Duke University · GeneticsOlfactory Receptor Research Lab
Hiroaki Matsunami · Durham, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Hiroaki Matsunami's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding how olfactory receptors (ORs) work, particularly in recognizing different smells. They aim to enhance the expression of these receptors to study their structure and interactions with odorants, which can have implications in various physiological processes. The research utilizes a blend of experimental techniques and computational modeling to explore how ORs function and interact with small molecules, potentially leading to new discoveries in the field of olfaction.
olfactory receptorsG protein-coupled receptorsligand bindingstructural biologycryoelectron microscopybiochemical studiesmachine learningodorant recognitionprotein engineering
Research Aims
4AIM 01Engineer mutant olfactory receptors for enhanced expression in vitro.
AIM 02Map ligand binding sites on olfactory receptors to identify new high-affinity ligands.
AIM 03Develop methods to determine structures of active olfactory receptors bound to odorants using cryo-EM.
AIM 04Combine computational methods and experimental assays to study olfactory receptor function.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturebiochemical assayscryoelectron microscopystructural modelingligand dockingmolecular cloningprotein purificationsite-directed mutagenesismachine learning techniques
Output against the department
Publications236top 36% of dept.92nd of 259
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations15ktop 39% of dept.100th of 259
this lab
most citedleast cited
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