Eileen Jaffe Email & Phone Number

The Jaffe laboratory studies protein structure-function relationships using both biochemical and biophysical approaches. We have recently become focused on the roles of protein quaternary structure dynamics in the control of protein function. This follows our discovery that at least one homo-oligomeric protein can dissociate, the dissociated units can change conformation, and these altered conformations support association to a structurally and functionally distinct oligomeric assembly. Unlike the prion phenomenon, our characterized changes in subunit structure are subtle, the oligomeric stoichiometry is finite, and the process is freely reversible. We have associated this structural dynamic with allosteric regulation of protein function, with human disease, and with new opportunities for allosteric drug discovery. The now well established structural dynamic was originally unexpected and we were reticent to accept its validity. However, realizing the novelty of this discovery, we coined the term morpheein to describe proteins that could reversibly dissociate, change conformation, and assemble differently with finite stoichiometry. What we have learned from the prototype morpheein allows us to mine the literature and protein structure databases in search of other proteins that function as morpheeins. We have identified a family of putative morpheeins, many of which can be approached as drug targets, including cancer chemotherapeutic targets.

Listed skills include Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, Drug Discovery, and 16 others.