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The King lab develops and applies precision measurement, analysis, and fabrication capabilities at the intersection of physics, molecular biology, and nanotechnology.
Biophysics
Membrane proteins are difficult to characterize via traditional techniques, yet they constitute ~30% of proteins expressed in cells and perform critical functions. A primary goal of our research is to study individual membrane proteins with precision approaches, illuminating key physical attributes. To accomplish this, we apply atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other techniques. AFM can reveal conformations, conformational dynamics, and structural energetics of membrane proteins in near-native conditions.
Materials Science
We are advancing a novel technique based on patterning thin layers of frozen gas (such as amorphous water ice) with focused electron beams, creating intricate nanostructures. Towards this end we have recently refurbished the first dedicated ice lithography instrument built in the world. Effectively a marriage between cryogenic electron microscopy and electron beam lithography, the method is a liquid-free alternative to traditional patterning techniques and is well suited for functionalizing delicate biological materials and creating novel devices.
Software
Our lab has developed the Hessian blob algorithm out of a need for a more precise and well-defined definition of a “particle” in the analysis of AFM images, where it is used to detect single biomolecules in larger scale images. If you are interested in utilizing this software in your research you may download it here (written in Igor Pro 7). You can also access the software through our lab's GitHub site: https://github.com/KingGavinM/
To get you started, we have a brief tutorial, and a few test images: image 1, image 2 , and image 3. If utilized in a publication, we ask that you kindly cite our paper “The Hessian Blob Algorithm: Precise Particle Detection in Atomic Force Microscopy Imagery” [B.P. Marsh et al., Scientific Reports Volume 8, Article number: 978 (2018)].
We have also developed PSPoly, an algorithm that couples automated polymer architecture analysis with persistence length and radius of gyration calculations for AFM images of individual polymers. This software was written in both Igor Pro 7 and Python, and can also be found on our lab's GitHub site: https://github.com/KingGavinM/
NOTE: if you plan to use any of this software for commercial purposes, please contact the The MU Office of Technology Management & Industry Relations to inquire about licensing.
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