Chris Garcia
Academic Appointments
- Professor, Molecular & Cellular Physiology
- Member, Bio-X
- Member, Stanford Cancer Institute
- Professor, Structural Biology
Key Documents
Contact Information
- Academic Offices
Personal Information Email Tel (650) 498-7332Alternate Contact Ginni Diaz Admin Associate Email
Professional Overview
Administrative Appointments
- Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2005 - present)
Postdoctoral Advisees
John Burg, Shen Dong, Claudia Janda, Vincent Luca, Juan Mendoza, Jamie Spangler
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Internet Links
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
My laboratory studies the structural and functional basis of receptor/ligand interactions in systems which are relevant to human health and disease. Our investigations are aimed at understanding the molecular recognition properties governing the interactions of receptors with their ligands, and the subsequent molecular events which couple ligand recognition to receptor activation. Many of the systems we are studying in the laboratory are related to the interaction of the host with the environment. The structural studies are complemented by functional approaches using molecular biology and protein engineering to dissect the structural information, design new or altered proteins with modified specificities and activities, and ultimately contribute to the development of proteins or molecules with therapeutic potential. Molecules currently under study include receptors of the immune system involved in autoimmune disorders (T cell receptors, co-receptors, MHC, cytokines), proteins involved in host-pathogen interactions and molecular mimicry (CMV and Toxoplasma surface antigens), proteins of nervous system (peptide hormone receptors, neural guidance proteins), and membrane proteins (chemokine receptors). An emerging focus of our research is to develop. using combinatorial biology approaches, novel ligands for receptors, which may have altered activities, that may serve as therapeutic starting points.
Publications
- CPDadh: a new peptidase family homologous to the cysteine protease domain in bacterial MARTX toxins. Protein Sci. 2009; (4): 856-62
- STIM1 clusters and activates CRAC channels via direct binding of a cytosolic domain to Orai1. Cell. 2009; (5): 876-90
- Structural biology of shared cytokine receptors. Annu Rev Immunol. 2009: 29-60
- The molecular basis of TCR germline bias for MHC is surprisingly simple. Nat Immunol. 2009; (2): 143-7
- An autonomous CDR3delta is sufficient for recognition of the nonclassical MHC class I molecules T10 and T22 by gammadelta T cells. Nat Immunol. 2008; (7): 777-84
- BacMam system for high-level expression of recombinant soluble and membrane glycoproteins for structural studies. Protein Expr Purif. 2008; (2): 160-70
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