We develop and apply methods involving single-molecule fluorescence—especially single-molecule FRET—fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and molecular simulation.
smFRET imaging provides a powerful means of visualizing the conformational and compositional dynamics of individual macromolecules and macromolecular complexes. Interrogation of individual molecules is free from ensemble averaging that would mask transient conformations.
Binding of viral envelope glycoproteins to ligands or model membranes
To provide a functional counterpart to our investigation of conformational dynamics, we use single-particle fusion assays to monitor viral fusion to model membranes.
We use atomistic and coarse-grained MD simulation to aid in the interpretation of our experimental data and form hypotheses about the specific residues and interactions that mediate the observed dynamics.