Welcome

The Crane group studies structures, functions, and mechanisms of protein systems underlying signal transduction with the overall goal of understanding behavior at the molecular level. Of particular interest are processes mediated by redox and photochemistry and those dependent on highly cooperative macromolecular assemblies. Current projects focus on circadian clock light sensing mechanisms, bacterial transmembrane signaling, nitric oxide enzymology, and protein electron transfer.

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Research

Primary Research Interests:

Circadian Clock

  •  Cryptochrome and Light-Oxygen-Voltage domain proteins
  •  Circadian clock regulatory elements

Bacterial Chemotaxis

  •  Bacterial chemotactic signaling
  • Chemoreceptors and Flagellar motor proteins

Nitric Oxide Synthase

  • Bacterial nitric oxide synthases

Long-range protein electron transfer

  • How does structure and redox-active relay residues control electron transfer
  • Cytochrome c Peroxidase:Cytochrome c complex

We use an assortment of biophysical and biochemical methods to assess these systems, including analytical HPLC, cryo-electron microscopy, electrochemistry, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, genetic and chemical manipulation of proteins, macromolecular crystallography, protein mass spectrometry, radioactivity assays, small-angle X-ray scattering, stopped-flow, and transient absorption spectroscopy, among others.