Data Collection to Structure Refinement and Beyond
Retroviruses and other RNA viruses translate key proteins from a single mRNA relying on translational frameshift to produce concatenating protein domains called polyproteins before subsequent cleavage during maturation to produce mature and highly functional proteins. For HIV, a single mRNA is used to produce precursor structural polyproteins (Gag) and Gag-Pol which contains both the structural…
Transient Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs) are central mediators of protein activity and signaling network and their modulation has significant impact on cell metabolism and regulation. They are therefore considered promising, albeit challenging, opportunities to expand druggable chemical space. However, due to the transient nature of these interactions, this class of PPIs is particularly challenging to characterize…
Quantum biology is an exciting field of research with a pronounced interdisciplinary focus. This lecture will cover a short history of quantum biology before clarifying some of the important concepts in the field and reviewing the different biological contexts in which quantum effects may play a role, which include photosynthesis, enzyme catalysis, DNA mutation, receptor…
HIV-1 protease is a critical enzyme for viral maturation and one of the most well-studied proteins in structural biology. While much attention has focused on its active site, there is interest in how the enzyme might interact with small molecules at other regions on its surface. In particular, some of these potential sites, called cryptic…
This talk will focus on early-stage work in the Starbird lab to investigate the structural basis for how receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are activated in the context of cancer or diseased states as opposed to in normal signaling, as well as how we can utilize that information in therapeutic design. Current work is focused on…
Discover how STEM-evolved monoclonal antibodies outpaced SARS-CoV-2 variants, revealed by cryo-EM structural insights.
The Electron Microscope Unit (EMU) at the University of Cape Town was established over sixty years ago as a regional imaging core facility serving the needs of the biological and materials science communities. Researchers in the EMU, with help from international scientists, have established the first single-particle cryo-EM resource in Africa. We support projects ranging…
Malaria, a tropical disease caused by Plasmodium falciparum, is transmitted by the haematophagous mated female Anopheles gambiae. The P. falciparum is reported as the most prevalent malaria parasite responsible for severe morbidity, mortality, and worldwide economic burden. This calls for novel approaches targeting the vector to intervene malaria endemic. Natural and artificial sounds have been…
Malaria remains a major killer disease whose main victims are communities living in the sub-Saharan African region. Its main victims are children (<5 years) and pregnant mothers. One of the key constraints towards malaria eradication and control is drug resistance. Malaria is caused by members of the Plasmodium genus of which P. falciparum causes the…