Peter Wright, PhD
Scripps Research Joint Appointments
Other Joint Appointments
Adjunct Professor, The Salk InstituteResearch Focus
Structure, Dynamics and Interactions of Proteins
My laboratory utilizes high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and other biophysical and biochemical methods to investigate the structure, dynamics, and folding mechanisms of proteins and to map their functional interactions. NMR is unique as a method for determining three-dimensional structures of proteins and protein complexes in solution and also providing novel information about the time-dependent structural fluctuations that are essential for protein function.
Intrinsically disordered proteins and cellular signaling. Intrinsically disordered proteins are highly abundant in eukaryotes and play a central role in cellular regulatory processes and signaling pathways. We are using a multidisciplinary approach, including a broad range of biochemical and biophysical methods, NMR, and single molecule fluorescence (in collaboration with Ashok Deniz), to elucidate the structure of the general transcriptional coactivators CBP and p300 and characterize their functional interactions with key cellular and viral targets. We are implementing novel NMR methods, intein labeling technologies, and single molecule FRET methods to characterize the structure of disordered proteins and their complexes and to elucidate the mechanism by which disordered proteins fold upon binding to their targets.
Mechanisms of protein folding and misfolding. NMR is uniquely suited for studies of protein folding and misfolding pathways, providing detailed insights into the structure and dynamics of unfolded states and partially folded intermediates. We are applying NMR relaxation dispersion methods to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which the protein transthyretin spontaneously unfolds and aggregates, leading to amyloid disease.
Protein dynamics and "invisible" excited states. We are applying NMR relaxation dispersion methods to characterize the dynamics of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase and to determine the structure of weakly populated excited states that play a functional role in catalysis. These studies, which are also being applied to study the dynamics of a stress-activated protein kinase, are providing unprecedented insights into the intrinsic dynamics of enzymes and their role in catalysis.
Education
B.Sc., Chemistry, University of AucklandM.Sc., Chemistry, University of Auckland
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Auckland
Professional Experience
The Scripps Research Institute, 1984-present, ProfessorThe Scripps Research Institute, 1987-2012, Chair, Department of Molecular Biology
University of Sydney, 1976-1984, Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Department of Inorganic Chemistry
University of Oxford, 1972-76, Postdoctoral, Chemistry/Biochemistry
Awards & Professional Activities
Member of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1995
Honorary Doctor of Science, The University of Sydney, Australia, 2003
Honorary Doctorate in Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, 1995
ISMAR Prize, International Society of Magnetic Resonance, 2019
Akutsu Prize, Korean Manetic Resonance Society, 2019
American Chemical Society, San Diego Section, Distinguished Scientist Award, 2010
The Stein and Moore Award, The Protein Society, 2010
Honorary Member, Israel Chemical Society, 2009
Fellow, International Society of Magnetic Resonance, 2008
Leach Medal, 2008
Honorary Member, NMR Society of Japan, 2006
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1998
NIH Merit Award, 1994-2001
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Molecular Biology
Editorial Boards:Current Opinion in Structural Biolgy, Journal of Biomolecular NMR
Selected References
The dynamic energy landscape of dihydrofolate reductase catalysis. D.D. Boehr, D. McElheny, H.J. Dyson and P.E. Wright (2006), Science 313, 1638-1642.
Mechanism of coupled folding and binding of an intrinsically disordered protein. K. Sugase, H.J. Dyson and P.E. Wright (2007), Nature 447, 1021-1027.
Measurement of protein unfolding/refolding kinetics and structural characerization of hidden intermediates by NMR relaxation dispersion. D.W. Meinhold, P.E. Wright (2011), Proc. Natl Acad. Sci., 108, 9078-9083.
Modulation of allostery by protein intrinsic disorder. A.C.M. Ferreon, J.C. Ferreon, P.E. Wright, A.A. Deniz (2013), Nature, 498, 390-394.
Hypersensitive termination of the hypoxic response by a disordered protein switch. R.B. Berlow, H.J. Dyson, P.E. Wright (2017) Nature, 543, 447-451
Kinetic analysis of the multi-step aggregation pathway of human transthyretin. X. Sun, H.J. Dyson, P.E. Wright (2018), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 115, E6201-E6208
Long-range regulation of p53 DNA binding by its intrinsically disordered N-terminal transactivation domain. A.S. Krois, H.J Dyson, P.E. Wright (2018), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 115, E11302-E11310
Links
The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology
The Skaggs Institute Scientific Report
Folding Upon Binding: Unique Protein Activation Mechanism Found
TSRI Team Solves Structure of Important Tumor Growth Protein-A Target for Cancer Therapy
Structure Shows One Way Body Controls Gene Expression
Study Details Structural Changes of a Key Catalytic Enzyme
Structure of Virus Protein Reveals How Viruses Hijack Cell Proteins