Dr. Hoff's Lab
The Research Group of Wouter Hoff
We use photoreceptor proteins as model systems for studying protein folding, function, and signaling, and have started to explore biotechnological applications for these proteins. Our long-term goal is to uncover fundamental principles in these processes, and to develop biosensors with useful applications. In addition, we are developing novel highly sensitive, specific, and fast biodetection devices based on engineered proteins that allow a direct optical readout.
This research uses a wide range of approaches, from genomic studies to molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, protein spectroscopy and biophysics. We discovered that the activation of photoactive yellow protein (PYP), a bacterial blue-light receptor from the halophilic purple sulfur bacterium Halorhodopsira halophila, involves partial unfolding, providing an unexpected link between signaling and protein folding. We are analyzing the genome from H. halophila, and are performing bioinformatics-guided experiments to understand its extremophilic physiology. We use a range of spectroscopic approaches to unravel the fundamental mechanisms in the activation of PYP, and have developed novel high-throughput protein biophysics approaches to explore protein structure-function relationships. Our single-molecule force spectroscopy measurements allow us to apply a force to unfold the protein along a specific axis, determined by the position of introduced Cys residues. In addition, we are developing novel highly sensitive, specific, and fast biodetection devices based on engineered proteins that allow a direct optical readout.
Teaching
- In 2006, Dr. Hoff developed Foundations of Cellular Life MICR 4163/5163 (initially called Quantum Microbiology) as a graduate-level introduction that discusses key concepts selected to catalyze a productive and innovative career in the field. He has been teaching this course (almost) each Fall semester since 2006.
- Since 2016, Dr. Hoff has been teaching MICR 4233/5233 Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology each Spring (in person and asynchronous online sections are offered).
- In 2016, Dr. Hoff developed the online asynchronous course Molecular Life Science Writing MICR 3333 (initially called Peer Reviewed Science Writing), and has been teaching this course each Fall semester in collaboration with the director of the OSU Writing Center. The approach of this course is that undergraduate students improve their science writing by experiencing a reading-writing-reviewing-revising-publishing process that is essentially identical to that used by practicing science professionals. Documents written by students in this course are published online in the scientific journal Microreviews in Cell and Molecular Biology that Dr. Hoff created for this course.
- In 2021, Dr. Hoff developed the online asynchronous course Foundations of Cancer MICR/PHYS 3553/5553 together with Prof. Aihua Xie (OSU Department of Physics) Foundations of Cancer. This course was created to fill a gap in the courses offered on our campus, to empower students with knowledge about cancer, and to help prepare future clinicians and researchers in this area. The course involves a scientific writing assignment. Since 2024, the scientific documents on cancer written by students enrolled in this course are published in the online journal Foundations of Cancer that Dr. Hoff and Dr. Xie created for this course.
Service
Since 2011 Dr. Hoff has been co-organizing sessions at the March Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS), a large international meeting, (almost) each year together with Prof. Aihua Xie and a group of colleagues. These sessions provide a platform for presenting and discussing topics in the area of the Physics of Proteins.
Recent sessions: