Denis L. Rousseau

Denis L. Rousseau is Professor of Biochemistry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where his research focuses on cytochrome c oxidase structure, function, and dynamics. This 400 kDa membrane-bound enzyme serves as the terminal component of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, responsible for over 90% of biological oxygen consumption.

His research interests include:

• Structural mechanisms of membrane-bound enzymes
• Time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy
• Serial Femtosecond X-ray Crystallography (SFX)
• Cryo-electron microscopy of catalytic intermediates
• Proton translocation coupling mechanisms

Dr. Rousseau's laboratory employs an integrated approach combining rapid-mixing techniques, laser spectroscopy, and advanced structural methods at national facilities including SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source and the New York Structural Biology Center. His team embeds cytochrome c oxidase in nanodiscs for cryo-EM studies and captures transient catalytic states using femtosecond X-ray pulses.

Recent publications (2015-2023) reveal structural insights into oxidized states, CO-bound configurations, oxygen intermediates, and temperature-dependent transitions in cytochrome c oxidase. This work establishes molecular foundations for understanding bioenergetic processes critical to cellular respiration.

His laboratory maintains active collaborations with structural biology facilities nationwide to advance research on one of biochemistry's most fundamental enzymatic processes.