RSS 2009 Workshop
Monday, June 29th, 2009

David Baker
Professor of Biochemistry
Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering
Adjunct Professor of Genome Sciences
University of Washington

Investigator, HHMI

The Baker Laboratory

Title

From prediction of structure to design of function

Abstract

I will first describe recent progress in high resolution macromolecular structure prediction, and show that models with atomic level accuracy can now be routinely generated using Rosetta with the incorporation of even limited experimental data to guide the conformational search. I will then describe the computer based design of proteins with novel functions, in particular enzyme catalysts for reactions not catalyzed by naturally occurring enzymes. I will close by describing our efforts to channel the energy and brainpower of lay people around the world into protein science through foldit, a multiplayer online computer game.

Bio

David Baker is Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Washington and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He received his Ph.D. degree in biochemistry with Randy Schekman at the University of California, Berkeley and did postdoctoral work in biophysics with David Agard at UCSF. His research group is focused on the prediction and design of macromolecular structures, interactions and functions. Dr. Baker received young investigator awards from the National Science Foundation and the Beckman Foundation, and the Packard Foundation fellowship in Science and Engineering. He has also received the Irving Sigal Young Investigator award from the Protein Society and the Overton Prize from the International Society of Computational Biology. He is a recipient of the Feynman Prize from the Foresight Institute, the AAAS Newcomb_Cleveland prize, and the Sackler prize in biophysics. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Sciences.

Relevant Papers

Publications can be found at: Baker Lab Publications

Slides

From prediction of structure to design of function (ppt) (pdf)