From antimicrobial peptide structures to epigenetic protein interactions
My research asks how molecular structure explains biological function. I use structural biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and cell biology to understand how peptides, proteins, and protein complexes interact with membranes, DNA, chromatin-associated factors, and cellular quality-control pathways.
Across my PhD and postdoctoral research, my central goal has been to connect molecular interactions with biological mechanisms relevant to infection, gene regulation, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cellular homeostasis.
Research Journey
My scientific trajectory began with structural studies of antimicrobial peptides and expanded into disease-linked protein interactions, chromatin biology, protein quality control, cholesterol biosynthesis, and autophagy-related mechanisms.
Antimicrobial peptides and peptide–membrane interactions
During my PhD, I investigated the structure–activity relationships of antimicrobial peptides, focusing on how peptide sequence, conformation, hydrophobicity, charge distribution, and membrane interactions regulate antimicrobial potency and toxicity.
Using solution NMR spectroscopy and biophysical approaches, I studied peptide structures in membrane-mimetic environments and contributed to molecular models explaining bacterial membrane recognition.
- Key concepts: antimicrobial peptides, LPS binding, membrane mimetics, peptide structure, NMR.
- Relevant PDB structures: 5Z31, 5Z32, 7BX2, 7VQI, 9KU8.
Epigenetic protein interactions and disease-linked molecular mechanisms
My postdoctoral research investigates how disease-linked epigenetic regulators and transcription factors interact at the molecular level. I study how folded domains, short motifs, and DNA elements organize molecular interfaces that control gene regulation.
Using solution NMR, biochemical assays, EMSA, MST, protein purification, and structural modeling, I study systems such as ASXL2–MBD6 and GATA4–MEF2C to understand how molecular interactions regulate chromatin biology, transcription, and disease mechanisms.
- Key systems: ASXL2–MBD6, GATA4–MEF2C, MLL4–TET3.
- Biological context: epigenetics, cancer, cardiovascular gene regulation, chromatin-associated protein interactions.
Featured Research Themes
These themes connect my structural biology training with my broader interest in molecular mechanisms of disease.
Antimicrobial Peptide Structural Biology
Structure–activity relationships of antimicrobial peptides, peptide–membrane recognition, LPS binding, and rational peptide design using solution NMR and biophysical assays.
Epigenetic Protein–Protein Interactions
Structural and biochemical analysis of chromatin-associated protein interactions, including MLL4–TET3 and ASXL2–MBD6 complexes linked to gene regulation and disease.
Transcription Factor Cooperativity
Mechanistic studies of GATA4–MEF2C cooperation on composite DNA motifs, with emphasis on weak direct interactions, DNA-mediated assembly, and cardiovascular gene regulation.
Autophagy, EBP, and Protein Quality Control
Current work connecting p62/SQSTM1, EBP/cholesterol biosynthesis, membrane protein homeostasis, and autophagy-linked vulnerabilities in cancer biology.
Selected Projects
A focused view of major research systems that define my current scientific direction.
MLL4–TET3 Interaction
This project defines how a hydrophobic motif from TET3 engages the PHD6 finger of MLL4/KMT2D, providing structural insight into an epigenetic protein–protein interaction involved in gene regulation.
GATA4–MEF2C Cooperativity
This project investigates how cardiac transcription factors cooperate on composite DNA motifs. The work combines NMR, MST, EMSA, and DNA-binding assays to understand whether weak protein–protein interactions become functionally organized on DNA.
ASXL2–MBD6 Complex
This project focuses on the molecular interface between ASXL2-PHD and MBD6-MBD domains. The work aims to define how these domains physically interact, how disease-associated mutations may perturb the interface, and how this interaction contributes to chromatin-associated regulation.
p62–EBP and Autophagy-Linked Cancer Biology
This research direction explores how p62/SQSTM1, EBP, cholesterol biosynthesis, and membrane protein quality control intersect with autophagy-linked cancer biology. It connects structural biochemistry with cellular stress-response mechanisms.
Methods & Approaches
My work integrates structural biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and computational analysis to connect molecular structure with biological mechanism.
Solution NMR Spectroscopy
HSQC titration, chemical shift perturbation, backbone assignment, NOE analysis, and structure determination of peptides and protein complexes.
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Protein purification, co-purification, HPLC/SEC, MST, EMSA, pull-down assays, and biochemical validation of molecular interactions.
Structural Modeling
AlphaFold/AF3 interpretation, PyMOL, ChimeraX, structural comparison, interface mapping, and mutation-guided mechanistic analysis.
Cellular Mechanisms
Epigenetic regulation, protein quality control, autophagy, cholesterol biosynthesis, disease-linked mutations, and pathway-level interpretation.
Explore the scientific outputs
My research connects experimental structures, peer-reviewed publications, and ongoing mechanistic studies. Explore my publications and deposited structures to see the molecular systems behind this work.