Bulges are ubiquitous building blocks of the three-dimensional structure of RNA. They help define the global structure of helices and points of flexibility allowing for functionally important dynamics, such as binding of ...

β-Adrenergic receptors (βAR) are one of the key modulators of cardio-pulmonary functions and belong to a large family of membrane proteins, termed as G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). β-blockers (βAR antagonists) and ...

O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) exerts myriad effects on protein localization, activation, inhibition, stability, conformational changes, or degradation. However, the biochemical effects of O-GlcNAc on the vast ...

Increasing concerns over the environmental impact and long-term sustainability of human economic activity has motivated a search for less resource-intensive methods for the manufacture of chemicals and generation of energy. ...

RNA is increasingly recognized as a therapeutic target in many diseases, including viral and bacterial infections, neurodegenerative disease, and cancer. Despite this, no FDA-approved drugs target RNA, aside from select ...

Cellular senescence is a fundamental cell fate playing significant and complex roles during tumorigenesis and natural aging process. However, the molecular determinants distinguishing senescence from other temporary and ...

Protein modification by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an essential signaling mechanism that affects diverse processes such as cell cycle, metabolism, and death. Aberrant signaling has been implicated in numerous ...

Three-dimensional RNA structures are notoriously difficult to determine, and the link between secondary structure and RNA conformation is only beginning to be understood. In this dissertation, I will discuss the development ...

β-arrestins (βarrs) interact with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to desensitize G protein signaling, initiate signaling on their own, and mediate receptor endocytosis.  Using a panel of GPCRs believed to couple differently ...

Proteins are essential for myriad biological functions, including DNA replication, molecular transport, catalysis, and antigen recognition. Protein function is determined by three dimensional structure, which is largely ...