James Kuriyan

James Kuriyan is a distinguished HHMI Investigator and Chancellor's Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he specializes in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology. His research is centered on the intricate mechanisms and evolutionary pathways of molecular switches that play crucial roles in cellular signal transduction. Through a combination of biochemical, biophysical, structural, and cell biological analyses, Kuriyan's lab has made significant contributions to understanding these complex systems. One of the lab's notable achievements includes unraveling the switching mechanisms of tyrosine kinases, such as the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Src family kinases. These discoveries have provided deep insights into how these proteins regulate cellular processes. Additionally, the lab has elucidated the regulation of key signaling proteins like Ras, SOS, and CaMKII, which are pivotal in various cellular functions. Kuriyan's research extends to the structural basis of high-speed DNA replication, a fundamental process for cell division and genetic fidelity. His team is currently engaged in projects that explore EGFR multimerization and its implications for signaling, as well as the activation and mutation sensitivity of Ras. They are also investigating tyrosine kinase signaling within immune cells and the activation-triggered subunit exchange in CaMKII. The lab employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating experimental techniques with high-throughput mutagenesis. This allows for a comprehensive study of the molecular principles that govern regulation, specificity, and allosteric communication in molecular switches. By doing so, Kuriyan's research continues to advance our understanding of cellular signaling and its implications for health and disease.