Junko Yano

Interim Division Director, Molecular Biophysics & Integrated Bioimaging

Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging

Bioenergetics

Building: 33, Room 344
Mail Stop: 33R0344
Phone: (510) 486-4366
http://www2.lbl.gov/vkyachan/

Research Interests

• Structure and function of active metal sites in metalloenzymes.
• X-ray crystallography and X-ray spectroscopy using an X-ray free electron laser.
• Application of X-ray-based techniques to artificial photosynthetic systems such as light-absorbers and catalysts to study electron transfer and catalytic reaction mechanisms in situ.
• Application of synchrotron X-ray absorption/diffraction methods for the analysis of molecular structures, crystal structures, and electronic structures of inorganic catalysts.
• Water oxidation reaction in natural photosynthesis
• Structure and function relationship using vibrational spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy in organic/organometallic materials.

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Biosciences Area and Molecular Biology and Integrated Bioimaging Division Leadership Changes

July 20, 2021

Mary Maxon, Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) for Biosciences, has been granted a one-year leave of absence to help advance science and technology opportunities for engineering biology and the U.S. bioeconomy. Beginning August 23, Maxon will work on temporary assignment with Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, as they launch a significant effort to seed the next wave of engineering biology and bioeconomy innovation.

Paul Adams, Director of the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) Division, has been asked by Lab Director Mike Witherell to serve as the ALD for Biosciences over the coming year. While Adams is serving as Biosciences ALD, MBIB Deputy for Science Junko Yano will take on the role of Interim MBIB Division Director; Greg Hura has agreed to step into the role of Interim MBIB Science Deputy; and Susan Tsutakawa will be the Interim Head of the Structural Biology Department for the coming year.

Women @ the Lab Awards

March 31, 2021

Four Biosciences employees were selected by Berkeley Lab leadership and the Women Scientists and Engineers Council (WSEC) for recognition as part of the 2020 Women @ the Lab awards. The biennial program, now in its fourth year, spotlights women at the Lab for meritorious professional contributions, leadership, mentorship, and outreach.

New Refinement Technique Promises Greater Protein Structure Accuracy

December 21, 2020

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) came into use in 2010 for protein crystallography, allowing scientists to study fully hydrated specimens at room temperature without radiation damage. Researchers have developed many new experimental and computational techniques to optimize the technology and draw the most accurate picture of proteins from crystals. Now scientists in the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) Division have developed a new program, diffBragg, which can process every pixel collected from an XFEL for a protein structure independently. In a recent IUCrJ paper, the team led by MBIB Senior Scientist Nicholas Sauter proposed a new processing framework for more accurate determination of protein structures.