Melanie Berkmen, PhD
Professor & Chair, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environment & Physics
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Research Interests
Bacteria have the remarkable ability to acquire new genes in a process known as mating, or conjugation. Mating has played a profound role in bacterial evolution by spreading genes that allow bacteria to adapt to new environments or gain resistance to various antibiotics. During conjugation, DNA is transferred from one cell to another through a specialized translocation channel in the membrane. Many of the molecular mechanisms behind the conjugation process remain a mystery. My research group focuses on characterizing several interacting protein components of the conjugation machinery of the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis (ConB, ConC, ConD, ConE, ConG, ConQ, and CwlT). Our research uses a combination of bioinformatics, molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches to provide insight into how these proteins function, interact, and localize within the cell. As these proteins are conserved, our findings will apply to the conjugation machinery of numerous Gram-positive bacteria, including many important human pathogens, and provide a deeper understanding of a major mechanism mediating horizontal gene transfer.
Besides bacterial mating, I have two other research interests. In my Advanced Biochemical Techniques and Research course (CHEM L332), my students explore the biochemical underpinnings of metabolic disease and cancer caused by mutations in fumarase, the Krebs cycle enzyme and tumor suppressor. In addition, I am collaborating with Celeste Peterson (Professor, Department of Biology, Suffolk University) to explore the use virtual reality for teaching visualization of biomolecular structure (proteins, DNA) in our courses.
All of my research is conducted by Suffolk University undergraduate students. Please see me if you are interested in joining my lab!