| Michael Zuker
Professor of Mathematical Sciences; Professor of Biology
Education:
Ph.D in Mathematics, May 1974, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.Sc., May 1970, McGill University
Research Areas:
Dr. Zuker works on the development and implementation of algorithms
to predict nucleic acid folding and hybridization by free energy
minimization using empirically derived thermodynamic parameters.
Modeling and algorithm development have been closely coupled with the
derivation of nearest neighbor and related energy rules.
Current work is focused on the computation of partition functions
for systems containing two molecules in solution that can fold as well
as hybridize with each other. Ensemble free energies, mole fractions of
different monomer and dimer species and base pair probabilities are
computed over a range of temperatures. These computations lead to the
prediction of UV absorbance (optical density) and heat capacity (Cp)
melting profiles that can be directly compared with experimental data.
A related project is the development of an algorithm named FASTH
that searches RNA or DNA sequence databases for optimal hybridization
sites for nucleic acid query sequences. Unlike traditional search
algorithms, such as BLASTN and FASTA, FASTH uses hybridization free
energy as the criterion for selection.
Selected Publications:
J. -M. Rouillard, C. J. Herbert & M. Zuker. OligoArray: Genome-scale oligonucleotide design for microarrays. Bioinformatics 18 (3), 486-487, (2002)
M. Zuker. Mfold web server for nucleic acid folding and hybridization prediction. Nucleic Acids Res. 31 (13), 3406-3415, (2003)
R. A. Dimitrov & M. Zuker. Prediction of Hybridization and Melting for Double-Stranded Nucleic Acids. Biophysical J. 87, 215-226, (2004)
J. H. Mansfield, B. D. Harfe, R. Nissen, J. Obenauer, J. Srineel, A.
Chaudhuri, R. Farzan-Kashani, M. Zuker, A. E. Pasquinelli, G. Ruvkun,
P. A. Sharp, C. J. Tabin, M. T. McManus. MicroRNA-responsive 'sensor'
transgenes uncover Hox-like and other developmentally regulated
patterns of vertebrate microRNA expression. Nat Genet. 36 (10) 1079-83, (2004)
D. H. Mathews & M. Zuker. Predictive Methods Using RNA Sequences. In Bioinformatics: A Practical Guide to the Analysis of Genes and Proteins A. Baxevanis and F. Ouellette eds., 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, Chapter 7, (2005)
N. R. Markham & M. Zuker. DINAMelt Web Server for Nucleic Acid Melting Prediction. Nucleic Acids Res. 33, W577-W581, (2005)
Contact Information:
zukerm@rpi.edu
(518) 276-6382 (secretary)
Fax: (518) 276-4824
Personal web page
More Info: Professor Zuker's Biology Home Page
http://biology.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=6
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