Ph.D.
Associate Research Professor
Biochemistry - CAFNR
Associate Director
Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center
Research at a glance
Area(s) of Expertise
Research Summary
Proteomics using advanced mass spectrometry and 2D gel electrophoresis.
I am particularly interested in protocol and technology development for proteomics and mass spectrometry. We use mass spectrometry for protein identification, protein/peptide quantitation, and mapping sites of post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions.
Metastable Crystallins: Structure and stabilization (NEI-NIH award R01EY023219)
Cataract and a host of other diseases result from abnormal interaction of proteins in the cells. The goals of this research are to understand lens protein aggregation in cataract formation and to develop and test lens protein alpha-crystallin-derived peptide as active mini-chaperones capable of suppressing protein aggregation. Understanding the structural changes in mutant proteins associated with cataract can help us learn why certain mutations in lens crystallins lead to cataract. Restoring the lost function in mutant crystallins may control the lens protein aggregation that characterizes cataract formation. Previous studies have shown that peptide chaperones stabilize unfolded proteins. This project will test the ability of peptide chaperones to stabilize and restore activity in mutant and modified lens crystallins. (9/1/2018 to 4/30/2022 – PI/PL: Sharma KK; Co-I: Mooney BP)
Education
- Ph.D. Botany, University College of Dublin
- B.S. Botany, University College of Dublin