Tae-Hee Lee
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry and the Huck Institute of the Life Sciences
Research Interests
Single molecule spectroscopic/microscopic method development and applications to enzymology with an emphasis on the role of dynamics in enzyme functions. Methods of interest include single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer, precise localization of macromolecules by fluorescence and light scattering, single photon correlation spectroscopy, and optical trapping. Enzymes of interest include the ribosome and tRNA synthetases.
Single molecule biophysics for enzymology
Single molecule spectroscopy/microscopy
provides ways to monitor sub-population dynamics, thereby yielding valuable information
complementing ensemble measurements. High sensitivity imaging devices and several
innovative signal processing techniques have boosted popularity of single
molecule methods in many fields of science and engineering. A few recent
additions of single molecule methods to the field of biophysics include single
molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer, nanometer (co)localization of
single fluorophores, rotational and translational motion tracking of single
particles, and single molecule manipulation with optical or magnetic tweezers.
Studying dynamics of molecules is essential to understand mechanisms of many important enzymatic catalyses. Studying dynamics of asynchronously moving molecules through a multi-step enzymatic reaction requires capability of monitoring sub-population dynamics which can be efficiently achieved with various single molecule methods. My research program focuses on the dynamics of molecules involved in several slow and complex enzymatic processes to understand what roles dynamics of molecules play in the processes – e.g. what are the implications of specific shapes and sizes of an enzyme and a substrate in an enzymatic process. Enzymatic processes of interest include i) translation by the ribosome, ii) non-homologous end-joining of double strand DNA breakage, and iii) tRNA charging by tRNA synthetase. Various single molecule imaging techniques and optical tweezers are utilized to probe and control the dynamics of the molecules involved in the proposed systems. My research program is very much interdisciplinary across physical chemistry, physics, biochemistry, molecular/structural/cellular biology, and nanoscale science/engineering. The goal is to provide i) novel insights into the link between the mechanisms of complex cellular machineries and the fundamental laws of dynamics, and ii) efficient single molecule methods to study and control complex enzymatic reactions.
Positions Available
Biophysics post-doc position openings
Biology laboratory technician position opening
I am currently looking for post-doctoral researchers and a laboratory technician. Individuals trained in biological sciences or experimental physical chemistry are strongly encouraged to apply. Enthusiastic scientists trained in other disciplines searching for career opportunities in single molecule biophysics are also welcome to apply. Potential roles in the lab include routine work in cellular/molecular biology, application and/or development of spectroscopic/microscopic techniques to the above described problems.
If interested, please send your CV, including references, to thlee@psu.edu.
