My research is in theoretical and computational biophysics, chemical biology, and physical chemistry. Our interdisciplinary research program utilizes and develops a range of novel and powerful techniques that spans fields from modern physical chemistry, biophysics, biophysical chemistry and soft condensed matter physics. The driving force in the advances of our research program is our close collaboration with experiments groups. A number of areas of current interest to us include (i) single molecule studies on the ribosome; (ii) polyelectrolyte behavior of DNA and RNA, (iii) dynamics of supercooled liquids and glasses, and (iv) stochastic process of rare conformation fluctuations and events in bio-macromolecules.

Representative Key Publications:

Guo, Z.; Gibson, M.; Sanyasi, S.; Chu, S.; Mohanty, U. "Role of Large Thermal Fluctuations and Magnesium Ions in t-RNA Selectivity of the Ribosome." Proc. Nat. Acad. USA. Early Edition 1-5, (Feb 21, 2011)

Haran, T.; Mohanty, U. "The Unique Structure of A-tracts and Intrinsic DNA
Bending." Q. Rev. Biophys. 42, 41-81 (2009).

Spasic, A.; Sanyasi, S.; Mohanty, U.; Chu, S. "Polyelectrolyte Behavior and
Kinetics of aa-tRNA on the Ribosome." J. Phys. Chem.B 125, 014505-014513
(2008).

Schultes, E.; Spasic, A.; Mohanty, U.; Bartel, D. "Collapse of Randomly
Generated RNA Sequences." Nature and Structural Biology 12, 1130-1136
(2005).