Membrane active, pH-sensitive peptides are needed in biotechnology and medicine. By rationally designing a peptide library, and using a high-throughput functional screen, we have discovered a family of peptides that cause macromolecular poration in synthetic membranes at low concentration, in … Continue reading →

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family includes four receptors that bind 18 ligands called fibroblast growth factors, using heparin as a co-factor. These receptors play important roles in all cell types, but are best known for the critical role … Continue reading →

The Eph receptors comprise the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The Eph receptors regulate cell-cell communication during development, and some of them are highly expressed in adult human epithelial cells. They play profound roles in diverse physiological processes, … Continue reading →

We study how cells respond to their microenvironments at the molecular level. Invariably, this response starts with engagement of membrane receptors, such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). RTKs associate in the plasma membrane and then engage cytoplasmic proteins to trigger … Continue reading →