Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics Laboratory Journal 2001 Dr. J. M. McDonnell

Previous: Lewis, Next: Noble, Up: Contents.

J. M. McDonnell

Molecular Structures and Interactions in Immune Responses and Apoptosis

Overview.

With the wealth of information soon to be available from genome studies, a major challenge facing the chemical biology and structural biology communities in the next decade will be the complete characterization of protein interactions, providing a dynamic description of proteome function. Since molecular recognition events regulate all biological processes the ability to define a complete set of molecular interactions offers the opportunity to better understand and potentially regulate biological responses. The main focus of the work in this laboratory is the characterization of macromolecular interactions, principally protein-protein interactions, using physical, chemical and structural methods, and application of this information in the design of novel inhibitors of molecular interactions. At present we are studying two protein interaction networks that control important biological processes: 1) immunological proteins involved in allergy and inflammation and 2) BCL-2 family interactions and their role in programmed cell death.

Previous: Lewis, Next: Noble, Up: Contents.