Structure-guided drug development for treatment of rifampin-resistant TB
X-ray crystallographic study of the mechanism of transcription
Cryo-EM to capture structures of macromoles in transcription process
X-ray crystal structure of RNA polymerase and DksA/ppGpp complex
Bacteriophage N4 RNA polymerase
Welcome to the Murakami Lab at Penn State University
Our research interests are centered on understanding the mechanism of gene expression by the enzyme RNA polymerase. We apply X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy techniques to reveal three-dimensional structures of bacterial, archaeal and bacteriophage RNA polymerases for elucidating the mechanism of RNA transcription and its regulation.
Open Positions (Postdoc, Graduate and Undergraduate students)
Latest news:
August 12, 2019: A paper reporting the structural basis of reiterative transcription is published in BioRxiv.
April 22, 2019: Yeonoh received 2019 Paul Berg Prize in Molecular Biology. Congratulations!!
Dec 15, 2018: Wenxi An graduated Penn State with an honor, Magna Cum Laude, for top 6% of her graduation class in the College of Science. Congratulations!
Sept 20, 2018: A paper reporting the mechanism of action of kanglemycin A, a naturally occurring antibiotic active against drug-resistant tuberculosis, is published in Molecular Cell. Congratulations Vadim and Yeonoh. More…
August 14, 2018: A review paper for introducing the structure and function of E. coli RNA polymerase is published in EcoSal Plus.
July 10, 2018: A paper reporting the crystal structures of the N4 phage RNA polymerase II is published in J. Biol. Chem.
March 28, 2018: A paper reporting the Cryo-EM structure of E. coli RNA polymerase open complex is published in J. Biol. Chem.
February 22, 2018: A paper reporting the crystal structure of E. coli RNA polymerase and DksA/ppGpp complex is published in Molecular Cell. Congratulations Vadim! More…
