The Claxton Laboratory investigates the relationships between protein structure, dynamics, and function using advanced biochemical and biophysical approaches. Research in the lab focuses on nutrient transporters and membrane-integrated enzymes that are essential to glucose and lipid metabolism.
By combining molecular biology techniques with emerging machine learning tools, the lab aims to advance understanding of key metabolic proteins, including glucose-6-phosphatase and other members of the phosphatidic acid phosphatase type 2 (PAP2) superfamily. Through these studies, the Claxton Lab seeks to uncover fundamental mechanisms of metabolic regulation and identify potential therapeutic targets for metabolic disease.
Current research efforts center on three primary areas:
- G6PCs: Characterizing disease-associated variants through integrative structural analysis using AlphaFold2 and AlphaMissense, with a focus on its role in Glycogen Storage Disease Type1a.
- PAP2 lipid phosphatases:
- G6PT: Defining the mechanisms underlying glucose-6-phosphate transport and its function in metabolic pathways.
Tools of the trade:
- Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy
- Cryo-electron microscopy
- Genetic variant prediction