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The ability to fight a viral infection is essential for all organisms. Drosophila melanogaster utilizes RNA interference for the antiviral response. Here, the protein, Dicer-2, is used for small interfering RNA (siRNA) biogenesis and passing one strand of the siRNA...

CryoEM has revolutionized structural studies of membrane proteins over the last decade. Combined with membrane mimetics such as lipid nanodiscs, cryoEM allows for detergent-free structural determination of membrane proteins within a lipid bilayer more closely matching the native environment. I...

Sample preparation and data analysis are important steps in achieving high-resolution cryo-EM structures. In this talk, I will discuss the lessons and tips that I learned while studying three different membrane channels, including the proton-activated chloride channel (PAC), pannexin 1...

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives and devastated the world economy. Garnering insights into the replication cycle of the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, will aid the development of therapeutics. SARS-CoV-2 possesses one of the largest viral RNA genomes which...

Cryo-EM has revolutionized structural studies of G protein-coupled receptors over the past few years. More facile structure determination of active GPCRs has enabled the field to understand the molecular basis of receptor function at an unprecedented pace. I will discuss...

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is an asymmetric bilayer composed of LPS in the outer leaflet and phospholipids in the inner leaflet. It constitutes a robust barrier for the cell, often making bacteria resistant to antibiotics that are...

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) non-structural Rep proteins catalyze all the DNA transactions required for virus viability including, DNA replication, transcription regulation, genome packaging, and during a latent phase, site-specific integration. Rep proteins contain two multifunctional domains: An Origin Binding Domain...

In bacteria, transcription and translation are coupled processes, in which movement of RNA polymerase (RNAP) synthesizing mRNA is coordinated with movement of the first ribosome translating mRNA. Coupling is modulated by the transcription factors NusG--which is thought to bridge RNAP...