The Kodadek laboratory works in the general field of chemical biology. Our research encompasses two broad areas: 1) the enzymology and regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, and 2) proteomics. All of the ongoing projects employ a wide array of techniques, including molecular biology, protein biochemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry and many biophysical techniques.

Research in the transcription area focuses on novel roles of the proteasome in gene expression. We have discovered that the proteasome and its sub-complexes play a variety of both proteolytic and non-proteolytic roles in RNA polymerase II-mediated gene expression, including: 1) stimulating promoter escape and elongation, 2) regulating the lifetime of transcription factor-promoter interactions and 3) resolving stalled RNA polymerase-template complexes. The mechanistic underpinnings of all of these events and their impact on the regulation of gene expression are under investigation.

Our proteomics efforts are directed towards the development of new chemical techniques to monitor and manipulate protein activities and interactions. Specific projects include: 1) the development of protein-detecting microarrays based on synthetic peptides and peptoids, 2) new protein cross-linking and analysis methods for the elucidation of protein-protein interactions in complexes, 3) development of cell-based assays for the identification of neuroactive compounds, particularly species that recognize receptors important in sleep homeostasis.