Theoretical Chemistry, Biophysics, Chromatin Folding, Cell Motility, Signal Transduction, Protein Dynamics
NSF CAREER Award (2009); Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar (2008); Beckman Young Investigator (2007-2010); Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award, 2004-2009; NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Diego (2001-2004); Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, (1999-2000); Ph.D., Cornell University (1999); Wentink Prize to Outstanding Graduate Students, Cornell University, (1999); Wachter Memorial Award for Outstanding Research in Physical Chemistry, Cornell University (1997/1998); Equivalent B.S., Russian Academy of Sciences, Higher Chemical College (1994); Mendeleev Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research in Russia (1992); Young Scientist Research Award in the Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia (1992); High School Diploma, School of Physics and Mathematics, Armenia, USSR (1990)
Students and postdocs in the Papoian group use theoretical physical chemistry techniques, including advanced computational methods, to study biological processes at multiple scales, from single protein functional dynamics and chromatin folding and stability to cell-level processes, such as stochastic signal transduction and regulation of cell motility. Group members are exposed to diverse areas of equilibrium and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, polymer physics, computational protein modeling and bioinformatics. Two on-going projects are briefly outlined below.
The Papoian group develops detailed computational models of the way eukaryotic cells move around and sense their environment. Cell motility plays a key role in human biology and disease, contributing ubiquitously to such important processes as embryonic development, wound repair and cancer metastasis. The physical chemistry behind these complex, far-from-equilibrium mechano-chemical processes is poorly understood. The group's research aims to elucidate the mechanism and dynamics of the self-assembly of actin-filament networks and bundles, which in turn drive a cell's leading edge, allowing it to project long, finger-like protrusions to probe for attractant and repellant cues in the cell exterior. Group members collaborate with UNC biologists to experimentally verify computational model predictions and suggest new classes of experiments. Successful completion of this research will allow for better rational control of biochemical reaction circuits that regulate eukaryotic cell motility.
Papoian's lab also aims to understand the way DNA is packaged in the nuclei of higher organisms. The total length of DNA in each eukaryotic cell can reach 2 m, however, it must be housed in a micrometer size cell. This staggering six orders of magnitude compaction is achieved by wrapping DNA around protein octamers called histones, to form nucleosomes. The latter in turn fold into a superstructure called the 30-nm fiber, which then further folds into higher order chromatin structures. The exact mechanisms of chromatin formation and dynamics are not fully understood, but misregulation of chromatin may result in human genetic diseases. Papoian's lab develops physico-chemical computational models to study the chromatin folding and dynamics.