Charles S. Craik, PhD

Professor
Executive Committee Member
Phone: +1 415 476-8146
Fax: +1 415 502-4690
600 16th St, Rm S512C
UCSF Box 2280
San Francisco, CA 94158
United States

What I do

I focus on defining the roles and the mechanisms of enzymes in complex biological processes and on developing technologies to facilitate these studies to aid in the rapid detection, monitoring, and control of infectious disease and cancer.

My research expertise

enzymology, Protein engineering, Chemical Biology, Proteomics, substrate specificity profiling, probe development, non-invasive imaging, proteases and their inhibitors, Infectious diseases, HIV, herpes viruses, parasites, Oncology

Professional background

Biography

My research interests focus on defining the roles and the mechanisms of enzymes and other challenging proteins in complex biological processes and on developing technologies to facilitate these studies. The current research in the Craik lab focuses on the chemical biology of proteolytic and protein degradation enzymes, receptors and membrane transporters. A particular emphasis of our work is on identifying the roles and regulating the activity of key proteins associated with infectious diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer. I am also interested in developing novel methods to biophysically characterize challenging proteins as well as their complexes. These studies coupled with our global substrate profiling, antibody engineering and noninvasive imaging efforts are providing a better understanding of both the chemical make-up and the biological importance of these critical proteins to aid in the rapid detection, monitoring and control of infectious disease, neurological disorders and cancer. This in turn is leading to the development of strategies for regulating these activities as a means of therapeutic intervention. Further study of these proteins holds promise for better understanding, rapid detection and eventual control of infectious diseases, cancer and neurodegeneration.

Research keywords

  • Protein engineering
  • recombinant antibodies
  • Small molecule and biologic drug discovery and development
  • Diagnostic and prognostic development
  • Global substrate profiling
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
  • HIV Protease
  • Serine Proteases
  • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human
  • Periplasmic Proteins
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Trypsin
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors