We are a molecular biophysics group striving to exploit collective
methods of physics to address biological questions of broad
scientific interests and of significant bearings on human
health. Advanced x-ray and neutron scattering and spectroscopic
approaches will spearhead our experimental efforts; physical and
chemical theories will be put to stringent tests to uncover the
fundamental principles; close collaborations with biologists and
theorists will inspire new ideas and keep us educated; special
emphasis will be directed towards therapeutic guidance and
invention. Our previous research has used quantitative biological
scattering techniques and physical theories to good effect: we
have first quantified the electrostatic forces between free DNA
strands, first proved non-specific divalent cation induced
inter-DNA attraction, and analyzed the energetics of the
first-order DNA condensation.
It has been intellectually exciting and challenging to
conduct research at the interface of physics and biology. The
daunting complexity of life represents a miraculous success of
intricate interplays between multitudes of physical and chemical
interactions, such as electrostatic, hydrophobic, and entropic
forces. Riding breathtaking advances in molecular biology,
wielding tools of unprecedented sophistication, drawing on
knowledge across disciplines, biological physics thrives on
quantitative measurements and theoretical understandings of the
multitudinous biological processes integral to human health.
However, we shall bear in mind that, we are facing an enormously
complex system spanning multiscales of structure, energy, and
time; collective and persistent efforts from ALL of us are
prerequisite to demystifying the living world.
Our current research interest is to apply experimental techniques
of physics to study the structure, function, and dynamics of
biological molecules. DNA, RNA, and protein comprise the central
dogma of biology. They can nevertheless all be uniquely described
by one-dimensional (1D) chains of either nucleic acids or amino
acids. However, their ``native'' configurations are not
linear. For example, DNA is tightly folded together in the cell
nucleus to achieve ~10,000-fold compaction; RNA or protein must
first fold into its specific 3D conformation before taking its
structural or catalytic role. Particularly, mis-folding of
proteins can be detrimental to life, such as the Alzheimer's
disease and the infamous Prion diseases. Thus, understanding the
physical forces determining the ``native'' 3D molecular structures
is of fundamental scientific importance and contributes to
humanity well-being. Our current projects include:
Biophysics of nucleic acids
Physical virology
Structure and dynamics of biomolecules in solution