Quentin Johnson

Dr. Johnson is a computational biochemist who teaches the biochemistry sequence of courses, including Biochemistry I, Biochemistry II and Computational Biochemistry. His research centers on the investigation of protein structure and dynamics through theoretical methods. He has a particular interest in membrane proteins and receptors. Decoding how these proteins regulate processes such as fat metabolism, homeostasis and development is a fascinating area of study. Research techniques employed in the Johnson lab include molecular dynamics simulations, binding affinity calculations and structural analysis. Current projects are focused on three proteins:

1. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR), whose dysfunction causes Cystic Fibrosis. Understanding the effect of mutation on the structure of CFTR is important for the development of drugs to treat Cystic Fibrosis.
2. The two major cannabinoid receptor proteins (CB1 and CB2), which control the endocannabinoids system (ECS). The ECS is a neuromodulatory system that is responsible for regulating a wide variety of processes, such as the organization of adipose tissue, control of anxiety and reproduction. Understanding how specific phytocannabinoids and/or synthetic cannabinoids may modulate the activity of these receptors is paramount given the growing availability of cannabis products.
3. Nuclear receptors, which control gene expression via direct interaction with DNA. These ubiquitous receptors are involved in many areas of human development and homeostasis, such as metabolism, inflammation and circadian rhythm. A comprehensive study of their binding pockets is necessary for future drug discovery to combat metabolic disorders, cancer, Parkinson’s and much more.