Peter R. Weigele Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Ipswich, Ma

I currently have projects investigating pathways of DNA modification encoded by bacteriophages with an emphasis on discovering new modifications and the underlying enzymes catalyzing their formation. My science has benefitted enormously from working with amazing people who have incredibly deep wisdom in chemistry, enzymology, molecular biology, and bacterial genetics. The culture of the organization values and supports individual creativity and curiosity while at the same time fostering practicality and application. Each day puts me in touch not just with great science, but all the different people working together to make a successful commercial enterprise.

I worked in Jonathan King's lab principally on the P22 tailspike folding system, exploring the relationship between sequence and structure, particularly in regards to the process of protein folding, which for many proteins consists of a series of descending intermediate thermodynamic "stations" along the path to the native protein. My work uncovered a series of residues within a triple-stranded parallel beta-helix domain that governed the transition of a protein from a meta-stable trimeric precursor into it's final thermostable, detergent resistant form. We also studied other phage systems which included the culturing and sequencing two phages of the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus WH8109, member of a genus important in oceanic geochemical carbon and nitrogen cycles. In collaboration with the group of the extraordinary cryo-electron microscopist Wah Chiu and with the King group supplying highly purified and concentrated preparations of the phage P22, some of the earliest asymmetric reconstructions of a virus particle were achieved and the resulting electron density maps revealed the packing organization of DNA within viral capsids.

Department Of Biology

As an undergrad, I worked in the laboratory of Peter M. Snow, Ph.D. (now tragically deceased) studying the role of cell surface adhesion molecules during Drosophila neuronal development. After graduation, I was a technician in Prof. Robert Osuna's lab in the Dept. of Biology at SUNY Albany for a couple of years. During my tech days, I studied the global effects on protein expression in E. coli by the DNA bending protein Fis (factor for inversion stimulation) using 2D gels and N-terminal protein sequencing. I was responsible for keeping the glassware clean and the lab microbiological media stocked. I picked up some additional hours of work on the side prepping materials for local high school teachers sharing equipment to do a molecular biology unit out of Micklos and Freyer's "DNA Science" (CSH Press). I loved this time in my life as I learned a great appreciation for how labs work not just in terms of equipment, materials, and experiments but, more importantly, the human dimensions of this unique work environment. I knew then that I wanted to keep working in labs.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Molecular Biology

Activities and Societies: My second home was Little Cloud.A chance encounter with Bucky Fuller's "Cosmography" sparked a fascination.

Post-Doctoral Scholar, Biochemistry And Molecular Biology

Bachelor Of Science, Biology

Activities and Societies: Albany Student Press, University at Albany OrchestraI loved my undergraduate days. I was fortunate to have.