Rob Macgregor, Professor

Area of Research

Rob Macgregor focuses on studying the non-covalent forces that stabilize biological molecules such as proteins and DNA, specifically the role that water plays in stabilizing these structures. His lab uses hydrostatic pressure and a range of spectroscopic techniques to investigate how water interacts with the physical forces that lead to these structures.

Research Challenge

Proteins, DNA and other complex biological molecules depend on physical forces to create non-covalent bonds that allow them to fold and maintain stable structures. These forces and bonds that hold these structures together are still not understood, despite being the focus of research for many years.

Evidence suggests that the interaction between these biological molecules and water provides the energy to stabilize the molecular structure. Studying how water interacts with these biological molecules to create their structures will provide insight that may be useful in understanding biological regulation and the origin of some diseases and may help in the development of new drugs.

Proposed Solution

Macgregor and his team study DNA and DNA ligand structures, specifically the role that water plays in generating the forces that stabilize these structures. They use a range of standard spectroscopic techniques, including fluorescence and electrophoresis; however, his lab is one of the few in the world that uses hydrostatic pressure to investigate these biological molecules.

The Macgregor team also investigates the technological applications of hydrostatic pressure, including its use in sterilizing pharmaceuticals or medical devices.

Impact To Date

Macgregor is a leader in the field of using hydrostatic pressure to study biological structures. His group is one of the few in the world doing this type of research, and he publishes and speaks on the topic regularly. Macgregor has also supervised a number of graduate students and post-graduate fellows who have gone on to work in academia and industry.

Publications

PubMed

Keywords: novel DNA structures, DNA, protein folding, gene regulation, drug interactions, non-covalent interactions, macromolecular complexes, sterilization