The Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry works to determine the structure of drug targets using X-ray crystallography. Knowledge of the 3-D structure of targets at atomic resolution allows drug developers to rationally design new and better drugs against diseases such as diabetes, cancer, neurological disorders, and others.
One focus of the lab is protein kinases, including AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and AMPK-related kinases. AMPK is an enzyme that senses the energy state of cells and is an important drug target for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
The lab also continues work surrounding the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), including determining the structure of ABA receptors bound to small molecules to develop synthetic compounds to protect plants against stresses such as drought, cold, and salinity.
