Brian Cooper

B.S. : Purdue University, 1989
Ph.D. : University of Arizona, 1994
Post-doc : (NIH Fellow) Iowa State University, 1994–1997

ORAU Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, 1999–2000
NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, 2000–2004

Courses Taught:

Principles of Chemistry (CHEM 1251)
Principles of Chemistry (CHEM 1252)
Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 3111 )
Instrumental Analysis and Lab (CHEM 4111/4111L )
Protein Analysis by MALDI-MS (CHEM 4090/5090)
Mass Spectrometry (CHEM 6115)

Research Focus:

My research group primarily uses capillary electrophoresis (CE) to analyze and characterize proteins. Capillary electrophoretic separations of protein “charge ladders” (otherwise pure proteins with intrinsic or induced charge heterogeneity) allow us to estimate the net charge and hydrodynamic radius of proteins in solution. We also study ligand binding to proteins using “affinity capillary electrophoresis” (ACE), which exploits the accompanying change in protein electrophoretic mobility. Combining charge ladders and ACE allows us to characterize overall conformational changes caused by ligand binding. And with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, we can study the conformational behavior of fluorescently labeled proteins under simulated intracellular conditions—especially in the presence of high concentrations of other macromolecules.

We also have an active collaboration with a group in the Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics. We are using a variant of ACE called “CEMSA” (capillary electrophoretic mobility shift assay) to detect binding of transcription factors (TFs) to synthetic, fluorescently labeled DNA probes. We use this technique to experimentally validate predicted TF binding site sequences. After screening by CEMSA, we can identify affinity-purified TFs using mass spectrometry.
Overview Academic/Research Interest Areas:

Bioanalytical Chemistry

Protein analysis by: capillary/channel electrophoresis

Ultrasensitive fluorescence detection and imaging

Electrospray and MALDI mass spectrometry
What he brings to the industry:

Novel methods or applications for capillary electrophoresis

New methods for electrospray and MALDI mass spectrometry, capillary liquid chromatography, and ultrasensitive fluorescence detection.