Robert Kranz

Robert Kranz is a Professor of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, affiliated with the Department of Biology within the College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cytochrome c biogenesis, spanning over three decades.

• University: Washington University in St. Louis
• School: College of Arts & Sciences
• Department: Department of Biology

Research Interests: Dr. Kranz investigates heme synthesis, modification, and transport, with particular emphasis on cytochrome biogenesis and bioenergetics. His work explores how heme cofactors are covalently attached to apocytochromes (CXXCH motif), comparing systems I, II, and III across prokaryotes, plants, and mitochondria. Recent studies focus on the ATP-dependent CcmABCD transporter and its role in heme trafficking.

Publication Trends: Over the past 15 years, Dr. Kranz’s research has consistently advanced understanding of heme trafficking mechanisms, cofactor insertion into cytochromes, and the structural basis for heme transporters. His work spans Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Bioenergetics, with applications in antibiotic discovery and human disease (e.g., MLS syndrome).

Labs & Collaborations: The Kranz lab collaborates with institutions like Nanjing University and Yale, using Escherichia coli as a model to engineer and purify cytochrome c biogenesis systems. Their recent Nature Communications study reports cryo-EM structures of CcmABCD in multiple states.