Determination of Protein Structure
In recent years, enzyme research has not only focused on protein functional studies, but has increasingly extended into protein structural analyses. X-ray crystallography still remains the most useful way to visualize proteins and nucleic acids at atomic resolution. Through study of proteins at the atomic level, structural mechanisms can be elucidated. Nowadays, an important trend in enzyme research is to combine the protein functional and the structural study with structural analyses using X-ray crystallography. Basically, the protein structural determination and functional study are major goals for our lab. Based on biochemical studies, some interesting proteins or mutants will be investigated and then their structures are trying to be obtained via methods of the protein crystallography, X-ray diffractions and computer calculation. Currently, our lab is focusing on purification and crystallization of cytoplasmic region Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR), Galectin-12 regarding adipocyte metabolism regulation and antimicrobial peptide.