Ninian J. Blackburn, professor, Institute of Environmental Health, Oregon Health & Sciences University, will present the seminar “Tracking Metal Ion Flux Through a Bacterial Exporter: X-ray Absorption, Fluorescence and Rapid Freeze Quench Kinetic Approaches to Mechanism”

Dr. Blackburn has studied the structure and function of copper containing proteins and enzymes since 1977. Much of this work has involved applying advanced spectroscopic tools to understand metal site structure and reactivity and the activation of oxygen at metal centers. More recently he has applied these techniques to the mechanisms of cellular metal transport with particular reference to the chemical mechanism of metal exchange between donor and acceptor proteins. Using X-ray spectroscopy coupled to advanced kinetic techniques, his lab is determining the molecular mechanisms of metal exchange and metal export used by pathogens to evade host defenses, with the long term goal of discovering new approaches for treating drug resistant infections.