Postdoc in the McDermott lab, Columbia University
Research Interest
My research interest focuses on biomolecular solid-state NMR of proteins to investigate conformational states that are inaccessible to X-ray crystallography or liquid-state NMR.
Antifreeze Proteins
Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) can bind specifically to ice crystals and thereby lower the freezing point of a given solution below its melting point (thermal hysteresis). Although the soluble form of these proteins is very well characterized, little is known about their structure and dynamics when they are bound to ice. Therefore, I am applying solid-state NMR to a type III AFP to investigate the structural details of its ice-bound form.
Prion Proteins
Prion proteins were originally associated with transmissible neurodegenerative diseases such as scrapie, BSE, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. However, prions have also been found in yeast and fungi were they can also play a beneficial role for the organism. My research interest focuses especially on the later prions, such as HET-s and the prion-like protein CPEB from Aplysia Californica. Solid-state NMR is the ideal tool to investigate these proteins in their infective amyloid conformation.
Education
Postdoc |
since 2007 |
Columbia University New York, USA Solid-state NMR group of Prof. Ann McDermott |
Ph.D. |
2006 |
ETH Zürich, Switzerland Solid-state NMR group of Prof. Beat H. Meier |
Diploma |
2002 |
Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Germany Biophysics |
Address
| E-mail: | as3211@columbia.edu | Department of Chemistry | |
| Lab phone: | (212) 854 8386 | Havemeyer Hall MC 3132 | Fax: | (212) 932 1289 | 3000 Broadway, Columbia University |
| New York, NY 10027 |