Our research is focused on the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. We use single molecule techniques such as the tethered particle motion technique (TPM), magnetic tweezers (MT), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and single molecule fluorescence together with more traditional biochemical and biomolecular techniques. We develop instrumentation and computational analyses as needed to carry out our investigations. Our research interests span loop-based genetic switches, transcription roadblocks, the interplay between transcription and DNA supercoiling, topoisomerases and DNA mechanics.

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Interesting Links:
An inclusive view of Biophysics: the first decadal report on Biological Physics/Biophysics
Physics Equity and Inclusion: https://physics.emory.edu/home/about/equity-and-inclusion.html
Women in Science at Emory: https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/wise/

Feb, 2024 - We are going to the Biophysical Society meeting, Philadelphia, PA!
Laura will present “Macromolecular crowders: influencers of DNA structure and topology”, The Fluid versus Gel Nature of the Genome Symposium.
Jin will present a poster “Reciprocating RNAP batters through roadblocks”, February 12, 2024.
David will present a selected oral presentation “preferred states in single DNA molecules in crowded solutions”, Platform “DNA Structure and Dynamics”, February 14, 2024.
Come see us!!!

Feb, 2024 - Jin and Wesley presented their work at the Biophysics seminar series, College of Science, Clemson University.

August, 2023 - Jin gave a talk about his work "Reciprocating RNAP Batters through Roadblocks" at 2023 IPOLS conference.

May, 2023 - We have open postdoc positions. Check here.

Mar 31, 2023 - Allison receives Highest Honors for her thesis! Congratulations, Allison!

Mar 31, 2023 - Ayanna was selected to give a talk about her PhD work at the Annual Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education at Yale University!

Mar 20, 2023 - Jin receives Excellence in Graduate Research Award 2023!

Feb 20, 2023 - Jin presented our study on repetitive transcription at Biophysical Society Meeting (Platform-734) in San Diego.

Jan 21, 2023 - Laura talks at CUWiP in Auburn.

Jan 6, 2023 - David and Laura presented our work at the Single Molecule Biophysics conference at the Center for Physics in Aspen.

Sep 20, 2022 - Jin's manuscript "A Thermodynamic Model of Bacterial Transcription" is accepted by PRE

Jul 12, 2022 - Laura gave a lecture at the International School of physics "Enrico Fermi".

June, 2022 - The Anerican Institute of Physics Society of Physics Students selected Allison to go to the Physics Congress in Washington DC (Oct 6-8).

June, 2022 - Allison Cartee receives a summer fellowship from the American Society of Physicists in Medicine to join Dr. Sgouros' research group at Johns Hopkins.

Apr 20, 2022 - Laura gave a talk in The Living Histories series!

Apr 1, 2022 - Anna successfully defended her thesis and received high honors!

Mar 2, 2022 - Yue presented a talk "Proteins mediating different DNA topologies block RNAP elongation with different efficiency" at BPS! Laura, David and Jin also presented three posters at BPS!

Feb 17, 2022 - Wenxuan & Yan's paper on "Positive supercoiling favors transcription elongation through lac repressor-mediated DNA loops" has been published by Nucleic Acids Research. DOI: 10.1063/10.0006622

Dec 03, 2021 - Wenxuan successfully defended her PhD dissertation and is now Dr. Xu! Congratulation, Wenxuan!

Oct 20, 2021 - Our review on "Single-molecule insights into torsion and roadblocks in bacterial transcript elongation" has been published on journal "transcription", check that out!

Oct 19, 2021 - Our article in the Journal of Applied Physics was featured in SciLight!!! DOI: 10.1063/10.0006622

Oct 18, 2021 - Allison Published an article "A Physical Perspective on Molecular Biology" on Science News. Congratulations, Allison! Find the article here!