Department: Biochemistry

E-mail: chris@biochem.utah.edu
Address: EEJMRB 3600
Phone: 585-5536

Research Title: Mechanisms of HIV assembly, proteasome activation, and nucleosome dynamics.

Research Description:

Projects are available for the study of protein structure and function in the areas of HIV assembly and host cell interactions, proteasome activation, and nucleosome remodeling and reorganization. Students would gain experience in the techniques of molecular biology, protein expression and purification, biochemical assays, crystallization, structure determination and structure analysis. Major questions in HIV biology include understanding of how the virus recruits the cellular MVB pathway that it uses to bud from infected cells. In the area of proteasome biology we are characterizing the activators that enable the proteasome to regulate processes such as cell cycle progression and protein quality control, and searching for new activators. In the area of nucleosome dynamics we are seeking to understand how various protein complexes alter nucleosome structure or position to facilitate processes such as DNA replication and RNA transcription.

Does this research involve human subjects or animals? No

If yes, what is the protocol number?

10/2009