Erin Shammel Baker

My research at UCSB focused on understanding the secondary structures of DNA hairpins, duplexes and G-quadruplexes, and RNA hairpins and cruciforms in the solution and gas phase.  I studied the binding properties of different potential anticancer drugs to DNA G-quadruplexes and RNA hairpins to understand what properties (such as size or charge state) increase binding strength.  To understand the solution phase structures of each complex, circular dichroism studies, gel electrophoresis bands and NMR structures were utilized.  These solution phase experiments were then compared with the structures obtained from nano-ESI-MS, ion mobility and molecular dynamics calculations to understand what structural changes are taking place in the gas phase upon dehydration.

Current Address:

Biological Separations & Mass Spectrometry
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
P.O. Box 999
MSIN: K8-98
Richland, WA 99352

Tel: 509-376-3805
E-mail: erin.baker@pnl.gov