Craig W Vander Kooi, Ph.D.
Professor; Assoc. Coordinator BMS/BMB PhD Program
About Craig W Vander Kooi
The Vander Kooi lab focuses on determining the mechanism of physical interactions underlying human disease and fundamental biological processes at an atomic level. The laboratory utilizes complimentary structural tools with biochemical, cellular, and animal model systems to define the basis for protein function in physiological and pathological context.
Through my training, I developed a profound appreciation for the power of structural biology to provide deep biological insight on an atomic level. As a graduate student with Dr. Walter Chazin, I learned to use NMR and biochemical tools to describe the structure and interaction of proteins and developed a keen appreciation for the power of structural biology to provide deep biological insight on an atomic level. As a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Daniel Leahy, I developed expertise in X-ray crystallography and biophysical tools to study receptor function, and developed a deep interest in understanding the basis for receptor cascades in key biological signaling pathways associated with disease. Through my training, I developed a profound appreciation for the power of structural biology to provide deep biological insight on an atomic level.
At the University of Kentucky and now the University of Florida, we have significantly contributed to the fields understanding of molecular interactions involving kinase/phosphatase signaling, particularly those involving carbohydrates, and receptor signaling cascades.
Current projects in the laboratory focus on: 1) Using the tools of structural biology to describe the mechanism of glucan kinases/phosphatases and engineer their function, in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Gentry. 2) Understanding the molecular basis of hearing loss associated with mutations in GIPC3, in collaboration with Dr. Gregory Frolenkov. 3) Utilizing molecular insights to inform ongoing efforts to develop effective therapeutics in Lafora Disease, in collaboration with Drs. Ramon Sun and Matthew Gentry.
Teaching Profile
Research Profile
0000-0002-7463-3914
Publications
Grants
Contact Details
- Business:
- (352) 294-8386
- Business:
- craig.vanderkooi@ufl.edu
- Business Mailing:
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PO Box 100245
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gainesville FL 32610 - Business Street:
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ARB R3-216
1200 Newell Drive
GAINESVILLE FL 32610