Alexandrescu Lab

We currently have openings for students to work on the following projects:

• NMR methods to study amyloid fibrils. Amyloid fibrils are involved in a number of diseases including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Mad Cow Disease. The large size, poor solubility, and disorder of amyloid fibrils makes them difficult to study by conventional structural biology methods. We are using NMR in conjunction with other biophysical techniques to try to obtain structural information on aggregates and fibrils of the protein alpha-synuclein, which is the primary component of the fibrils formed in Parkinson's disease.
• Protein folding. We are investigating the physical basis of conserved structure in a family of proteins that share the same 5-stranded anti-parallel beta-barrel "OB-fold" (Oligonucleotide/Oligosaccharide Binding-fold) folding motif. We are hoping this information will shed light on protein structure evolustion and prove useful for protein structure prediction and protein design.
• Strucure-function relationships of agrin domains. Structural & biophysical techniquesare being used to understand the role of this large proteoglycan in the development and maintenance of nerve-muscle synapses. Currently not accepting students for this project.
• Other projects. Contact Andrei Alexandrescu (andrei@uconn.edu)