Studying
Proteins
Contact:
Prof Michael Overduin
HWB-NMR, Division of Cancer Studies, CR-UK Institute for Cancer Studies
The
University of Birmingham
Vincent Drive
Edgbaston, Birmingham
B15 2TT, United Kingdom
Email:
informatics-crn-enquiries[at]cs.bham.ac.uk
Website: http://www.cancerstudies.bham.ac.uk/Research/NMR/Overduin_research.htm
The Overduin Group seeks to understand how proteins insert into membranes, recognize
signals, and assemble into complex molecular structures. Magnetic resonance
spectroscopy is used to visualise these events in three-dimensional space
at the level of interacting atoms. The data is applied to predict and
test the location and activity of proteins within the cell.
The proteins being studied
at Birmingham are involved in biological processes such as signal transduction
and endocytosis. These form the molecular ‘wiring’ of a cell that generates
responses to growth factors or hormones. In particular, the work aims
to explain how the specificity of phosphoinositide recognition underlies
targeting of proteins to sub-cellular membranes, and how cytoskeletal
frameworks are organised based on recognition of peptide signals.
The information provides mechanistic insights into cellular organisation
and development, and forms a basis for the rational design of modified
proteins, new inhibitors and therapeutic agents. Many of the targets are
involved in cancer causation and progression.
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