Structural Neurobiology
Determining the structure-activity relationships of
neuronal proteins at the molecular level is required for the detailed
understanding of their function.
Many neurological diseases are caused by mutations within a
single protein, and thus understanding how these changes modulate
protein structure and function is paramount to understanding disease
mechanisms and progression. Investigators in our department use X-ray
crystallography, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy,
multi-photon and second harmonic microscopy to understand the function
of proteins with single molecule/atomic resolution. Specific areas of
emphasis are molecular chaperones, synaptic proteins, and proteins
involved in neurodegeneration.