Ruel Desamero

My research is centered on investigating the structural and dynamical aspects of protein-small molecules and protein-protein interactions using techniques such as vibrational spectroscopy and temperature-jump relaxation. One aspect of the work is to understand at the molecular level how enzyme works. Basic research geared towards understanding the inner workings of an enzyme system is important if cures for the diseases caused by a malfunctioning or deficient enzyme are to be found. We are also studying the mechanism of amyloid formation. The role of aromatic amino acids in amyloid formation is controversial and has recently been under debate. The results of our work confirm that it is the aromatic and electronic structure of Phe-23 that contributes to amyloid formation by hIAPP22-29 and not just hydrophobicity and β-sheet propensity. Recent work also probed the mechanism of serum amyloid A aggregation using both in silico and in vitro evidence. Proteins are one of nature’s nanomaterials, understanding the mechanism behind its activity will prove useful in developing materials with desired properties. Proteins can assemble and function tailored by manipulating sequence and conformation, an aspect that we are studying in conjunction with its ability to misfold to form fibrils.