The UCLA‐DOE Institute comprises a group of researchers working on frontier scientific problems in the mission areas of the Department of Energy. The Institute supports the research efforts of 11 faculty researchers at UCLA from different departments and schools, whose shared interests and complementary expertise are brought to bear on key national scientific challenges.
The Institute is made up of four research teams with joint objectives:
- Algal Functional Genomics
- Microbial Metabolism and Communities
- Synthetic Biochemistry: Enzymes and Pathways
- New Atomic Imaging Technologies.
Algal Functional Genomics
Sabeeha Merchant
The Merchant group has a leadership role in bringing genomic resources to the Chlamydomonas community, most recently through laboratory strain re-sequencing projects and assembly of high-quality organelle genomes
Keriann Backus
The Backus group combines chemical probes with quantitative proteomics methods to identify specific functional residues in proteins (e.g. cysteine, lysine, serine).
Siobhan Braybrook
The Braybrook group utilizes cutting edge molecular biology tools to assess gene function in their study systems as it relates to cell wall mechanics and growth.
Microbial Metabolism and Communities
Robert Gunsalus
The Gunsalus lab brings extensive experience in the areas of microbial biochemistry to the project with respect to metabolism, gene regulation and cell physiology of anaerobic bacteria and
archaea.
Joseph Loo
The Loo lab has a long and distinguished record in the development and application of mass
spectrometry methods for biological applications.
Robert Clubb
The Clubb lab has extensive biochemical, molecular and
structure experience dealing with the Gram-positive bacteria including cell envelope anchoring components and structures.
Matteo Pellegrini
The Pellegrini lab has been a leader in the areas of genomics, bioinformatics and regulation of cellular metabolism in plant and microbial systems.
Synthetic Biochemistry: Enzymes and Pathways
James Bowie
The Bowie group has pioneered the development of complex pathways for the biosynthesis of a wide range of chemicals, the ultimate goal of which is low-cost, sustainable green synthesis.
Robert Clubb
The Clubb group is developing new enzyme-based ligation strategies for convalently linking proteins and enzymes together in prescribed arrangements in the bacterial sortase system.
Todd Yeates
The Yeates group has designed protein cage scaffolds showing the organization of multiple cellulose degrading enzymes and will be testing several new approaches for conformationally stabilizing and geometrically organizing key enzymes.
New Atomic Imaging Technologies
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Jose Rodriguez
David Eisenberg
