Only peer-reviewed (published or submitted) articles are listed here. For review articles, chapters, perspectives and commentaries, see full publication list. Note: some publications appear under multiple categories, and not all publications are categorized.
Ribosomes, Translation and Related Factors
[29] Y. Wang, A. Wang, U. Mohanty^, P. C. Whitford^. Precise steric features control aminoacyl-tRNA accommodation on the ribosome. J. Phys. Chem. B. 2022 manuscript
[28] A. Hassan, P. C. Whitford^. Identifying strategies to experimentally probe multidimensional dynamics in the ribosome. J. Phys. Chem. B. 2022 manuscript
[27] A. Hassan, S. Byju, F. C. Freitas, C. Roc, N. Pender, K. Nguyen, E. M. Kimbrough, J. Mattingly, R. L. Gonzalez Jr, R. J. Oliveira, C. M. Dunham, P. C. Whitford^. Ratchet, swivel, tilt and roll: A complete description of subunit rotation in the ribosome. Nucleic Acids Research DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1211
[26] A. B. Oliveira Jr, V. G. Contessoto, A. Hassan, S. Byju, A. Wang, Y. Wang, E. Dodero-Rojas, U. Mohanty, J. K. Noel^, J. N. Onuchic^, P. C. Whitford^. SMOG 2 and OpenSMOG: Extending the limits of structure-based models. Protein Science, 2022. manuscript
[25] A. Wang, M. Levi, U. Mohanty^, P. C. Whitford^. Diffuse ions coordinate dynamics in a ribonucleoprotein assembly. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2022 manuscript
[24] F. Campos Freitas, G. Fuchs, R. J. de Oliveira, P. C. Whitford^. The dynamics of subunit rotation in a eukaryotic ribosome. Biophysica, 1, 204-221, 2021. manuscript
[23] M. Levi, K. Walak, A. Wang, U. Mohanty, P. C. Whitford^. A steric gate controls P/E hybrid formation of tRNA on the ribosome. Nature Communications 2020 manuscript
[22] E. Hoffer, S. Hong, S. Sunita, T. Maehigashi, R.L. Gonzalez Jr, P. C. Whitford, C.M. Dunham. Structural insights into mRNA reading frame regulation by tRNA modification and slippery codon-anticodon pairing. eLife 2020. manuscript
[21] A. B. Oliveira Jr, H. Yang, P. C. Whitford, V. B. P. Leite. Distinguishing biomolecular pathways and mestable states. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 15, 6482-6490, 2019. manuscript
[20] H. Yang, P. Bandarkar, R. Horne, V.B.P Leite, J. Chahine, P. C. Whitford^. Diffusion of tRNA inside the ribosome is position-dependent. J. Chem. Phys manuscript
[19] M. Levi, P. C. Whitford^. Dissecting the energetics of subunit rotation in the ribosome. J. Phys. Chem. B. DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b00178 manuscript
[18] H. Yang, J. Perrier, P. C. Whitford^. Disorder guides domain rearrangment in EF-Tu. Proteins: Structure, Function, Bioinformatics. 86, 1037-1046, 2018. manuscript
[17] M. Levi, K. Nguyen, L. Dukaye, P. C. Whitford^. Quantifying the relationship between single-molecule probes and subunit rotation in the ribosome. Biophysical Journal, 113, 2777-2786, 2017. manuscript
[16] H. Yang, J. K. Noel, P. C. Whitford^. Anisotropic Fluctuations in the Ribosome Determine tRNA kinetics. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 121, 10593-10601, 2017. manuscript
[15] K. Nguyen, H. Yang, P. C. Whitford^. How the ribosomal A-site finger can lead to tRNA species-dependent dynamics. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 121, 2767-2775, 2017. manuscript
[14] J. K. Noel, P. C. Whitford^. How EF-Tu can contribute to efficient proofreading of aa-tRNA by the ribosome. Nature Communications. 7, 13314, 2016. manuscript
[13] K. Nguyen, P. C. Whitford^. Capturing transition states for tRNA hybrid-state formation in the ribosome. Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 120, 8768-8775, 2016. manuscript
[12] J. K. Noel^, M. Levi, M. Raghunathan, H. Lammert, R. L. Hayes, J. N. Onuchic^, P. C. Whitford^. SMOG 2: A versatile software package for generating structure-based models. PLOS Computational Biology. 12, e1004794, 2016. manuscript
[11] K. Nguyen, P. C. Whitford^. Steric interactions lead to collective tilting motion in the ribosome during mRNA-tRNA translocation. Nature Communications. 7, 10586, 2016. manuscript
[10] J. Jackson, K. Nguyen, P. C. Whitford^. Exploring the balance between folding and function in proteins and RNA. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 16, 6868-6889, 2015. manuscript
[9] J. K. Noel, J. Chahine, V. B. P. Leite, P. C. Whitford^. Capturing transition paths and transition states for conformational rearrangements in the ribosome. Biophys. J. 107, 2881-2890, 2014. CORRECTION
[8] P. C. Whitford^, S. C. Blanchard, J. H. D. Cate, K. Y. Sanbonmatsu. Connecting the kinetics and energy landscape of tRNA translocation on the ribosome. PLoS Comp. Biol. 9, e1003003, 2013.
[7] P. C. Whitford^, K. Y. Sanbonmatsu^. Simulating movement of tRNA motion through the ribosome during hybrid-state formation. J. Chem. Phys. 139, 121919, 2013.
[6] J. K. Noel, P. C. Whitford and J. N. Onuchic. The shadow method: A Generally-Applicable contact definition for capturing the dynamics of biomolecular folding and function. J. Phys. Chem. 116, 8692-8702, 2012.
[5] A. Ahmed, P. C. Whitford, K. Y. Sanbonmatsu and F. Tama. Consensus between flexible fitting computational methods to interpret cryo-EM data. J. Struct. Biol. 177, 561-570, 2012.
[4] P. C. Whitford, A. Ahmed, Y. Yu, S. P. Hennelly, F. Tama, C. M. T. Spahn, J. N. Onuchic and K. Y. Sanbonmatsu. Excited states of ribosome translocation revealed through integrative molecular modeling. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 108, 18943-18948, 2011.
[3] P. C. Whitford^, J. N. Onuchic and K. Y. Sanbonmatsu. Connecting energy landscapes and experimental rates for aminoacyl-tRNA accommodation in the ribosome. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 132, 13170-13171, 2010. (communication)
[2] A. H. Ratje, J. Loerke, A. Mikolajka, M. Brünner, P. W. Hildebrand, A. Starosta, A. Doenhoefer, S. R. Connell, P. Fucini, T. Mielke, P. C. Whitford, J. N. Onuchic, Y. Yanan, K. Y. Sanbonmatsu, R. K. Hartmann, P. A. Penczek, D. N. Wilson and C. M. T. Spahn. Head swivel on the ribosome facilitates translocation via intra-subunit tRNA hybrid sites. Nature 468, 713-716, 2010.
[1] P. C. Whitford, P. Geggier, R. Altman, S. C. Blanchard, J. N. Onuchic, and K. Y. Sanbonmatsu. Accommodation of aminoacyl-tRNA into the ribosome involves reversible excursions along multiple pathways. RNA. 16, 1196-1204, 2010.
Viruses and Vaccines
[7] C. Markosian, D. I. Staquicini, P. Dogra, E. Dodero-Rojas, F. H. F. Tang, T. L. Smith, V. G. Contessoto, S. K. Libutti, Z. Wang, V. Cristini, P. C. Whitford, S. K. Burley, J. N. Onuchic, R. Pasqualini, W. Arap. Genetic and structural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for universal epitope selection. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2022 manuscript
[6] A. B. Oliveira Jr, V. G. Contessoto, A. Hassan, S. Byju, A. Wang, Y. Wang, E. Dodero-Rojas, U. Mohanty, J. K. Noel^, J. N. Onuchic^, P. C. Whitford^. SMOG 2 and OpenSMOG: Extending the limits of structure-based models. Protein Science, 2022. manuscript
[5] E. Dodero-Rojas, J. N. Onuchic^, P. C. Whitford^. Sterically-confined rearrangements of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein control cell invasion. eLife, 10, e70362, 2021. manuscript
eLife press release
Rice press release
[4] D. I. Staquicini, F. H. F. Tang, C. Markosian, V. J. Yao, F. I. Staquicini, E. Dodero-Rojas, V. G. Contessoto, D. Davis, P. O’Brien, N. Habib, T. L.Smith, N. Bruiners, R. L. Sidman, M. L. Gennaro, E. C. Lattime, S. K. Libutti, P. C. Whitford, S. K. Burley, J. N. Onuchic, W. Arap, R. Pasqualini. Design and proof-of-concept for targeted phage-based COVID-19 vaccination strategies with a streamlined cold-free supply chain. PNAS. 2021 manuscript
Rice press release
Rutgers press release
Northeastern press release
NSF press release
NSF Discovery File segment
[3] P. C. Whitford^, W. Jiang, P. Serwer. Simulations of phage T7 capsid expansion reveal the role of molecular sterics on dynamics. Viruses 2020. manuscript
[2] J. K. Noel^, M. Levi, M. Raghunathan, H. Lammert, R. L. Hayes, J. N. Onuchic^, P. C. Whitford^. SMOG 2: A versatile software package for generating structure-based models. PLOS Computational Biology. 12, e1004794, 2016. manuscript
[1] X. Lin, N. R. Eddy, J. K. Noel, P. C. Whitford, Q. Wang, J. Ma, J. N. Onuchic. Order and disorder control the functional rearrangement of influenza hemagglutinin. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA DOI: www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1412849111
Protein Dynamics
[20] R. V. R. Dias, C. T. A. Ferreira, P. A. Jennings, P. C. Whitford, L. C. de Oliveira. Csk alphaC helix: A computational analysis of an essential region for conformational transitions. J. Phys. Chem. B, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05408, 2022.
[19] E. Dodero-Rojas, J. N. Onuchic^, P. C. Whitford^. Sterically-confined rearrangements of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein control cell invasion. eLife, 10, e70362, 2021. manuscript
[18] L. Ngu, J. N. Winters, K. Nguyen, K. E. Ramos, N. A. DeLateur, L. Makowski, P. C. Whitford, M. J. Ondrechen, P. J. Beuning. Probing remote residues important for catalysis in Escherichia coli ornithine transcarbamoylase. PLoS ONE. 15, e0228487, 2020. manuscript
[17] A. B. Oliveira Jr, H. Yang, P. C. Whitford, V. B. P. Leite. Distinguishing biomolecular pathways and mestable states. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 15, 6482-6490, 2019. manuscript
[16] F. C. Freitas, A. N. Lima, V. d.G. Contessoto, P. C. Whitford, R. J. de Oliveira. Drift-diffusion (DrDiff) framework determines kinetics and thermodynamics of two-state folding trajectories and tunes diffusive models. J. Chem. Phys. manuscript
[15] P. Waduge, R. Hu, P. Bandarkar, H. Yamazaki, B. Cressiot, Q. Zhao, P. C Whitford^ and M. Wanunu^. Nanopore-based measurements of protein size, fluctuations, and conformational changes. ACS Nano, 11, 5706-5716, 2017. manuscript
[14] J. Jackson, K. Nguyen, P. C. Whitford^. Exploring the balance between folding and function in proteins and RNA. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 16, 6868-6889, 2015. manuscript
[13] X. Lin, N. R. Eddy, J. K. Noel, P. C. Whitford, Q. Wang, J. Ma, J. N. Onuchic. Order and disorder control the functional rearrangement of influenza hemagglutinin. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA DOI: www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1412849111
[12] J. Wang, R. J. Oliveira, X. Chu, P. C. Whitford, J. Chahine, W. Han, E. Wang, J. N. Onuchic, V. B. P. Leite. Topopgraphy of funneled landscapes determines the thermodynamics and kinetics of protein folding. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 109, 15763-15768, 2012.
[11] M. A. Jamros, L. C. deOliveira, P. C. Whitford, J. N. Onuchic, J. A. Adams, and P. A. Jennings. Substrate-specific reorganization of the conformational ensemble of CSK implicates novel modes of kinast function. PLoS Comp. Biol. 8, e1002695, 2012.
[10] J. Singh, P. C. Whitford, N. Hayre, J. N. Onuchic and D. Cox. Massive conformation change in the prion protein: Using dual-basin structure-based models to find misfolding pathways. Proteins: Struct. Func. Bioinfo. 80, 1299-1307, 2012.
[9] R. Nechushtai, H. Lammert, D. Michaeli, Y. Eizenberg-Domovish, J. A. Zuris, M. A. Luca, D. T. Capraro, A. Fish, O. Shimshon, M. Roy, A. Schug, P. C. Whitford, O. Livnah, J. N. Onuchic and P. A. Jennings. Allostery in the ferredoxin protein motif does not involve a conformational switch. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 108, 2240-2245, 2011.
[8] M. A. Jamros, L. C. deOliveira, P. C. Whitford, J. N. Onuchic, J. A. Adams, D. K. Blumenthal and P. A. Jennings. Proteins at work: A combined SAXS and theoretical determination of the multiple structures involved on the protein kinase functional landscape. J. Biol. Chem. 285, 36121-36128, 2010.
[7] R. J. Oliveira*, P. C. Whitford*^, J. Chahine, J. Wang, J. N. Onuchic, and V. B. P. Leite^. Exploring the origin of non-monotonic complex behavior and the effects of non-native interactions on the diffusive properties of protein folding. Biophys. J. 99, 600-608, 2010.
[6] P. C. Whitford, J. K. Noel, S. Gosavi, A. Schug, K. Y. Sanbonmatsu, and J. N. Onuchic. An all-atom structure-based potential for proteins: Bridging minimal models with all-atom empirical forcefields. Prot. Struct. Func. Bioinfo. 75, 430-441, 2009.
[5] S. Gosavi, P. C. Whitford, P. A. Jennings, and J. N. Onuchic. Extracting function from a b-trefoil folding motif. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 105, 10384–10389, 2008.
[4] P. C. Whitford, S. Gosavi, and J. N. Onuchic. Conformational transitions in adenylate kinase – Allosteric communication reduces misligation. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 2042–2048, 2008.
[3] A. Schug, P. C. Whitford, Y. Levy, and J. N. Onuchic. Mutations as trapdoors to two competing native conformations of the rop-dimer. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 104, 17674–17679, 2007.
[2] P. C. Whitford, O. Miyashita, Y. Levy, and J. N. Onuchic. Conformational transitions of adenylate kinase: Switching by cracking. J. Mol. Biol. 366, 1661–1671, 2007.
[1] J. E. Mills, P. C. Whitford, J. Shaffer, J. N. Onuchic, J. A. Adams, and P. A. Jennings. A novel disulfide bond in the SH2 domain of the C-terminal Src kinase controls catalytic activity. J. Mol. Biol. 365, 1460–1468, 2007.