Dr. Susan Marqusee

Biography

Susan Marqusee is the Eveland Warren Endowed Chair and Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Department of Molecular Cell Biology and the College of Chemistry. Her research focuses on understanding the structural dynamics of proteins, emphasizing how the linear sequence of amino acids encodes complex three-dimensional shapes that carry out intricate cellular functions. Her work incorporates a range of biophysical, structural, and computational techniques to explore energy landscapes and protein folding mechanisms. She investigates the role of non-native states in determining protein function and how proteins interact within energy landscapes. Current projects in her lab involve innovative methodologies to examine protein energy landscapes, including hydrogen exchange methods to study intermediates in protein folding processes. Recent findings suggest that the structure of unfolded states can play a significant role in the thermostability of proteins. Marqusee also explores the mechanisms behind protein misfolding and its implications for diseases such as amyloid diseases, focusing on rational approaches for antiretroviral therapy targeting RNase H, an essential protein in the retroviral life cycle.

Research Interests

Experience