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PERSONAL WEBSITE:
https://www.med.unc.edu/microimm/directory/robert-b-bourret/ |
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We study the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction by two-component regulatory systems, which involve sensor kinases, histidine phosphotransferases, and response regulators. We primarily focus on phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions using purified proteins and a variety of biochemical and biophysical methods. We explore both qualitative (what reactions occur) and quantitative (measure rate constants) aspects of reactions of interest. We sometimes determine X-ray crystal structures of proteins of interest. Our historical focus has been on signaling in bacteria; recently we have expanded our investigation to fungi.
Given the widespread availability of genome and hence protein sequences, a parallel interest in recent decades has been to develop and use general methods to reliably investigate properties applicable to all members of a protein family without the need to perform experiments on large numbers of family members.
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CLINICAL/RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Cell Signaling, Structural Biology |