Matthias Buck

Matthias Buck is a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He is also a Member of the Molecular Oncology Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Buck received his Master of Arts in Natural Science Tripos/Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and his Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry/Biophysics from the University of Oxford.

Dr. Buck's research focuses on protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions in cell signaling, particularly involving small GTPases, Plexin and Eph transmembrane receptors. His laboratory employs an interdisciplinary approach combining structural biology (primarily solution NMR and X-ray crystallography), biophysics, computational modeling, and molecular dynamics simulations to characterize these interactions. His work aims to understand how the structure and dynamics of signaling proteins determine binding affinity and specificity, with applications in cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular development. Recent research has expanded to include the transmembrane helices of receptors and their interactions with the lipid bilayer, seeking to elucidate how signals are transmitted across cellular membranes.

Dr. Buck's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the structural and dynamic aspects of protein complexes involved in cell signaling. His work spans multiple techniques including NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and X-ray crystallography, with particular emphasis on understanding the relationship between protein conformational dynamics and function. His research has significant implications for understanding disease mechanisms in cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and neurodegenerative conditions.

Dr. Buck leads the Buck Lab, which pursues an interdisciplinary approach applying structural biology, mutagenesis, interaction thermodynamics and kinetics, computational modeling, and collaborations for functional in vivo characterization. Current projects center on the structure and signaling functions of Plexin and Eph transmembrane receptors, with applications in cancer, immune function, and nervous system development.