The Zoltowski lab works at the interface of Chemistry, Biology and Physics, where we study the molecular mechanisms of blue-light photoreceptors. These photoreceptors are intricately involved in regulation of circadian clocks, growth and development in plants and have been implicated in the development of cancer, diabetes as well as neurological illnesses. We use a combination of X-ray crystallography, NMR and solution biophysics to identify the fundamental chemical mechanisms of photo-activation, including local chemical events, alteration in protein structure and alteration in protein:protein interactions. Detailed understanding of photoreceptor structure and function allows for repurposing of enzymes as engineered photoresponsive proteins in the rapidly developing field of optogenetics.
