Duin Laboratory

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
 

Welcome to my home page.

Do you like metalloenzymes? Keep on reading. The research in my group concentrates on a nickel-containing enzyme involved in methane production and/or methane activation, and iron-sulfur-cluster-containing enzymes involved in isoprene synthesis.

In addition we have several collaborative projects. Together with the group of Dan Lessner we study the role of iron-sulfur clusters in the evolution of the enzymatic synthesis of RNA. With the group of David Grahame we study the role of the Ni-Fe A Cluster in Acetyl-CoA synthase. With the group of John Leigh we study the mechanism of electron bifurcation in methanogenic Archaea.

Our research includes the growth of cells, protein overexpression, protein purification and characterization. The characterization is done with different spectroscopic techniques. The standard method in my lab is Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.

A set of manuals is available for students who want to use this technique or learn more about it.

Email: duinedu@auburn.edu