Our laboratory is interested in how genes are turned off or on since such regulation is altered in cancer cells. Our goal is to determine how gene regulation complexes work using both biochemical and structural biology approaches. A focus of the lab is to determine the three-dimensional structure of epigenetic and chromatin complexes by cryoelectron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. Current undergraduate projects include (a) coexpression of protein complexes in E. coli and insect cells, (b) characterizing chromatin enzymes through chromatin enzyme activity and nucleosome binding assays, and (c) producing reagents to help the global science community perform molecular biology experiments.
Recent undergraduate driven projects to help global science include our DNA ladder and protein ladder projects to provide simple and inexpensive sources of DNA and protein molecular weight gel electrophoresis markers to the molecular biology community.
Undergraduates who work in our lab gain valuable experience using cutting-edge technologies to study important biomedical problems. Our philosophy is to encourage undergraduates to learn new techniques while developing critical thinking and troubleshooting skills.
No previous experience is required. Undergraduate researchers will be trained to perform molecular biology experiments in a research laboratory. Most undergraduates work for 6-10 hours a week.
1. Please apply through the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology BMB 496: Independent Studies application process
2. Students can also contact Dr. Tan by email at sxt30@psu.edu