Design of Allosteric Inhibitors of Caspases
Apoptosis is involved in cellular development and disease. Apoptosis activators can treat cancer. Apoptosis inhibitors can treat stroke, heart attack and Neurodegenerative Diseases.  Apoptosis is mediated by a family of proteases called ‘caspases’.  We make caspase-based therapeutics and allosterically regulated versions of the caspases using computational design, biochemical and biophysical techniques, and x-ray crystallography.

Research Interest

Potential Application

Caspase Reporters

Watching apoptosis in real time in living organisms. Drug toxicity screening.

Inhibition of caspases

Treatment of Huntington's and Alzheimer's Diseases with caspase inhibitors.

Designed Allosteric Sites

A generalizable method for chemical genetics.

Design of membrane proteins

Proton Exchange Membranes in hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen Cars.