Current Research
Using mass-spectrometry based proteomics to investigate viral life cycles
Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis can provide a global understanding of the proteins in a
complex mixture and can decipher differences in gene products not accessible at the genomic or
transcriptomic level, including post-translational modifications (PTMs). Through the application of mass
spectrometry to virally infected cells, information can be gained about how the virus modulates the host
proteome and how viral proteins change throughout the viral life cycle. Additionally, the Smith lab has
developed Hybridization-Purification of RNA-protein complexes followed by Mass Spectrometry (HyPRMS),
an RNA-centered approach to characterize RNA-protein complexes, which can be used to identify
proteins bound to viral genomes. Currently, I am investigating host proteins bound to an RNA
intermediate of the Hepatitis B genome impact viral capsid formation.