M. Schiffer
Papers
1
Total Citations
33
H-Index
1
About
M. Schiffer is a structural biologist whose research centers on the molecular mechanisms of microbial metal reduction, with a particular focus on the Geobacter species. Her major contributions lie in elucidating the three-dimensional structures of outer membrane cytochromes, which are critical for the bacteria's ability to transfer electrons to metals like iron and uranium. In her most cited work (33 citations), Schiffer solved the structure of OmcF from *Geobacter sulfurreducens*, revealing its striking similarity to an algal cytochrome *c*₆. This finding was pivotal, demonstrating that a key component of the bacterial electron transport chain shares a conserved fold with photosynthetic proteins, suggesting an ancient evolutionary link. Her high-resolution structural analysis of OmcF, along with her work on the multiheme cytochromes OmcB and OmcC, has provided the foundational atomic-level understanding of how these lipid-anchored proteins facilitate extracellular electron transfer. This research is essential for advancing bioenergy applications and bioremediation strategies that harness *Geobacter*'s unique metabolic capabilities.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1