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Sean Poi Lee
"Antibody Catalyzed Protein Folding"
Sponsor: Jack F. Kirsch, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• Project Description
• Scholar's Photo
• Scholar's Journal

Sean's project addresses two major questions in biochemistry: what is the nature of antibody catalysis, and what is the nature of transiently formed refolding intermediates. He is investigating whether antibodies that have been shown to catalyze conventional chemical reactions can be made specifically to catalyze a protein folding reaction. His project is based on the hypothesis that antibodies can recognize, bind, and stabilize high-energy intermediates of the refolding process, thus accelerating the rate of refolding.

While working in Professor Kirsch's laboratory, I have learned, most importantly, to be methodical. I need to be meticulous when I do my experiments, clear headed when I plan my experiments, and realistic when I plan my schedule. Every step needs to be justifiable, and all control experiments need to be done. I may have a clear objective, a specific experiment that I want to do, but in getting there I have to do lots of side experiments, and tons of preparatory work.

A former post-doc gave me an aphorism that I have repeatedly found to be true. An hour in the library saves ten in the lab. There have been many instances when I've failed to search the literature, failed to find an established protocol and followed my hubris too faithfully. What might have been meaningful results or useful reagents become sources of more problems.

I'm still grappling with the realization that science moves at an incredibly slow pace. I'm starting to appreciate that the things I've learned in lecture took the time and mental energy of countless researchers. I'm always thankful that they did the work that my research is building on.