Research Interests

3D modeling of G-protein coupled receptors; Drug design based on computational studies of peptides

Selected Publications

• Hagemann, I.S., Miller, D.L., Klco, J.M., Nikiforovich, G.V., and Baranski, T.J. Structure of the complement factor 5a receptor-ligand complex studied by disulfide trapping and molecular modelings. J. Biol. Chem. 283:7763-7775 (2008).

• Sen, S, Baranski, TJ, Nikiforovich G. Conformational movement of F251 contributes to the molecular mechanism of constitutive activation in the C5a receptor. Chemical Biology & Drug Design 71:197-204 (2008).

• Nikiforovich, G.V., Marshall, G.R. and Baranski, T.J. Modeling molecular mechanisms of binding of the anaphylatoxin C5a to the C5a receptor. Biochemistry (E-pub ahead of print.) (2008).

• Sköld, C, Nikiforovich G, Karlén A. Modeling binding modes of angiotensin II and pseudopeptide analogues to the AT2 receptor. J Mol Graph Model 26:991-1003 (2008).

• Matsumoto, ML, Narzinski, K, Nikiforovich, GV, Baranski, TJ. A Comprehensive structure-function map of the intracellular surface of the human C5a receptor II. Elucidation of G protein specificity determinants. J. Biol. Chem. 282:3122-3133 (2007).

• Matsumoto, ML, Narzinski, K, Kiser, PD, Nikiforovich, GV, Baranski, TJ. A Comprehensive structure-function map of the intracellular surface of the human C5a receptor I. Identification of critical residues. J. Biol. Chem. 282:3105-3121 (2007).

• Taylor, CM, Nikiforovich, GV, Marshall, GR. Defining the interface between the C-terminal fragment of α-transducin and photoactivated rhodopsin. Biophys J 92:4325-4334 (2007).

• Nikiforovich, GV, Marshall, GR, Achilefu, S. Molecular modeling suggests conformational scaffolds specifically targeting five subtypes of somatostatin receptors. Chemical Biology & Drug Design 69:163-169 (2007).

• Nikiforovich, GV, Taylor, CM, Marshall, GR. Modeling of the complex between transducin and photoactivated rhodopsin, a prototypical G-protein-coupled receptor. Biochemistry 46:4734-4744 (2007).

• Zhang, X, Nikiforovich, GV, Marshall, GR. Conformational templates for rational drug design: Flexibility of cyclo(D-Pro1-Ala2-Ala3-Ala4-Ala5) in DMSO solution. J. Med. Chem. 50:2921-2925 (2007).

• Berezin, MY, Lee, H, Akers, W, Nikiforovich, G, Achilefu, S. Ratiometric analysis of fluorescence lifetime for probing binding sites in albumin with near-infrared fluorescent molecular probes. Photochemistry and Photobiology 83:1371-1378 (2007).