Current projects:

• Charge transfer in DNA;
  
  
• Structural biology and kinetic crystallography;
  
  
• Protein dynamics of heme proteins (myoglobin, hemoglobin, cytochrome P450cam);
  

• Magnetic Circular Dichroism;
  
  
• Energy transduction proteins (photosynthetic reaction centers from R. sphaeroides);
  

Selected publications:

• J. Morris, T. Lewis, K. Chu, S. Gordon-Wylie, G. Clark "Mechanistic Studies of  Pyridinedithiocarboxalato Cuprate(II) Complexes on the reductive Dechlorination of Carbon Tetracloride” Env. Sci. and Tech. (in press).
  
  
• K. Chu  “Determination of Reaction Intermediate Structures in Heme Proteins.” Meth. Molec. Biol., Macromolecular Crystallography Protocols. The Humana Press, NJ, USA. 19-30. (2007).
  
  
• H. Frauenfelder, B. H. McMahon, R.H. Austin, K. Chu and J.T. Groves "The role of structure, energy landscape, dynamics, and allostery in the enzymatic function of myoglobin." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:2370-2374 (2001).
  
  
• I. Schlichting and K. Chu "Trapping intermediates in the crystal: ligand binding to myoglobin.” Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol.10:744-752 (2000).
  
  
• I. Schlichting, J. Berendzen, K. Chu, A.M. Stock, S.A. Maves, D.E. Benson, R.M. Sweet, D. Ringe, G.A. Petsko and S.G. Sligar "The catalytic pathway of cytochrome P450cam at atomic resolution.” Science 287:1615-1622 (2000).
  
  
• M. Brunori, B. Vallone, F. Cutruzzola, C. Travaglini-Allocatelli, J. Berendzen, K. Chu, R.M. Sweet, and I. Schlichting "The role of cavities in protein dynamics: crystal structure of a novel photolytic intermediate of myoglobin" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 97:2058-2063  (2000).
  
  
• K. Chu, J. Vojtĕchovský, B.H. McMahon, R.M. Sweet, J. Berendzen and I. Schlichting "Crystal structure of a new ligand-binding intermediate in wildtype carbonmonoxymyoglobin.” Nature 403:921-923  (2000).