Laboratory of Integrative Structural Biology

University of Birmingham

  • The structure of the box C/D RNP enzyme (dimeric form) solved using solution NMR and small-angle scattering.
    The structure of the box C/D RNP enzyme (dimeric form) solved using solution NMR and small-angle scattering.
  • The structure of the H3:H4 histone acetylation complex (left: ribbon representation; right: schematic showing chaperoning of the histone substrate to the active site).
    The structure of the H3:H4 histone acetylation complex (left: ribbon representation; right: schematic showing chaperoning of the histone substrate to the active site).
  • Structure determination of the kink-turn box C/D RNA by solid-state NMR. The double-headed arrows indicate the types of internuclear correlations used to assign the resonances and derive the structure.
    Structure determination of the kink-turn box C/D RNA by solid-state NMR. The double-headed arrows indicate the types of internuclear correlations used to assign the resonances and derive the structure.
  • Relative ligand-binding poses revealed by INPHARMA NOEs (indicated by dashed lines).
    Relative ligand-binding poses revealed by INPHARMA NOEs (indicated by dashed lines).

    We are a group of (bio)chemists, (bio)physicists and molecular biologists interested in understanding the function of biologically important molecules. To accomplish this, we study not only the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules and their complexes, but also how they change conformations in response to the environment, binding partners and chemical reactions, and how their particular structural and dynamic features support and tailor their function. NMR spectroscopy is our main expertise: we apply this technique to macromolecular complexes consisting of both proteins and nucleic acids, and we develop new methods to push the boundaries of NMR towards increasingly complex questions. We are strong proponents of interdisciplinary strategies, combining NMR spectroscopy with many other techniques in a truly integrative approach to structural biology.

    We are particularly interested in three biological areas:

    • RNA editing, modification and metabolism.
    • Chromatin modifications.
    • Regulation of protein function in cancer and infections.