My group has two major research areas: (i) defining on a molecular level how interfaces modulate lipolytic enzyme activities, and how this can affect signal transduction pathways, and (ii) understanding stress responses in various cells and microorganisms, in particular the range, biosynthesis, and regulation of novel solutes in extremophiles. NMR spectroscopic techniques (with an emphasis on 31P for phospholipase assays and substrate characterization, indirect detection of 13C or 15N uptake and turnover in archaea and some mammalian cells, and of late, the novel method of high resolution NMR field cycling to monitor lipid dynamics and conformations) are the primary tools for these studies.

Representative Key Publications:

"Overexpression, Purification and Analysis of Complementation Behavior of E.coli SuhB Protein: Comparison with Bacterial and Archaeal Inositol Monophosphatases" Chen, L.; Roberts, M. F. Biochemistry 2000, 39, 4145.

"Osmoadaptation in Archaea," Martin, D. D.; Ciulla, R. A.; Roberts, M. F. Appl. & Environ. Microbiol. 1999, 65, 1815.

"The Role of Interfacial Binding in the Activation of Streptomyces chromofuscus Phospholipase D by Phosphatidic Acid" Stieglitz, K.; Seaton, B.; Roberts, M. F. J. Biol. Chem. 1999, 274, 35367.