Biomedical Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program
(B-SURE)
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA)
LEE, John C.
(Biochemistry): Our major research interest focuses on Osteogenic Protein-1
(OP-1), that belongs to a family of proteins called Bone Morphogenetic
Proteins (BMPs) which also belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta
superfamily. OP-1 induces differentiation, growth, and repair of
bone, cartilage, and tendon/ligament cells. Clinical studies on the
protein show that implantation of OP-1 into fracture or wound sites result
in repair of the sites. Most of these proteins are also multifunctional
and are involved in various functions in different tissues. Our research
interest is to define how this protein works at the molecular level.
Recent projects include structural analysis of the interactions between
OP-1 and its receptors (using a combination of methodologies, such as NMR
spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular genetics) in order
to understand the specificity of the ligand-receptor interaction, analysis
of the various genes that are activated or inactivated by OP-1 (using DNA
microarray and other molecular approaches), as well as analysis of the
functional relationships between OP-1 and other protein and signaling factors.
OP-1