UTMB

Bruce Luxon, Ph.D.,
Professor

Faculty

Bruce Luxon, Ph.D.

About the Lab

Our major areas of interest are Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. We are particularly active in the determination of biomolecular solution structures using multidimensional NMR, including DNA, DNA-drug complexes, proteins and protein-DNA complexes. We also do a considerable amount of work on antisense biotherapeutics with emphasis on the targeted delivery of dithioate-modified oligonucleotides into specific cell types. These efforts will help provide insight into the mechanisms of cancer and AIDS (as well as other diseases) and the design of sequence-specific anticancer, antiviral and antibiotic nucleic acid binding drugs. We are also particularly interested in protein-DNA recognition motifs and their dynamical interactions.

Another active area of research is in the development of computer software tools to push the state of the art in hybrid relaxation matrix analysis of multidimensional NMR data for molecular structural determinations. While we continue the refinement of the MORASS 2D NMR complete relaxation matrix program suite, a new project is the development of a 3D Hybrid Hybrid matrix methodology to refine larger (>15,000 Dalton) biomolecules using 3D NOE-NOE Spectroscopy.

In our studies we routinely perform ab initio molecular orbital, molecular dynamics/mechanics and perturbational free energy calculations and create state-of-the-art molecular graphics. We have been particularly active in developing World Wide Web tools for the interactive manipulation and dissemination of NMR and structural biological data and information.

Interview with Dr. Luxon

– by Anasuya Roychowdhury, 3rd year BSCB Student

In order to obtain a greater understanding of a problem it is essential to use a multidisciplinary approach that will complement the demands of the modern scientific world.   Talking to Dr. Luxon seemed to me like a journey to this fact. I was really amazed to hear that he started his scientific expedition with chemistry and eventually touched almost every niche of biomedical science. Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when he said that his scientific idol was Linus Pauling.  “Dr. Pauling is the only man in the world to have won two unshared Nobel Prizes, began his professional life studying atoms, and ended it best known for his thoughts on medicine and thus famous for his great scientific versatility", said Dr. Luxon.

“I think it is the time period from Newton to Einstein when we were able to see so many time-breaking scientific discoveries that provided a concrete foundation for modern scientific developments"
–Dr. Luxon, on his favorite period of scientific discovery.

When I asked what he thought was the most beautiful observation in all of science he paused a bit and then said “I think it is the time period from Newton to Einstein when we were able to see so many time-breaking scientific discoveries that provided a concrete foundation for modern scientific developments"

Dr. Luxon came to UTMB thirteen years ago in order to reinforce the multidisciplinary idea of  Biophysical Structural  and Computational Biology program. Right from the time he joined UTMB, he has made significant contributions in the field of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. He is the founding Director of the UTMB Bioinformatics Program. His lab deals with several on-going projects which include, determining biomolecular solution structures using multidimensional NMR, developing the state of the art computer software tools for data analysis and developing  thioaptamer biotherapeutics. All of these efforts will eventually help to provide insight into the mechanisms of cancer and several infectious diseases and the design of sequence-specific anticancer, antiviral and antibiotic nucleic acid-based drugs. An area of his research that has surged forward in the last several years is a collaborative program on the structure-based design of countermeasures to viruses that may be used in bioterrorism. So when I asked where would he like to be in a few years from now he sounded like a very satisfied scientist and said “I like where I am".

According to Bruce, a willingness to work hard and critical thinking are the two major qualities that drive a good researcher. He said that with research not always being easy, especially when a project doesn’t proceed in a manner that we had expected, a researcher should persevere by working hard and thinking critically of their own work. He also feels that good communication is something which we must learn in present day world. “You may have to discuss your science with a person who may not have a clear-cut idea about your field but you still have to explain it in a way that makes sense to them. Good communication is always a great skill that reinforces any multidisciplinary-collaborative approach", he said.

Dr. Luxon, is one of the extremely enthusiastic scientists on campus and always has a positive influence on every student who talks to him. His message to all current and prospective students of the BSCB program is “Don’t give up when it comes to science."