My research has diverged into three distinct areas; the first focuses on the mechanisms of electron transfer and oxygen reduction, and the proteins that catalyze these reactions. Much of my work has been on the enzymes of the mitochondrial electron transport pathway. The second area of my research is to identify the mechanism by which a group of structurally similar compounds are selectively toxic to the neurons in one small region of the brain. The death of these neurons results in Parkinson's Disease, and exposure to these compounds can cause the onset of symptoms that are similar or identical to those of classical Parkinsonism, except in young victims. The generally accepted belief is that the compounds act by causing a fatal inhibition of the electron-transport pathway in the mitochondria of these neurons. However, preliminary results from my lab suggest their toxicity may be caused instead by binding to the dopamine transporter in the cell membrane, triggering a series of responses that lead finally to the death of the cell. My last area of study is the design and preparation of self-organizing chemical systems, based on the ligand affinities and coordination properties of metal complexes. Such systems may provide information about key steps in the origin of life.
