个人简介

Ph.D., Iowa State University B.S.: Chemistry, Loras College Ph.D: Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University (Peter J. Reilly) Postdoc: University of Arizona (Michael F. Brown)

研究领域

Physical & Biophysical Chemistry

Research in the Mertz group uses computational methods to study membrane proteins, with an emphasis on: 1) biophysical interactions between rhodopsin and the cell membrane; 2) design of membrane scaffolds for bacterial proton pumps; and 3) drug development for the melanocortin receptor. The underlying theme of our research is to provide more detailed understanding and predictive capabilities of systems of interest to researchers in both medicine and alternative energy. - See more at: http://chemistry.wvu.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/blake-mertz#sthash.f8odnur3.dpuf

近期论文

查看导师新发文章 （温馨提示：请注意重名现象，建议点开原文通过作者单位确认）

Leioatts, N.; Mertz, B.; Martínez-Mayorga, K.; Romo, T.D.; Pitman, M.C.; Feller, S.E.; Grossfield, A.; Brown, M.F. Retinal ligand mobility explains internal hydration and reconciles active rhodopsin structures. Biochemistry 2014, 53, 376-385. Mertz, B; Struts, A.V.; Feller, S.E.; Brown, M.F. Molecular simulations and solid-state NMR investigate dynamical structure in rhodopsin activation. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2012, 1818, 241-251. Mertz, B.; Lu, M.; Brown, M. F.; Feller, S. E. Steric and electronic influences on the torsional energy landscape of retinal. Biophys. J. 2011, 101, L17-L19. Mertz, B.; Gu, X.; Reilly, P. J. Analysis of functional divergence within two structurally related glycoside hydrolase families. Biopolymers 2009 91, 478-495. Fushinobu, S.; Mertz, B.; Hill, A. D.; Hidaka, M.; Kitaoka, M.; Reilly, P. J. Computational analyses of the conformational itinerary along the reaction pathway of GH94 cellobiose phosphorylase. Carb. Res. 2008 343, 1023-1033. Mertz, B.; Hill, A. D.; Mulakala, C.; Reilly, P. J. Automated docking to explore subsite binding by glycoside hydrolase family 6 cellobiohydrolaess and endoglucanases. Biopolymers 2006 87, 249-260. Mertz, B.; Kuczenski, R. S.; Larsen, R. T.; Hill, A. D.; Reilly, P. J. Phylogenetic analysis of family 6 glycoside hydrolases. Biopolymers 2005 79, 197-206.