Ross E. Dalbey
E-mail: dalbey@chemistry.ohio-state.edu
Phone: (614) 292-2384

Membrane Protein Assembly, Proteases, Biophysics

Our research program focuses on protein secretion and membrane assembly. In this broad area, we have concentrated our efforts on specific topics and experimental approaches. These include membrane bioenergetics, membrane protein structure, membrane and lipid biochemistry, genetics and recombinant DNA, and enzymology.

Our lab’s central interest is the determination of how proteins are transported and inserted into membranes to obtain their membrane topology. Strikingly, we have evidence that it’s the positively charged residues that surround a hydrophobic region that determine its orientation and therefore can dictate its role in membrane assembly. The ultimate goal is to synthesize complex membrane proteins with specific transmembrane orientations that can still carry out their biologic function within the cell.

We are employing biochemical approaches to begin purifying proteins that catalyze the membrane assembly of proteins. We have identified a novel component of the translocation machinery, YidC, that specializes in the integration of membrane proteins. The general relevance of this finding is underscored by the homology of YidC to the mitochondrial Oxa1p, which functions in a novel pathway for the insertion of inner membrane proteins from the matrix compartment. The goal now is to determine the function of YidC, to identify other components of the YidC machinery and to reconstitute the protein into lipid vesicles.

Another serious interest here is the enzymology of signal peptidase which, we have shown, is a novel protease that utilizes a serine/lysine catalytic dyad. Recently we have been successful at solving the structure of the catalytic domain of signal peptidase. The objective now is to elucidate its novel catalytic mechanism and to use the structure as a template for rational design of potential antibacterial drugs.

Biosketch:

 Dr. Dalbey received his B.S. degree in chemistry from University of Washington in 1978 and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Washington State University in 1983. That same year he joined the laboratory of Professor William Wickner at UCLA as a NIH postdoctoral fellow. Then he moved from the West coast to the Midwest to become a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University in 1987. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1999.

Professor Dalbey won a Junior Faculty Award (1989-1992) from the American Cancer Society. In 1996, he was a visiting professor at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland working with Professor Horst Vogel. Dr. Dalbey is a member of the American Chemical Society, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Sigma Xi, American Society of Microbiology, and the honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He is also a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Recently Dr. Dalbey was elected as a Fellow of the AAAS and the American Academy of Microbiology.