Biochemistry

Team discovers new inhibitors of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells

David Shapiro
Biochemistry professor David Shapiro led his team to discover compounds that inhibit estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells.

ATP Binding

Biochemistry professor Emad Tajkhorshid, right, and biophysics graduate student Yi Wang have identified a key step in the cellular recycling of ATP that allows your body to produce enough of it to survive. ATP is the primary energy source for most cellular functions.
Biochemist Emad Tajkorshid has created the first-ever simulation of a molecule binding to a protein.

Kranz Stops Staph Toxin

David Kranz
Biochemistry professor David Kranz and his team have developed a treatment for antiobiotic resistant staph bacteria.

Chen Finds Molecular Pathway

U. of I. biochemistry professor Lin-Feng Chen, right, and his colleagues, including postdoctoral researcher Xiaodong Yang, identified a novel pathway that controls the activity of a key protein involved in inflammation. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Lin-Feng Chen and his colleagues discovered a novel way inflammation is regulated.

The biochemistry department welcomes Susan Martinis

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Dr. Martinis earned her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois and completed postdoctoral research at M.I.T.

The biochemistry faculty welcomes Lin-Feng Chen

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Dr. Chen recently completed his postdoctoral research at Gladstone Institute of Immunology and Virology, University of California, San Francisco.

Maria Spies joins the biochemistry faculty

Marie Spies
Dr. Spies comes to Illinois following postdoctoral research at the University of California, Davis.

Polymer aids in blood clotting, pointing way to new treatment

James H. Morrissey
James H. Morrissey, a biochemist, and colleagues at the University of Georgia have discovered that a linear polymer known as polyphosphate speeds blood clotting and helps clots last longer.

Creation of antibiotic in test tube holds promise for better antibiotics

From left, biochemist Satish Nair; Bo Li, a biochemistry doctoral student; Wilfred van der Donk, professor of chemistry; and John Paul J. Yu, an M.D.-Ph.D student in the Nair group.
Professors Satish Nair and Wilfred A. van der Donk report in the journal Science on the synthesis of the powerful antibiotic nisin-a, a natural product used to preserve food. Their work sheds light on antibiotic resistance.

Paul J. Hergenrother honored for teaching and mentoring

A tight shot of a microscope with a soft orange gradient layer.
Paul J. Hergenrother, affiliate of the Department of Biochemistry, was awarded the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award for 2006. "The award, administered by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, supports the teaching and research careers of young faculty members in the chemical sciences....