David Millar, PhD
Scripps Research Joint Appointments
Research Focus
Biophysical Chemistry
We develop and apply single-molecule spectroscopic methods to visualize dynamic rearrangements of biological machines. One project is aimed at understanding how the multiple enyzymatic activities of DNA polymerases are physically coordinated to ensure accurate and efficient replication of DNA. Another project is focused on the role of protein conformational dynamics during the signaling activity of G protein-coupled receptors. Single-molecule methods are also being used to dissect the assembly pathway of multi protein-RNA complexes formed during the life cycle of HIV-1.
Education
Ph.D. (Chemistry), California Institute of Technology, 1982B.Sc., The University of Melbourne,
Professional Experience
2008-2012 Professor, Molecular Biology, Scripps Research2001-2008 Associate Professor (with tenure), Molecular Biology, Scripps Research
1982-1984 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Columbia University
Selected References
D. P. Millar, Conformational dynamics of DNA polymerases revealed at the single-molecule level, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 9, 826593 (2022).
R. F. Pauszek, R. Lamichhane, A. Rajkarnikar Singh and D. P. Millar, Single-molecule view of coordination in a multi-functional DNA polymerase, eLife 10, e62046 (2021).
R. L. Lamichhane, J. A., Hammond, R. Pauszek, R. Anderson, E. J. C. van der Schans, E. Pedron, J. R. Williamson and D. P. Millar, A DEAD-Box protein acts through RNA to promote HIV-1 Rev-RRE assembly, Nucleic Acids Research, 45, 4632-4641 (2017).
R. Lamichhane, J. J. Liu, G. Pljevaljcic, K. L. White, E. van der Schans, V. Katritch, R. C. Stevens, K. Wüthrich and D. P. Millar, Single-molecule view of basal activity and activation mechanisms of the G protein-coupled receptor β2AR, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 112, 14254-14259 (2015).