Areas of Interest
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My research interests are focused on revealing the molecular mechanisms at work in complex biological systems with the use of single molecule, optical spectroscopy. My lab uses a variety of optical techniques (including single molecule FRET, single particle tracking, and fluorescence quenching) that are capable of resolving the real-time dynamical motion of individual biological molecules. Experiments that follow the behavior of single molecules have the ability to uncover properties that are impossible to observe in bulk measurements due to the inherent averaging over molecules and over time. Current experimental efforts are addressing questions in a wide variety of biological systems. We are pursuing aspects of protein folding, the connection between protein conformational dynamics and enzymatic function, and viral infection pathways in living cells. We are particularly interested in membrane phenomena including protein mediated membrane fusion and membrane protein translocation.
Recent Publications
"Single-Molecule Studies of Synaptotagmin and Complexin Binding to the SNARE Complex,"
Biophysical Journal.
89.
M. E. Bowen, K. Weninger, J. Ernst, A. T. Brunger, S. Chu.
(2005). p. 690. Click here to view this publication.
"Single Molecule Observation of Liposome – Bilayer Fusion Thermally Induced by SNAREs,"
Biophysical Journal.
87.
M. E. Bowen, K. Weninger, A. T. Brunger, S. Chu.
(2004). p. 3569-3584 . Click here to view this publication.
"Single-Molecule Studies of SNARE Complex Assembly Reveal Parallel and Antiparallel Configurations,"
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.
100.
Keith Weninger, Mark E. Bowen, Steven Chu, and Axel T. Brunger.
(2003). p. 14800-14805. Click here to view this publication.
"Black-Body Spectra for Sonoluminescing Hydrogen Bubbles,"
Physical Review Letters.
88.
G. Vazquez, C. Camera, S. J. Putterman and K. Weninger.
(2002). p. 197402-1 . Click here to view this publication.
"Sonoluminescence: How Bubbles Turn Sound into Light,"
Annual Reviews of Fluid Mechanics.
32.
S. J. Putterman and K. Weninger.
(2000). p. 45. Click here to view this publication.
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