Carrie Wilmot, Principal Investigator

X-ray Crystallographic Studies of Reaction Intermediates in Proteins Containing Organic or Metal Co-Factors

This research focuses on the dynamics of molecular catalysis, particularly involving novel cofactors and metal ions, as well as the role played by metalloproteins in disease states. The principal tool of the research is macromolecular x-ray crystallography. The project involves freeze-trapping catalytic intermediates in the crystal, both anaerobically and aerobically, leading to “snapshots” along the reaction pathways. These can be assembled into “movies of catalysis” at the molecular level.

The research group intends to study structural enzymology involving the cofactor tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ) of methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH), structural enzymology of the dinuclear copper-containing enzyme tyrosinase, and the role of copper redox chemistry in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Research Group

Arwen Pearson, Research Associate
Kevin Watts, Graduate Student Researcher