Areas Of Research
Structural Biology

The structural biology group within the department uses physical, chemical and x-ray crystallography techniques to study proteins and nucleic acids. It has a highly active group in x-ray crystallography which uses high resolution analysis (1.0 Å or better) to understand the structure-function relationship. The faculty members in each group work closely with each other. For example, a member of the x-ray crystallography group has identified an enzyme that is a promising target for anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial drugs. The department has an active group in parasitic diseases and, thus, the two groups are working together to solve major medical problems of parasitic infections. The x-ray group has obtained detailed structures of many proteins of biological importance.

Research in protein structure determination requires the knowledge of mechanisms involved in the growth of macromolecular crystals. Using sophisticated techniques, one of the major areas of research in the department is to define various parameters fundamental to the crystal growth process. In search of these parameters, crystallization of macromolecules in microgravity is being investigated assisting the U.S. space program and the Russian space station, Mir.