Breann Brown
Department of Biochemistry
Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology (CSB)
Mitochondrial protein-protein interactions and assembly are necessary for maintaining proper human health. Unfortunately, there are numerous painful, debilitating, and life-threatening diseases that occur due to genetic mutations that prevent proper protein assembly. Our approach is to use X-ray crystallography and other complementary biochemical techniques to understand how these various mutations lead to changes in protein structure and function, thus preventing proper macromolecular assembly.
Mitochondrial protein-protein interactions and assembly are necessary for maintaining proper human health. Unfortunately, there are numerous painful, debilitating, and life-threatening diseases that occur due to genetic mutations that prevent proper protein assembly. Our approach is to use X-ray crystallography and other complementary biochemical techniques to understand how these various mutations lead to changes in protein structure and function, thus preventing proper macromolecular assembly.
Keywords: x-ray crystallography , mitochondria , protein structure-function , heme , neurodegeneration
Research Area: Structural Biology , Biophysics , Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflamation