Structural Genomics on Membrane Proteins

Presents an overview on research in bioinformatics, modeling on membranes, and the technological developments being employed in expression, purification and crystallography to obtain high-resolution structures on membrane proteins. This work includes examples of studies on whole genomes of specific organisms and gene protein families.

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While the genomic revolution has quickly led to the deposit of more than 30,000 structures in the protein data bank (PDB), less than one percent of those contributions represent membrane proteins despite the fact that membrane proteins constitute some 20 percent of all proteins. This discrepancy becomes significantly troublesome when it is coupled with the fact that 60 percent of current drugs are based on targeting this group of proteins, a trend that does not seem likely to reverse.

Structural Genomics on Membrane Proteins provides an excellent overview on novel research in bioinformatics and modeling on membranes, as well as the latest technological developments being employed in expression, purification, and crystallography to obtain high-resolution structures on membrane proteins. This cutting-edge work also explains the difficulties facing researchers—both technical and ethical—that have slowed the process.

Structural Genomics on Membrane Proteins provides researchers with an unprecedented look at the novel technologies that will ultimately allow them to conquer the last frontier in structural biology, leading to accelerated breakthroughs in drug discovery.