Biophysics

Candice S. Klug, PhD Professor of Biophysics Department of Biophysics Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509 Phone: 414-955-4015 Fax: 414-955-6512 candice@mcw.edu

PubMed Publications

Selected Publications

Lab Members

• Kathryn Westfahl Schultz, Postdoctoral Fellow
• Ya Zhuo, Graduate Student

Research Interests

My research interests currently center on protein structure and dynamics. I use the site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) EPR spectroscopy technique to study the functional dynamics of bacterial membrane and retinal proteins.

Education

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BS, Chemistry (1994)
• Medical College of Wisconsin, PhD, Biophysics (1999)
• UCLA School of Medicine, Jules Stein Eye Institute, Postdoctoral Fellow in Ophthalmic Biophysical Chemistry (1999-2001)

Grants

• Site-Directed Spin Labeling of ArnT is a five-year, $1.1 million award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study the structure-function relationship of a previously uncharacterized bacterial membrane protein, ArnT, which is responsible for bacterial resistance to the antibiotic polymyxin.
• Spin Labeling of MsbA is a four-year, $900,000 award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to study the functional dynamics of the bacterial ABC (ATP-binding-cassette) lipid transporter, MsbA, which transports lipids across the inner membrane of bacteria.

As part of these grants, the investigators will study the structure and functional dynamics of these two proteins as they bind their respective substrates. A more thorough understanding of the dynamics in the ArnT protein will help researchers develop strategies to overcome bacterial resistance to polymyxin and other antibiotics. A more thorough understanding of the dynamics in the MsbA protein will help researchers understand the molecular basis for multidrug resistance and diseases caused by malfunctioning proteins such as MsbA and will lead to novel therapeutic agents and gene therapies.