The Raman laboratory provides a unique and cutting-edge research environment which brings together structural and biological studies under one roof. We seamlessly integrate high-resolution X-ray crystallographic investigations with functional analyses in prokaryotic and eukaryotic (yeast, Caenorhabditis elegans, and zebrafish) model systems.

Our motto: "Innovate, Work Hard, and Expect the Unexpected".

Ongoing Research Projects

1.  CHEMISTRY & BIOLOGY OF PROKARYOTIC NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE-LIKE PROTEINS (HNS)

Funded by NIH/NIAID, Pew Charitable Trusts

We are investigating structure-function relationships in the newly discovered NLPs from Anthrax bacterium and Staphylococcus aureus. .

Pierre Nioche is the primary contributor to this project.

COLLABORATORS:

Jean-Luc Boucher (Paris)

Brian Hoffman (Evanston)

Theresa Koehler (Houston)

Daniel Mansuy (Paris)

Pavel Martasek (Prague)

Martin Newcomb (Chicago)

2. STRUCTURAL BASIS FOR INHIBITOR RECOGNITION & CATALYSIS IN NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASES

Funded by The Robert A. Welch Foundation, NIH/NINDS (NRSA)

This project focuses on crystallographic studies aimed at understading how substrate and inhibitors are selectively recognized by the mammalian nitric oxide synthase machinery. In addition we are also actively exploring the structural bases for electron transfer processes.

Pierre Nioche, Dong-Sun Lee and Raegan Hunt contribute to this project.

COLLABORATORS:

Bettie Sue Siler Masters (San Antonio)

Pavel Martasek (San Antonio)

Rosa Claramunt (Madrid)

Jose Elguerro (Madrid)

Dominique Vichard (Versailles)

Francois Terrier (Versailles)

Vladimir Kral (Prague).

3. STRUCTURAL BASES OF GASEOUS MESSENGER SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

Funded by Pew Charitable Trusts , The Robert A. Welch Foundation

Three decades of research has failed to identify the molecular bases of how gaseous messengers (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen) transduce signals to mediate a variety of cellular responses. We have put in place strategies that will both overcome the hurdles experienced by other researchers and provide atomic insights into the mechanisms of signalling.

Pierre Nioche is the primary contributor to this project.

COLLABORATORS:

Andrew Camilli (Boston)

Peter Ford (Santa Barbara)

James Kaper (Baltimore)

Nigel Minton (Nottingham)

Michel Negrerie (Paris)

John Olson (Houston)

Masao-Ikeda Saito (Japan)

Takeshi Tomita (Bethesda),

Sudha Veeraraghavan (Houston)

4. HEME BIOSYNTHESIS, TRANSPORT & DEGRADATION

Funded by Pew Charitable Trusts , The Robert A. Welch Foundation

We study how heme is biosynthesized, transported and degraded in eukaryotes.

Dong-Sun Lee and Nathan Campbell are the primary contributors to this project.

COLLABORATORS:

Pavel Martasek (Prague)

5. STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF LIPID MEDIATOR SIGNALING

Funded by Pew Charitable Trusts ,   The Robert A. Welch Foundation

We are exploring the mammalian eicosanoid biosynthetic pathway enzymes -

Thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and Prostacyclin (PGI2) synthases .

Dong-Sun Lee, Raegan Hunt, and Pierre Nioche contribute to this project.

COLLABORATORS:

Didier Stainier (San Francisco)

JH (Belgique)

JMD (Belgique)

6. NOVEL REGULATORS OF MITOCHONDRIAL HOMEOSTASIS

Funded by Pew Charitable Trusts, NIH/NINDS (NRSA)

We have discovered novel proteins that modulate mitochondrial function. Structure-function studies are in progess to elucidate the mechanisms by which this key process is regulated.

This is the dissertation project of Raegan Hunt.

COLLABORATORS:

Didier Stainier (San Francisco)

Pavel Martasek (Prague)

Yurii Chinenov (New York)