Inflammation-Related Protein and DNA Damage

The overall goal of this research is to understand the altering effects of infection and inflammation on the hepatic toxicity of environmental chemicals. Infectious agents that influence liver function can alter the biological processing of many foreign chemicals. These perturbations to liver function may influence an individual's susceptibility to environmental exposures. Using mass spectrometry as research tool, we are developing analytical methods and proteomics techniques to uncover protein targets and modified-amino acids associated with oxidative damage and inflammation. We are also performing metabolite identification and clearance analyses to monitor the biological processing of environmental chemicals. Additionally, the kinetic and thermodynamic equilibria of protein S-nitrosation reactions (posttranslational modification of nitric oxide to cysteine residues) to better understand intracellular regulatory mechanisms of nitric oxide signaling is being investigated.