Research subject Protein structure and folding
In order to understand the mechanisms by which proteins perform their diverse actions in the cell, an understanding of the protein structure is a distinct advantage. Moreover, the process by which a particular protein assumes its eventual fold is also important for understanding protein function.
Numerous methods are available for protein structure determination. Membrane proteins, proteins that are partially submerged in the lipid membranes of cells, are of particular interest to many researchers at the department. Many pharmaceutical targets are membrane proteins, making them particularly important, but they are notoriously difficult to crystallize due to their waterinsolvability. Recent innovations have, however, made the approximated structural determination of membrane protein complexes comparatively tractable.
Related research subject
Biophysics
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