James A. Letts

James A. Letts is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at University of California, Davis. He specializes in electron transport membrane proteins and structural bioenergetics, investigating their roles in mitochondrial disease, plant respiration, and bioenergetic processes. His research employs single-particle cryo-EM alongside biochemical and biophysical methods.

Recent research highlights include structural characterization of Tetrahymena thermophila respiratory complexes, Vigna radiata mitochondrial structures, and mechanistic studies on complex I assembly. His work on respiratory supercomplexes explores their roles in reactive oxygen species regulation. He has earned a Department of Energy Early Career Award to support these investigations.

Publications reflect deep expertise in mitochondrial electron transport, membrane protein architecture, and plant bioenergetics. Current projects examine evolutionary divergence in respiratory complexes and functional implications of structural variations. The lab continues to pioneer novel purification protocols and high-resolution structural analysis techniques.