Donald R. Ronning
Assistant Professor
Email: Donald.Ronning@utoledo.edu
Office: WO 4203B
Phone: (419) 530-1585
Graphics: (419) 530-1591
Lab: (419) 530-1588
Fax: (419) 530-4033
Professional Background:
B.S., Biochemistry, 1995, University of Minnesota
Ph.D., 2001, Texas A&M University
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2001-2005, National Institutes of Health
Research Synopsis:
DNA recombination plays important roles in bacterial survival by promoting the antigenic variation of surface proteins or the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between species. Our focus is to understand the mechanism of these systems at the molecular level by structural determination, using X-ray crystallography, of protein/DNA complexes representing intermediates along the pathways of DNA recombination. Two transposon systems of interest include Tn7 and IS608, which are harbored by pathogenic bacteria. A new project is focused on identifying components of a DNA recombination system in the Lyme disease pathogen that is essential for antigen variation and persistence within the human host.