HIV-Host Interactions and Fas-Mediated Apoptosis - My lab is interested in understanding biological mechanisms in virology and cancer at the atomic level. Our biggest state-of-the-art toy in the lab is called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). We apply this technology to assess how proteins interact with membranes, other proteins, small molecules, and sugars. In collaboration with UAB colleagues, we are starting to apply NMR Spectroscopy methods to detect and quantify metabolites in animal cells and tissues. Our main focus in the virology field is aimed at elucidating molecular mechanisms of HIV assembly. Our cancer projects include those aimed at characterization of protein-protein interactions pertaining to Fas-mediated apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma. Most recently, we have been investigating at the structural level how the Akt protein interacts with lipids and proteins to facilitate translocation to the plasma membrane for activation in many cancer cells.
Keywords - HIV, NMR, Cancer, Drug design
