Research Focus
The Cotten group employs biophysical, biochemical, and biological methods to elucidate the molecular recognition properties of bioactive peptides in the context of living cells and their mimics.
Research
Research Interests
- Membrane-active peptide structure and function
- Peptide–membrane interactions
- Biophysical characterization of peptides
- Therapeutic peptide engineering
- Structure–function relationships
- Spectroscopic studies of biomolecules
Research Facilities and Experimental Techniques
Our laboratory combines structural, spectroscopic, biochemical, and microbiological approaches to investigate membrane-active peptides and their interactions with biological membranes.
Representative facilities and techniques include:
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
- Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectroscopy
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Fluorescence Spectroscopy
- Liposome-based membrane assays
- Antimicrobial susceptibility (MIC) assays
- Peptide purification and characterization
- Membrane binding and interaction studies
- Biochemical and structural data analysis
Collaborators
The Cotten Group values interdisciplinary collaborations that advance our understanding of membrane-active peptides and their applications in biology and medicine. By partnering with researchers across Oregon State University and other institutions, we combine complementary expertise in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, microbiology, and peptide science.