Engineer “Arg-Gly-Asp” (RGD) epitopes for multi-valent display

RGD: stem-cell

adhesion epitopealso target cancer

cells that up-regulate integrin

TYMV with RGD substitution at residue 44

Wild-type 70°C

N-term mutant 70°C

pH-dependent enhanced stabilityMutate internal scaffold N-terminus of TYMV CP

Robust TYMV virus-like particles in E. coli

In vitro reassembly from a denatured

state

After many monthscrystal structure

data for TYMV and mutants!

TYMV can form a molecular “container” after release of RNA, nano-inspired applications with a protein shell with a small “hole”

After freeze-thaw

before

C

Wt Mass Spec after freeze-thaw: intact particle

Fourier Transform-Ion Cyclotron Resonance(FTICR) Mass spectrometry

RNA release

A CP cleavage product formed during RNA ejection hindered in one of our “super-stable” virion mutants

TYMV dual-subgenomic RNA for expression of GFP and GUS. Future downstream use for vaccine development

Biophysical studies of TYMVCharacterization empty, virion and intermediate particles

Northerns, Westerns, gradient centrifugation, etc.

Previous Work (M.S degree at OHSU): Signaling of a Cytomegalovirus chemokine receptor US28: plenty of cloning, tissue culture, immuno-precipitation/fluorescence and construction of CMV knockout mutants

US28chemokine

Recent TYMV article & (cover image) Jan 2011,more publications to come