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Robert E. Webster is a Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at Duke University. His research focuses on the assembly and function of macromolecular structures associated with membranes. Currently, his laboratory studies the Tol protein complex, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the outer membrane in bacteria. This complex, encoded by the tol QRAB gene, is essential for the entry of certain bacterial toxins, such as colicins and specific filamentous bacteriophages. Webster's investigations aim to elucidate the mechanisms of protein synthesis and translocation across membranes, particularly how these proteins assemble within the complex and contribute to membrane integrity. His work also explores the roles of phage-encoded inner membrane assembly proteins in facilitating the assembly of capsid proteins and DNA, thereby helping to enhance the understanding of fundamental principles underlying membrane-associated macromolecular assembly.
Department of Biomedical Engineering (MS program)