Borgstahl Structural Biology Laboratory

The Borgstahl Lab is interested in developing novel X-ray and neutron crystallography methods and in studying the macromolecules essential to the protection of biological macromolecules and the maintenance and replication of DNA.

Research Interests

Our laboratory has had a long-standing interest in the proteins involved in DNA metabolism using X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling. In particular we study human replication protein A (RPA) and RAD52. RPA is a single-stranded DNA binding protein that is a key player in DNA metabolism and together with RAD52 anneals repetitive DNA sequences at double-strand breaks. This annealing reaction is a drug target in homologous recombination deficient hereditary cancers.

Our laboratory also has an interest in superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes that are critical in preventing damage to all biological macromolecules. We are investigating the catalytic mechanism by which superoxide dismutases affect oxygen radicals. We are employing neutron diffraction to solve crystal structures of SOD in order to see hydrogen positions and avoid reduction of the active site metal by x-rays. In order to obtain crystals of suitable size and purity for neutron diffraction, we grow crystals in microgravity on the international space station.

Publications