Nicholas Noinaj
Nicholas Noinaj
Associate Professor
AFFILIATIONS: Biological Sciences
OFFICE: HOCK 333
LAB: HOCK 389
PHONE: 765-496-0061
EMAIL: nnoinaj@purdue.edu
Research
My research interests are in understanding how pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria are able to use virulence factors found on their surface to mediate infection. These virulence factors are found in the outer membrane and belong to a class of surface proteins commonly referred to as outer membrane proteins (OMPs). In particular, my lab investigates the multi-component complex called BAM, which is responsible for the biogenesis of all OMPs, in hopes of understanding how it is able to fold and insert OMPs into the outer membrane. Additionally, we study the TOC complex, the import machinery found in plastid containing organisms such as those causing malaria. We use a combination of techniques to accomplish our goals including X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy (negative-stain and cryo), crosslinking, and various functional assays. Our ultimate goal is to use the information from the structural and functional characterization as a starting point for drug discovery and development targeting these pathogens.
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