vinokur@ucla.edu

" B.S. - University of Wisconsin - Madison, Biochemistry (2012)
" M.S. - University of California - Los Angeles, Biochemistry (2014)
" Ph.D. - University of California - Los Angeles, Biochemistry (In Prog)

Biofules Research. In 2013, we accidentally discovered a novel mevalonate pathway in archaea. Solving the crystal structure of one of these novel enzymes, mevalonate-3-kinase, showed it may be possible to mutate it to make biofuels. Such efforts are currently the focus of my work.

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2014 - 2017)
• UCLA NIH Chemistry Biology Interface Training Program (2013 - 2014)

When not in lab, I am usually doing science outreach. I go schools where I get kids excited and curious about science through fun chemistry demos. I also like to dance a hip hop style called Popping -- great stress relief.

o Vinokur JM, Korman TP, Sawaya MR, Collazo M, Cascio D, Bowie JU. (2014). Structural Analysis of Mevalonate-3-Kinase Provides Insight Into The Mechanisms of Isoprenoid Pathway Decarboxylases. Protein Science.

o Vinokur JM, Korman TP, Cao Z, Bowie JU. (2014). Evidence of a novel mevalonate pathway in archaea. Biochemistry, 53(25), 4161-8.

Site: www.DancingScientist.com

Jeff Vinokur, Graduate Student

Nick Woodall, Graduate Student

nwoodall@chem.ucla.edu

In the Bowie lab, I am studying the process of membrane protein folding. Towards this end, I have examined the transition-state structure of bacteriorhodopsin using phi-value analysis. I am currently working on the process on which EmrE obtains its dual-topology.

I graduated from Georgia Tech in 2010 and have never left the safe confines of school. Ever.

Hobbies: working in lab, slide guitar, hanging beers from oven doors in an attempt to open them, reading (aka "book clubbing"), The Venture Bros., useless discussion, camping, miscellaneous guilty pleasures, tossing ice buckets, laughing at puns, running, lists, programming in Java, java, backpacking, Tetris, extrapolation

Yu-Chu Chang, Postdoc

yuchuc@mbi.ucla.edu

• B.S. – Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
• Ph.D. – Biochemistry, Duke University, Durham NC

Research Interests:
• Folded and unfolded, twists and turns, in and out of membrane proteins.
• Develop new methods to study folding thermodynamics and kinetics of membrane proteins.

When in my free time, my recent hobby is running up and down, round and around with my two little boys.

Catherine Leettola , Graduate Student

cleettol@ucla.edu

In the Bowie lab I am studying the SAM domains of the proteins ANKS3, ANKS6 and BICC1. Biologically, these proteins are implicated in kidney development and function, as mutations in the SAM domains of these proteins track with cystic kidney diseases. Using a structural and biochemical approach, we have shown that these SAM domains are capable of heterotypic interactions with each other. We are currently investigating how these interactions may create a variety of protein scaffolds that are required for proper cellular function.

I completed my undergraduate degree at UCSD in 2006 in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. After graduating, I worked at eBioscience and BioLegend in San Diego for three years doing recombinant cytokine and chemokine purification and product development.

My hobbies include fishing, hiking, cooking, and country line dancing (yeehaw!)