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Robert Edward Oswald

Professor

Graduate Fields

Research Focus

  • Structure and function of proteins involved in signal transduction, including two important membrane proteins (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and glutamate receptors) and an intracellular GTP binding protein (Cdc42Hs)
  • Neurotransmitter receptors in skeletal muscle, the peripheral nervous system, and the central nervous system; glutamate receptors are the primary excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the vertebrate central nervous system
  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors found in electroplaque/skeletal muscle and the central nervous system
  • Using specifically designed agonists and antagonists and site-directed mutagenesis of the protein to study the amino acids important for activation and ion flux
  • Molecular modeling of these glutamate receptors and the use of site-directed mutagenesis to help define the important regions of the binding interface
  • Characterization of this receptor will be of considerable importance to the understanding of epilepsy and neuronal death

  • GTP binding proteins, Cdc42Hs, and several of the proteins with which it interacts

  • Structure of proteins which regulate Cdc42Hs and the molecular characterization of the binding interfaces

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University

Research Grants

  • DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF A GLUTAMATE BINDING DOMAIN
  • INTERACTION OF THE GOLDFISH KAINATE RECEPTOR WITH G PROTEINS IN A NOVEL MODEL SYSTEM
  • STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND DYNAMICS OF A GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR
  • STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF PEPTIDES FOR MECHANOSENSITIVE CHANNELS
  • TRAINING IN MOLECULAR PHYSICS OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS