Donald M. Engelman began his science as an undergraduate in Physics, followed by a Ph.D. and postdoctoral work in Biophysics. He took an early interest in membranes, discovering the nature of the membrane lipid phase transition and proving that bilayer structure exists in membranes. Studies of pure lipid systems showed that phases coexist, and ideas of protein structure and folding principles were proposed and tested over years that included key interactions with J-L Popot.
In the course of his folding studies, the pHLIP peptide was discovered: a peptide, derived from Bacteriorhodopsin, that is soluble in water, binds in an unfolded form at membrane surfaces at neutral pH, and folds across the membrane as a helix when the pH is lowered. The properties of the peptide allow new studies of peptide insertion across bilayers. Current work is focused on the uses of pHLIP in targeting tumors, which are acidic, for imaging and drug delivery.
Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale
P.O. Box 208114
New Haven, CT 06520-8114
USA
Lab Web page:http://www.yale.edu/engelman/index.html