Investigating Protein Evolution Through Sequence Space Using a Biophysical Lens

dc.contributor.advisorHarms, Michael
dc.contributor.authorShavlik, Michael
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-25T17:32:30Z
dc.date.available2024-03-25T17:32:30Z
dc.date.issued2024-03-25
dc.description.abstractHow do the underlying biophysical properties of proteins dictate the “rules” that govern molecular evolution? Understanding the principles and mechanisms that determine which evolutionary trajectories proteins take is crucial to protecting humans against viral protein evolution and developing therapeutic, custom, drugs through protein engineering. Although many approaches have been developed to investigate the process of protein evolution, a deep understanding of the relationship between sequence space and protein biophysics can alleviate key deficiencies in our knowledge. What is the underlying distribution of functional proteins in sequence? Do specific biophysical properties dictate the interconnectedness of these functional proteins? How does the protein energy landscape change across evolutionary time and how can that inform our understanding of evolution? This dissertation will explore two methods of answering these questions: 1) High-throughput mutagenesis and phenotype characterization to explore sequence space using fluorescent proteins and 2) Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction linked to a biophysical lens using protein energy landscapes.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1794/29288
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Oregon
dc.rightsAll Rights Reserved.
dc.subjectBiophysicsen_US
dc.subjectGFPen_US
dc.subjectProtein evolutionen_US
dc.subjectSequence spaceen_US
dc.titleInvestigating Protein Evolution Through Sequence Space Using a Biophysical Lens
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
thesis.degree.disciplineDepartment of Biology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Oregon
thesis.degree.leveldoctoral
thesis.degree.namePh.D.

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