Zev Bryant
Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor, Bioengineering
- Assistant Professor (By courtesy), Structural Biology
- Member, Bio-X
Contact Information
- Academic
Offices
Personal Information Email Tel (650) 724-3090Administrative Contact Sarah Saya Administrative Associate Email Tel Work (650) 498-6370
Professional Snapshot
Honors and Awards
- Pew Scholars Award, Pew Charitable Trusts (2009)
- Director's New Innovator Award, NIH (2008)
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Helen Hay Whitney Foundation (2005)
- Alan Bearden Award, UC, Berkeley (2004)
- Harold M. Weintraub Award, FHCRC (2004)
Professional Education
| B.Sc.: | University of Washington, Biochemistry (1998) |
| Ph.D.: | UC, Berkeley, Molecular and Cell Biology (2003) |
Postdoctoral Advisees
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Web Site Links
Scientific Focus
Research Interests
Molecular motors lie at the heart of biological processes from DNA replication to vesicle transport. My laboratory seeks to understand the physical mechanisms by which these nanoscale machines convert chemical energy into mechanical work. We use single molecule tracking and manipulation techniques to observe and perturb substeps in the mechanochemical cycles of individual motors. Protein engineering helps us to explore relationships between molecular structures and mechanical functions. Broad topics of current interest include torque generation by DNA-associated ATPases and mechanical adaptations of unconventional myosins.
Publications
- Engineered myosin VI motors reveal minimal structural determinants of directionality and processivity. J Mol Biol. 2009; (4): 862-7
- The power stroke of myosin VI and the basis of reverse directionality. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; (3): 772-7
- Multiple modes of Escherichia coli DNA gyrase activity revealed by force and torque. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2007; (4): 264-71
- DNA overwinds when stretched. Nature. 2006; (7104): 836-9
- Mechanochemical analysis of DNA gyrase using rotor bead tracking. Nature. 2006; (7072): 100-4

