Muir Lab
Principal Investigator: Tom Muir
Institution: Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
SUMMARY: Chemistry-driven strategies that allow proteins to be manipulated in ways not permitted by standard genetics are now indispensable tools in both basic and applied aspects of biomedical science. Of the various platform technologies in common use, those that rely on manipulation of intein-mediated protein splicing have proven especially powerful owing to compatibility with both in vitro and in vivo applications. In work performed during the current and prior funding periods, we have developed a series of broadly useful intein-based methods for manipulating protein structure. Most recently, we have focused on the characterization and subsequent engineering of so-called split inteins, fractured proteins that support protein trans-splicing only upon complexation. Our work with these ‘protein ligases’ has led to three major breakthroughs that will be the focus of future studies. In the first of these, we will exploit and extend a new technology that we refer to as ‘Protein Transposition’. This allows a designated internal region of a folded recipient protein or protein complex to be replaced by a synthetic donor cassette in a single coordinated process. This represents a concept…
Active NIH Awards
- 1R35GM163546-01: Chemistry Driven Tools for Studying Protein Function (2026)
- 5R01GM086868-28: Structure, Function and Applications of Inteins (2025)
- 5R01GM086868-27: Structure, Function and Applications of Inteins (2024)
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