Biomolecular Engineering for Fun and Profit

Graduate SeminarBiomolecular Engineering for Fun
and ProfitDr. Huimin Zhao
Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering,
Chemistry, and Bioengineering,
Institute for Genomic Biology, and Center for Biophysics
and Computational Biology,
University of Illinois, Urbana ABSTRACTBiomolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins have been increasingly exploited for applications in medical, chemical, agricultural, and food industries. However, a major limitation in the applications of biomolecules is the existence of a functional gap between naturally occurring biomolecules and those required by specific practical settings. Thus, how to close this functional gap has become a première intellectual and engineering challenge. In this talk, I will discuss our recent work on the development of new biomolecular engineering tools and their applications. Specifically, I will discuss: (1) developing estrogen receptor based genetic switches for human gene therapy; (2) engineering a novel phosphite-dehydrogenase based NAD(P)H cofactor regeneration system, and (3) designing new biosynthetic pathways for synthesis of thermally stable energetic compounds. Thursday, February 23, 2006
Seminar at 12:45 p.m.
OHE 122
The Scientific Community is Cordially Invited

Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Petra Pearce