Gary Kleiger

Gary Kleiger is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he leads a research group focused on ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, structural biology, and biochemical mechanisms. His lab is situated in the Science and Engineering Building (SEB), UNLV's flagship research facility, and features advanced equipment like RQF-3 quench flow and SF-300X stopped flow instruments.

Research Interests: The Kleiger lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of ubiquitin ligases and conjugating enzymes, particularly cullin-RING ligases (CRLs), which are critical for targeted protein degradation. Their work combines structural biology (X-ray crystallography, cryoEM), biophysical techniques (stopped-flow kinetics), and proteomics (mass spectrometry) to address both fundamental biological questions and therapeutic applications.

Recent Publications: Kleiger's research has produced groundbreaking studies on CRL dynamics, ubiquitin chain formation, and E2-E3 interactions, with recent papers in Nature Communications, Molecular Cell, and Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. His collaborations with industry leaders (Genentech, Amgen) and academic institutions (Schulman lab at Max Planck Institute) highlight his work's interdisciplinary and translational impact.

Lab Members: Current researchers include graduate students (Nick Purser, Jerry Li, Tanjina Tarannum, Pooja Verma), a post-doc (Chutima Rattanasopa), and technicians (Isabella Romero Yusti). Former members have advanced to careers in academia, industry, and medicine.