Lyman Group
Molecular Biophysics and Membrane Biochemistry
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Delaware
How do the peculiar material properties of the cell membrane emerge from the interactions between lipids and proteins? How does the cell exploit these properties to perform the physical chemistry of life? How, when, and why did different organisms evolve their particular complement of lipids? We address these questions by molecular simulation informed by theory, and through close collaboration with experimental colleagues. Our efforts focus on both methods development and the application of existing methods and advanced hardware to outstanding problems. Please follow the links to specific research projects to learn more.
NIH MIRA awarded
Our incredible run of good fortune continues. We have just been awarded five years of funding to continue our work on lipid protein interactions. We have lots of exciting angles to pursue and are looking for two post-docs: Simulations of membrane proteins in asymmetric models of the plasma membrane, ML methods for membrane protein simulations and classification, and rampant speculation about the role of sterols and hopanoids on membrane structure/function.
Ed wins the Thomas E Thompson award!
I am full of gratitude after winning this year's TET award from the Membrane Structure and Function subgroup of the Biophysical Society. The MSF subgroup has been my home within BPS for many years, and it means the world to have the people who know our work best decide to honor my group in this way.
Ctenophore project funded through NSF IntBio!
Together with coPI's Itay Budin (UCSD) and Steve Haddock (MBARI) we have won an NSF award to study how ctenophores (aka "comb jellies") adapt to the pressure of the deep ocean by modifying their lipidomes.
Alison's paper accepted to Biophys J
Using a method she developed to sample the lipid solvation environment of our favorite GPCR, Alison has demonstrated a thermodynamic mechanism for lipid-dependent function. Preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.20.259077v1
Congrats to Alison on her fellowship!
Alison has just won a prestigious F32 post-doctoral fellowship from the NIH!! Major victory for her and for the group!
Congrats to Mitch and Swapnil!
Mitchell Dorrell and Swapnil Baral successfully defended their dissertations, exactly one week apart! The group took the opportunity to celebrate at Elk Neck State Park, a much needed escape from the shut-in life.
Lewen's paper accepted to Biochemistry
The A2A adenosine receptor (our favorite GPCR) prefers to be solvated by unsaturated chains, and yet binds a few cholesterols tightly — but only in the active state. Read all about it here
Lyman group welcomes Alison Leonard as post doc!
Alison joins us after just finishing her PhD in Biophysics at UMD, co-advised by Jeff Klauda and Rich Pastor. Welcome Alison!
Congrats to JD on his successful thesis defense!
We say farewell to JD Russo, an integral and important group member, who will join the group of Dan Zuckerman at OHSU in the Biomedical Engineering Program. Sorry to see you go my friend, keep in touch!
Congrats to Eric and Alexis on their travel awards!
Eric has been awarded a travel grant from UD's office of Undergraduate Research, and Alexis has been awarded a travel grant from DE Space Grant to attend the 61st annual meeting of the Biophysical Society in New Orleans!
Our sphingomylin simulations grace the cover of BJ!
Our recent simulations of ternary simulations containing palmitoyl sphingomyelin are featured on the cover of the September 1 issue of the biophysical Journal doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2015.07.036. The work is also highlighted in a "New and Notable" perspective written by Jerry Feigenson http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2015.07.037
