research advances

Synopses of important developments in the field of structural biology and structural genomics, including advances from the Protein Structure Initiative. The featured articles and technical highlights are specially written for the Structural Biology Knowledgebase, while the research highlights are taken from NPG publications.

September 2009

featured articles
- GPCR subunits: Separate but not equal
  A functional complementation assay reveals that maximal heterotrimeric G-protein activation is achieved by agonist binding to one subunit of a dopamine D2 receptor dimer.
- Anthrax evasion tactics
  The crystal structure of a crucial anthrax capsule enzyme will aid the search for new therapies.
research highlights
- Mass spectrometers on a chip
  A prototype for a mass spectrometer with single-molecule sensitivity has prospects for single-cell proteomics.
- Chemical biology: Branching out into chemical space
  'Scaffold Hunter' is a computer-based tool that identifies several new ligands that are associated with biochemical activity.
technical highlights
- The future of NMR
  With the time needed to solve structures by NMR spectroscopy reduced to weeks or even days, how much better can NMR get?
- Crystallizing glycoproteins
  The researchers who published the Ebola virus glycoprotein structure explain how to successfully express, purify and crystallize glycoproteins.