Duin Laboratory

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
 

Welcome to my home page.

Do you like metalloenzymes? Keep on reading. The research in my group concentrates on a nickel-containing enzyme involved in methane production and/or methane activation, and iron-sulfur-cluster-containing enzymes involved in isoprene synthesis.

In addition we have several collaborative projects. Together with the group of Dan Lessner we study nitrogenases from methanogens. With the group of Divya Prakash we study the mechanism of electron bifurcation in the HdrA subunit of the heterodisulfide reductase complex. Together with Kylie Allen we study several iron-sulfur-cluster- containing enzymes from methanogens. With the group of Nico DiLorenzo we work on methane mitigation in cows.

Our research includes the growth of cells, protein overexpression, protein purification and characterization. The characterization is done with different spectroscopic techniques. The standard method in my lab is Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. We recently also started with docking studies and molecular modeling.

A set of manuals is available for students who want to use the EPR technique or learn more about it.

Email: duinedu@auburn.edu