People2

Biodesign Directory Profile

Jchaput_small

Download CV

Contact Information

(480)727-0392

John Chaput, PhD

Associate Professor

The Biodesign Institute, Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics

Associate Professor

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Bio

Visit the Chaput lab website.

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Assistant Professor, The Biodesign Institue

Prof. Chaput joined the faculty at ASU in January of 2005 after completing his Post-Doctoral Fellowship in molecular biology and genetics at Harvard Medical School.

Chaput applies the principles of natural selection to evolve functional molecules in the laboratory. This methodology (also referred to as test tube evolution) makes it possible to create artificial molecules with tailor-made properties. 

One fundamental question that Chaput is attempting to address is whether nature sampled all possible protein folds or just a small subset of the possible protein folds that are available in the protein universe. Through a process of in vitro selection and structure determination, Chaput is identifying new protein folds with specific, pre-defined functions. This approach of de novo protein evolution has the potential to create tailor-made proteins for biotechnology and molecular medicine.

Chaput is also interested in uncovering hidden proteins that remain buried in the shadows of the human genome. Using an integrated experimental-bioinformatics approach, Chaput is examining human DNA for sequences that enhance the translation of new proteins. This project has the potential to dramatically expand our current understanding of how genetic information is encoded in the genome. 

Lastly, Chaput is developing artificial affinity reagents that recognize human proteins with high affinity and specificity, but overcome or avoid many of the problems associated with traditional antibodies. This approach has the potential to dramatically improve the rate at which high quality protein affinity reagents are generated to human proteins. 

Selected Publications

2007

  • Chaput, John C, Lund, K., Liu, Y., Yan, H., Chaput, John C. Self-Assembled Peptide Nanoarrays: A New Approach to Studying Protein-Protein Interactions.. Angewandte Chemie International Ed. (2007).
  • Chaput, John C, Rosenow, M.A., Wang, M., Allen, J.P., Szostak, J.W., Chaput, John C. Structural Insights into the Evolution of a Non-Biological Protein: Importance of Surface Residues in Protein Fold Optimization. PLoS ONE (2007).
  • Chaput, John C, Zhang, J., Kummerle, R., Nilsson, M., Chou, J.J., Szostak, J.W., Chaput, John C. Structure and Evolution of a Non-Biological ATP Binding Protein. J.Mol.Biol. (2007).
  • Chaput, John C, Zhang, S., McCullum, E., Chaput, John C. Experimental Evidence that GNA and TNA are not Sequential Polymers in the Prebiotic Evolution of RNA. J.Mol.Evol. (2007).

2006

  • Chaput, John C. Chaput hopes to replicate synthetic protein structures. (2006).

2005

  • Horhota, A, Keyong, Z, Ichida, J K, McLaughlin, L W, Szostak, J W, Chaput, John C. Kinetic Analysis of an Efficient DNA-Dependent TNA Polymerase. J. Am. Chem. Soc (2005).
  • Nilsson, M, Stomel, J, Chaput, John C. Evolutionary Optimization of a De Novo Selected ATP Binding Protein. Biopolymers (2005).

2004

  • Chaput, John C, Szostak, J W. Evolutionary Optimization of a Non-Biological ATP-Binding Protein for Improved Folding Stability. Chemistry & Biology (2004).

2003

  • Chaput, John C, Ichida, J K, Szostak, J W. DNA Polymerase-Mediated DNA Synthesis on a TNA Template. J. Am. Chem. Soc (2003).
  • Chaput, John C, Szostak, J W. DNA Polymerase-Mediated TNA Synthesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc (2003).

2002

  • Chaput, John C, Sinha, S, Switzer, C. 5-Propynyluracil diaminopurine: an efficient basepair for non-enzymatic transcription of DNA. Chem. Comm (2002).

2001

  • Chaput, John C, Switzer, C. Probing DNA Structure and Function with Alternative Nucleic Acids Bearing 2',5'-Linked, Zwitterionic and iso-Cytosine iso-Guanine Components. Methods: A Compendium to Methods in Enzymology (2001).
  • Chaput, John C, Switzer, C.. Probing DNA Structure and Function with Alternative Nucleic Acids Bearing 2',5'-Linked, Zwitterionic and iso-Cytosine - iso-Guanosine Components. Methods: A Compendium to Methods in Enzymology (2001).

2000

  • Chaput, John C, Switzer, C. Non-enzymatic Oligomerization on Templates Containing Phosphodiester-Linked Acyclic Glycerol Nucleic Acid Analogues. J. Mol. Evol (2000).
  • Chaput, John C, Switzer, C. Non-enzymatic Transcription of an isoG:isoC Base Pair. J. Am.Chem. Soc (2000).
  • Rice, K P, Chaput, John C, Cox, M M, Switzer, C. RecA Protein Promotes Strand Exchange with DNA Substrates Containing isoGuanine and 5-Methyl isoCytosine. Biochemistry (2000).

1999

  • Chaput, John C, Switzer, C.. A DNA Pentaplex Incorporating Nucleobase Quintets. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA (1999).

1998

  • Chaput, John C, Chaput, John C, Switzer, C.. Beyond Guanine Quartets: Cation-Induced Formation of Homogeneous and Chimeric DNA Tetraplexes Incorporating iso-Guanine and Guanine. Chemistry & Biology (1998).