Julien Roche

Julien Roche is an Associate Professor in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry at Iowa State University. His research focuses on protein folding, dynamics, and evolution using high-pressure NMR spectroscopy and biophysical methods. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Biology and Biophysics from the University of Montpellier, France, followed by a Ph.D. in Structural Biology and a postdoctoral fellowship at NIH/NIDDK under Dr. Ad Bax.

Roche's work explores protein free-energy landscapes, intrinsically disordered proteins, amyloid peptides, and viral protein evolution. His lab employs NMR, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations to study proteins involved in neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. Key projects include HIV protease drug resistance mechanisms and the structural basis of transcription factor ATF4 regulation.

His lab is funded by NIH NIGMS (R01GM132561) for studying DISC1 in cAMP pathways. Collaborators include Vincenzo Venditti (NMR methods), Baoyu Chen (actin signaling), and Alan DiSpirito (bacterial bioenergetics). The lab houses advanced NMR spectrometers (800/700 MHz), chromatography systems, and high-pressure NMR equipment.

Roche's recent work highlights high-pressure NMR for detecting protein conformations, thermodynamic stability of low-complexity domains, and structural elucidation of enzyme I monomers. His findings bridge protein structure, dynamics, and disease mechanisms, advancing therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative and viral diseases.