Earlier Research Highlights
Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer defines opening and closing of the RNA polymerase clamp
Using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer, Richard H. Ebright and co workers have defined bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) clamp conformation at each step in transcription initiation and elongation.
Reaction Path and Transition States for RNA Transphosphorylation Models
Understanding the mechanisms underlying the catalytic properties of RNA have applications in the design of new biotechnology, and are also implicated in the evolutionary origins of life itself.
Enzymes that protect the integrity of the genome
DNA is startlingly prone to chemical damage, by both exogenous and endogenous species.
Single Vehicular Delivery of siRNA and Small Molecules to Control Stem Cell Differentiation
Achieving a controlled and reproducible means to direct stem cell differentiation is the single most critical concern scientists have been trying to address since the discovery of stem cells.
Olson group unravels long-range communication in chromatin important for gene expression
Although the genetic messages in DNA are stored in a linear sequence of base pairs, the genomes of living species do not function in a linear fashion.
Multimodal Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Stem Cell Research
Understanding the interactions between adsorbed gas molecules and pore surface at molecular level is vital to rational design and development of gas-selective nanoporous solids, and critical for many important industrial processes.
Mechanism of Carbon Dioxide Adsorption in a Highly Selective Porous Coordination Network
Understanding the interactions between adsorbed gas molecules and pore surface at molecular level is vital to rational design and development of gas-selective nanoporous solids, and critical for many important industrial processes.
Structure of molecular machine that initiates transcription
A team of Rutgers CCB researchers led by Richard H. Ebright and Eddy Arnold has determined the three-dimensional structure of the transcription initiation complex, the key intermediate in the process by which cells read out genetic information in DNA.
Maximizing photosynthesis at low light intensity
Photosynthetic organisms use several strategies to cope with vast solar flux intensity differences based on seasonal changes, time of day and weather conditions.
GRAPHENE-NANOPARTICLE for Guiding Stem Cell Differentiation and Neuronal Behaviors
The ability to utilize physical cues such as nanotopographical features, substrate stiffness, geometry, and the dimension of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein patterns to control stem cell fate has great potential in stem cell-based regenerative medicine.
Design of Polar and Magnetic Materials: In Search of Multifunctional Oxides
Polar oxides are of much interest in materials science and engineering.
Biohybrid –Se–S– Coupling Reactions of an Amino Acid Derived Seleninate
Professor Spencer Knapp, Zhexun Sun, and Mohannad Abdo describe the synthesis of the N-(2-seleninatoethyl) amide of N-Boc-phenylalanine, serving here as a peptide model, and its click-type reductive coupling reactions under mild protic conditions with unprotected thiouridine and glutathione.
Sustainable, Nanocarbon-Based Catalysts for Production of Hydrogen (a Clean, Renewable Fuel) from Water (a Sustainable Source) at All pH Values
In the face of the growing demand of energy worldwide and the unabated negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels, alternative and greener energy sources are critically important.
Sugar-based Amphiphilic Polymers for Biomedical Applications: from Nanocarrier to Therapeutic
The research of Professor Kathryn Uhrich has designed and examined a library of sugar-based amphiphilic polymers (SBAPs) which demonstrate promise in diverse biomedical applications, ranging from nanoscale drug delivery vehicles to cardiovascular therapeutics.
Poly(anhydride-esters) Comprised Exclusively of Naturally-occurring Antimicrobials and EDTA: Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities
Naturally derived antioxidants and antimicrobials (eugenol, carvacrol, thymol) were chemically incorporated as pendant groups into biodegradable poly(anhydride-esters) composed of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as backbone, and hydrolytic degradation of these polymers yielded the free compounds which exhibited bioactivity.
NanoScript: A Nanoparticle-Based Artificial Transcription Factor for Effective Gene Regulation
Transcription factor (TF) proteins are master regulators of transcriptional activity and gene expression.
LMOFs for Explosive Detection
Luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs) are a sub-class of metal organic framework materials that possess interesting and useful optical emission properties, making them both fundamentally important and technologically relevant for practical applications.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
The research of Associate Professor Joseph Marcotrigiano has isolated and examined an outer region of hepatitis C that enables the virus to evade the body’s natural immune system response, which causes persistent, chronic infection.
Graphene-Nanofiber Hybrid Scaffolds Guide Stem Cell Differentation into Oligodendrocytes
Damage to the central nervous system (CNS) can cause severe neurological deficits, thus requiring innovative strategies to promote functional recovery.
Cationic Amphiphilic Macromolecule (CAM)-lipid Complexes for Efficient siRNA Gene Silencing
Cationic amphiphilic macromolecules were complexed with liposomal delivery systems to encapsulate and efficiently deliver siRNA in response to a decrease in endosomal pH and silence target genes with minimal cytotoxicity.
Thinking about Chemical Reactivity in Colloids, from Micelles to Emulsions
Surfactants of many kinds, simple soaps, phospho- glycol- and proteo- lipids spontaneously self-assemble to form transparent thermodynamically stable solutions of association colloids, e.g., micelles, vesicles and microemulsions.
Supplementing NanoScript with Epigenetic Modulators for Enhanced Gene Transcription
Stem cell-based therapies and cellular reprogramming holds immense potential for regenerative medicine
Rare-Earth-Free LED Phosphors
Professor Jing Li's recent development of rare-earth-free phosphors was featured at the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting on August 19, 2015.
Amyloidogenesis in vitro
The study of amyloid structure and growth has been motivated by their implication in many human diseases.
DNA structure and interactions
Knowledge-based representation of the hydration of the ideal B-DNA double helix based on the known positioning of water molecules around the individual sugars, phosphates, and bases of nucleotides in well resolved crystal structures.
The First Semiconductor Bulk Material That Emits Direct White Light
A unique type of inorganic-organic hybrid semiconductor bulk materials are capable of emitting direct white light.
Transition structure for the enzyme-catalyzed decarboxylation of a nucleic acid
Calculations are used to elucidate possible transition structures for enzyme mechanisms.
Alkane metathesis
Organoiridium complexes catalyze the dehydrogenation of alkanes and alkyl groups, a transformation with tremendous potential applicability.
Structure of Transcription Initiation Complexes
Knowledge-based representation of the hydration of the ideal B-DNA double helix based on the known positioning of water molecules around the individual sugars, phosphates, and bases of nucleotides in well resolved crystal structures.
Protein Data Bank
Two horse hemoglobin structures (structures 2mhb2 and 2dhb3) are overlaid to show the conformational change that occurs when a ligand is bound to the heme group.
Lanthanide Fluoride Clusters: the most efficient molecular NIR emission sources currently available
The Nd28 cluster pictured here is significant not only because it is the largest lanthanide cluster known, but also because it has the highest NIR quantum efficiency reported for a 'molecular' Nd compound.
Molecules of RNA Form Biological Catalysts
It is a fundamental question as to how molecules of RNA, with its limited chemical repertoire of fairly inert nucleotide units, are able to form biological catalysts that can speed up reaction rates by 10 million-fold or more.
Cleavage and Formation of C-F Bonds by an Iridium Complex
Catalysis by transition metal complexes is key to the transformations of organic molecules ranging from fuels to fine chemicals.
Direct conversion of Alkanes to Alkylaromatics
Aromatic hydrocarbons are among the most important building blocks in the chemical industry, used as precursors for materials as diverse as fuels, detergents, plastics, fibers and pharmaceuticals.
The mechanism of RNA 5′ capping with NAD+, NADH and desphospho-CoA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is central to gene expression. RNA stabilty is determined largely by the chemical nature of the RNA 5' end.
NanoScript Can Activate or Deactivate Specific Genes for Non-Viral Stem Cell Differentiation
While stem cell therapies appear very promising, there is a critical gap that exists between our current knowledge and the practical application of stem cell therapies, and as a result, there is not a single stem cell therapy that is approved by the FDA!
Nanoelectrochemistry for Detection of Neurotransmitters in Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation
Stem-cell-based therapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for regenerative medicine due the ability of stem cells to differentiation into any given cell type.
Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Graphene-Nanoparticle Hybrid Materials for Bioapplications
Graphene is composed of single-atom thick sheets of carbon atoms that are arranged in a perfect two-dimensional honeycomb lattice.
