Picture courtesy of
Dr. Edward Arnold (Rutgers University)

Center for Molecular Biophysics
& Biophysical Chemistry
Rutgers University
610 Taylor Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854

Phone: 732/445-6376

Fax: 732/445-1493

Kenneth J. Breslauer
Linus C. Pauling Professor of Chemistry, Rutgers University
(732) 445-3956
Wright-Rieman Laboratories, Room 155

The research conducted in my laboratory combines biophysical and bioorganic techniques to investigate three interrelated programs of research. One program focuses on characterizing the structure and conformational flexibility of DNA molecules as a function of base sequence and solution conditions. The goal of this program is to develop a phase diagram for DNA which will allow the most stable DNA conformation to be predicted under a given set of solution conditions. The second program focuses on developing a molecular understanding of the affinity and specificity exhibited by DNA binding ligands. To this end, the DNA binding of a series of structurally related ligands is probed and characterized. This approach allows correlations to be established between specific structural features of a ligand and its DNA binding affinity and specificity. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a rational basis for drug design. Experimental techniques employed in both of these research efforts include calorimetry (differential scanning, titration, and batch), absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, NMR, and various forms of chromatography.

The third program focuses on developing thermodynamic characterizations of the impact of mutagenic lesions and repair intermediates on DNA structure. Cross-correlations are sought between the biophysical properties of lesion-containing duplexes and the mechanisms of recognition, repair, and /or mutagenesis. To date, this program has revealed that lesions can induce significant energetic perturbations, even when lesion-induced structural alterations are absent. This observation has led to the concept of "energetic recognition" as a viable adjunct to structural recognition for developing mechanisms that help explain the specificity of repair processes and the origins of mutagenesis.