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Dr. Lindahl
http://www.chem.tamu.edu/rgroup/lindahl/ Research
in the Lindahl lab can be divided into three projects, all with an emphasis
on the mechanism of biological phenomena. The first project involves acetyl-CoA
synthase, a bifunctional Ni-Fe-S
The second project involves Fe metabolism in
yeast mitochondria, the site of heme and Fe/S cluster assembly. We are
investigating isolated intact mitochondria by EPR/Mossbauer spectroscopy in
order to determine the distribution and quanties of Fe-containing centers.
We are also developing assays to detect O2 consumption and ATP production
during oxidative phosphorylation, as well as to detect reactive oxygen
species. Then we will examine intact mitochondria obtained from genetically
modified strains in which particular Fe-related mitochondrial proteins have
been deleted or overexpressed. Weare currently examining deletion and
overexpression strains of YAH1p and ATM1p.
In the third project, we are computationally exploring mechanisms by which proliferating cells grow and divide. A cell modeling framework in which biochemical reaction dynamics impact the surface-to-volume ratio of the cell has been developed and incorporated into an established cell cycle mechanism. We are currently working on incorporating membrane bending energy and a primitive cytoskeleton into our model.
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containing enzyme (see figure) which plays
a critical role in the global carbon cycle and is found in certain human
pathogens. Our aim is to determine the kinetics and mechanism of catalysis,
and relate these to the structure and function of the novel active sites.
This project involves spectroscopy, kinetics, genetics, and mathematical
modeling. We are investigating the role of tunnel in the enzyme through
which CO migrates. Using the stopped-flow method, we are determining the
kinetics of each step in the catalytic mechanism, and will integrate these
into a comprehensive kinetic model. We are also investigating whether a
particular Ni in the enzyme is reduced to a zero-valent state during
catalysis. 