Current Activities
Our goal is to determine how proteins function in space and time in the context of complex cellular networks.
We focus on chemistry-driven approaches to manipulate protein structure beyond what is feasible with standard genetics.
In particular, we use semi-synthetic light-activatable proteins as biophysical probes to investigate protein mechanisms
inside living cells. Areas of interest include the important but poorly understood process of protein S-acylation, signal
transduction, and protein trafficking.
Educational Background
M. S., 1999, Ecole Supérieure de Chimie Physique Electronique de Lyon
Ph.D., 2002, University of Houston
Selected Publications
- Meerovich, I, Muthukrishnan, N, Johnson, GA, Erazo-Oliveras, A, Pellois, JP "Photodamage of lipid bilayers by irradiation of a fluorescently labeled cell-penetrating peptide." Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1840: 507-15 (2014)
- Muthukrishnan, N, Johnson, GA, Erazo-Oliveras, A, Pellois, JP "Synergy between cell-penetrating peptides and singlet oxygen generators leads to efficient photolysis of membranes." Photochem. Photobiol. 89: 625-30
- Johnson, GA, Muthukrishnan, N, Pellois, JP "Photoinactivation of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria with the antimicrobial peptide (KLAKLAK)(2) conjugated to the hydrophilic photosensitizer eosin Y." Bioconjug. Chem. 24: 114-23 (2013)
- Muthukrishnan, N, Johnson, GA, Lim, J, Simanek, EE, Pellois, JP "TAT-mediated photochemical internalization results in cell killing by causing the release of calcium into the cytosol of cells." Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1820: 1734-43 (2012)
- Erazo-Oliveras, A, Muthukrishnan, N, Baker, R, Wang, TY, Pellois, JP "Improving the Endosomal Escape of Cell-Penetrating Peptides and Their Cargos: Strategies and Challenges." Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 5: 1177-1209 (2012)