David L. Bain, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Molecular Biophysics,
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mailing address:
4200 E. 9th Ave, C238
Denver, CO 80262
Telephone:
Voice: 303-315-1416
Lab: 303-315-1226
Fax: 303-315-0274
E-Mail: David.Bain@uchsc.edu
Affiliations:
Pharmaceutical Sciences Program
Biomolecular Structure Program
Reproductive Sciences Program
Medical Scientist Training Program
Biomedical Sciences Program
Training and Education:
BA, University of Vermont
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Research Interests:
The long-term goal of our research is to determine the molecular mechanisms responsible for higher eukaryotic gene regulation. We are specifically interested in quantitatively relating the physical and chemical principles that account for protein interactions at a promoter with the biological phenomenon of transcriptional activation. Our approach to solving this problem is to couple an experimental dissection of the microscopic energetic interactions (e.g. protein-protein, protein-ligand, protein-DNA) with a computational synthesis of the overall macroscopic behavior. We use tools such as analytical ultracentrifugation and quantitative footprinting to study the various macromolecular interactions. Statistical thermodynamics is used to model and fit the data.
We are analyzing the human progesterone receptor (PR) and its interactions at PR-regulated promoters as a model system. PR is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors. The receptor exists naturally as two functionally distinct isoforms, PR-A and PR-B. The two isoforms are identical except for an additional 164 amino acids at the N-terminus of the B-receptor. Both isoforms contain a centrally located DNA-binding domain (DBD) and a C-terminal hormone binding domain (HBD). Transcriptional activation functions are located N-terminal to the DBD (AF-1) and within the HBD (AF-2). Residues unique to the B-isoform contain a context-dependent activation function, AF-3. The presence of the B-unique sequence (BUS) causes the two isoforms to maintain a number of distinct functional properties including differential transcriptional activation, differential activation by ligands, regulation of different subsets of genes, and tissue-specific functional roles. The molecular origins of these differences are largely unknown. In order to quantitatively describe and predict PR function, we ask: What are the accessible states of the system (structural states, energetic states, functional states) and, What are the rules of transition that connect the states? We then attempt to integrate these results into mathematical models receptor of function.
Teaching:
Professional Program:
PHRD 3610 - Science Foundations II
PHRD 2500 - Instructional Methods II
Graduate Program:
PHSC 7350 - Protein Chemistry I
PHSC 7354 - Spectroscopic Analysis of Biomolecules
IDPT 7801 - Macromolecular Structure and Biophysical Chemistry
Representative Publications:
Connaghan-Jones KD, Heneghan, AF, Miura, MT, and Bain, DL (2007) “Thermodynamic Analysis of Progesterone Receptor-Promoter Interactions Reveals a Molecular Model for Isoform-Specific Function”. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 104, 2187-2192.
Bain, DL, Heneghan, AF, Connaghan-Jones, KD, and Miura, MT (2007) “Nuclear Receptor Structure: Implications for Function.”.Annual Reviews of Physiology, 69, 201-220.
Connaghan-Jones, KD, Heneghan, AF, Miura, MT, and Bain, DL (2006) “Hydrodynamic Analysis of the Human Progesterone Receptor A-Isoform Reveals that Self-Association Occurs in the Micromolar Range.” Biochemistry, 45, 12090-12099.
Heneghan, AF, Connaghan-Jones, K, Miura, M and Bain DL (2006) “Cooperative DNA Binding by the B-Isoform of Human Progesterone Receptor: Thermodynamic Analysis Reveals Strongly Favorable and Unfavorable Contributions to Assembly.” Biochemistry, 45, 3285-3296.
Heneghan, AF, Berton, N, Miura, MT and Bain, DL (2005) “Self-Association Energetics of an Intact, Full-Length Nuclear Receptor: The B-Isoform of Human Progesterone Receptor Dimerizes in the Micromolar Range”. Biochemistry, 44, 9528-9537.
Keywords: Biophysical chemistry of protein-DNA interactions
Curriculum Vitae
Recent Publications
Last updated: 7/18/07