Email

mbaker@bcm.edu

Positions

Assistant Professor

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States
Cryo-EM modeling

Faculty Senator

Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States

Addresses

Baylor College of Medicine (Office)

BCM-Alkek Graduate School
Room: BCMN-N420
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-7319
mbaker@bcm.tmc.edu

Education

Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Baylor College Of Medicine

01/2005 - Houston, Texas United States

PhD from Baylor College Of Medicine

01/2002 - Houston, Texas United States

BS from Purdue University

05/1996 - IN, Texas United States

Honors & Awards

Baylor Research Advocates for Student Scientists (BRASS) Scholar

Baylor College of Medicine (01/1996 - 12/1997)

Dunn Poster Award

W. M. Keck Center Retreat (07/1999)

Travel Award

American Society of Virology (07/1998)

Poster Award

W. M. Keck Center Retreat (01/1999)

Debra K. Martin Outstanding Graduate Student, SCBMB

Baylor College of Medicine (01/2000)

Poster Award

W. M. Keck Center Retreat (01/2000)

Travel Award

XVII Biennial Conference on Phage/Virus Assembly (01/2001)

Selected Poster

3DEM GRC (01/2005)

Selected Poster

3DEM GRC (01/2006)

Poster Award

W.M. Keck Center Retreat (01/2006)

Selected Poster

3DEM GRC (01/2008)

Professional Interests

• Biophysics and Computational Biology
• Cancer
• Cryo-electron Microscopy and Tomography
• Membranes and Membrane Proteins
• Molecular Basis of Human Disease and Behavior
• Nano Medicine and Drug Design
• Protein Structure-Function and Protein Folding
• Structural Biology and Macromolecular Assemblies
• Animal Viruses
• Bacteria and Phage

Professional Statement

Modeling Macromolecular Structure and Function From genome replication to viral infection, nearly all biological processes require a complex set of interactions, typically mediated by an ensemble of proteins. As such, these proteins, often organized as large, dynamic macromolecular complexes, are often the targets of structural biologists. Inspired by the structural and biochemical processes that govern macromolecular function, my research seeks to develop and apply novel approaches that combine computational modeling with macromolecular imaging from electron cryomicroscopy. To this end, my research has developed novel tools for pattern recognition, ab initio modeling, comparative modeling and de novo modeling using cryoEM density constraints. Our tools are distributed in our own molecular modeling toolkit, Gorgon, as well as part of the cryoEM image processing package, EMAN. In addition to technology development, my research also focuses on several key biological processes including immunotherapeutic approaches to treating cancer and viral maturation and infection.

Websites

Selected Publications

• Wang., Z., Hryc, C.F., Bammes, B., Afonine, P.V., Jakana, J., Chen, D.C., Liu, X., Baker, M.L., Kao, C., Ludtke, S.J., Schmid, M.F., Adams, P.A., and Chiu, W. "An atomic model of BMV using direct electron detection and real-space optimization.." ;
• Gipson, P., Baker, M.L., Raytcheva, D., Haase, C., Pret, J., King, J.A., and Chiu, W. "Protruding knob-like proteins violate all local symmetries in an icosahedral marine virus.." Nat Commun. 2014 Jul 2;5:4278. Pubmed PMID: 24985522
• Rizzo, A.A., Suhanovsky, M.M., Baker, M.L., Fraser, L.C.R., Jones, L.M., Rempel, D.L., Gross, M.L., Chiu, W., Alexandrescu, A.T., and Teschke, C.M. "Multiple functional roles of the accessory I-Domain of bacteriophage P22 coat protein revealed by NMR structure and cryoEM Modeling.." Structure. 2014 Jun 10;22(6):830-41. Pubmed PMID: 24836025
• Grada, Z., Hegde, M., Byrd, T., Shaffer, D. R., Ghazi, A., Brawley, V. S., Corder, A., Schönfeld, K., Koch, J., Dotti, G., Heslop, H. E., Gottschalk, S., Wels, W. S., Baker, M. L., and Ahmed, N. "TanCAR: A Novel Bispecific Chimeric Antigen Receptor for Cancer Immunotherapy." Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2013 Jul 9;2:e105. Pubmed PMID: 23839099

Intellectual Property

Chimeric Antigen Receptor For Bispecific Activation And Targeting Of T-Lymphocytes

Method Patent #US20130280220 A1 (Pending)

Embodiments of the invention include methods and compositions related to improved cells encoding a chimeric antigen receptor that is specific for two or more antigens. In certain aspects the receptor encompasses two or more non-identical antigen recognition domains. The antigens are tumor antigens, in particular embodiments.

Co Inventors: Nabil Ahmed, Zakaria Grada, Meenakshi Hedge, Matthew Baker, Donald R. Shaffer