Molecular basis of protein-ligand interactions.

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The long-term objective of this research program is to understand the fundamental molecular mechanisms that dictate the interactions between enzymes and their ligands. More specifically, our goal is to understand the biological functions of proteins in terms of their molecular interactions with specific ligands. We take a multidisciplinary approach with particular emphasis on biophysical approaches to decipher the kinetic pathways, structural modifications, and thermodynamics involved in various aspects of gene expression. We are focusing on distinct proteins from West Nile virus (WNV) involved in the expression of the viral genome as powerful models to understand the molecular determinants involved in their interactions with specific ligands. In the current research program, we are focusing on two different proteins from WNV and use them as powerful models to understand how proteins interact with ligands.