system for breast cancer metastasis
4. Protein glycation and aging (with J. Eaton) Protein glycation is a result of the reaction of free blood glucose with serum and endothelial cell proteins that have been associated with age-related problems such as are found in diabetics. We are using NMR to determine the structures and properties of glycated protein generated in vitro.
5. Structure, dynamics and stability of nucleic acids (with T. Brown, J. Trent) NMR and thermodynamic analysis of antisense hybrid duplexes, anigene triplexes and RNA structures with chemical modifications
6. Metabolomics of cancer cells (with T. Fan, W. Zacharias & M. Ratajczak) NMR and GC-MS analysis of metabolites in transformed and untransformed cells reveals changed patterns of metabolism. Flux measurements by isotopomer analysis (stable isotope labeling) reveals pathways impacted by cell transformation, and effects of anticancer agents.
7. Metabolism in megakaryocytes and platelet production (with T. Fan & M. Ratajczak) Metabolomic analysis of megakaryocytes and microparticles reveals fundamental information about the formation of platelets and the composition of active maicroparticles shed from these cells.
8. Selenium biochemistry (with T. Fan) How is Se incorporated in cells?Where does it go (form analysis)? Regulation of SeCys incorporation into proteins (SECIS mRNA) and structure of SECIS. What is the biochemical role of dietary Se in cancer prevention especially in lung cancer?