My laboratory focuses on several ABC transporters to address a variety of fundamental questions that are of paramount importance; (1) how are substrate recognized during the transport process (2) how ATP hydrolysis is coupled with translocation and (3) what is the mechanism of transport for these proteins. Using a combination of crystallographic and biochemical studies, we can determine the three-dimensional structure of the molecule to understand the structural and functional roles of individual components of transporters and interactions in complex. The ultimate goal is to capture snapshots of substrate transport as these ABC transporters pump things into or out of the cell, in hopes controlling protein function or malfunction.
