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Structural studies of plant and microbial metabolism

Reference	BBS/E/J/000C0630
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Mark Banfield
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	236,466
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/01/2007
End date	31/05/2012
Duration	65 months

Abstract

The Banfield Lab is involved in efforts towards understanding, at the molecular level, various processes in plant and microbial metabolism ranging from natural product (secondary metabolite) biosynthesis and starch formation in planta, through to the use of transpeptidase enzymes from gram positive pathogens (‘sortases’) as agents for bio-nanotechnology applications. A key hypothesis of our studies is that understanding a system at the molecular level is an excellent platform from which to manipulate particular processes towards a desired objective. Our primary experimental tool is structure determination by X-ray crystallography, but we also complement this with solution-based methods (circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, analytical ultracentrifugation, small angle X-ray scattering, spectroscopy) as appropriate. Structural data is frequently used to establish hypotheses which can then be tested, for instance, by site-directed mutagenesis and further study. We collaborate extensively with groups in Norwich, the UK and worldwide to ensure the in vivo relevance of our in vitro data. We also have an interest in developing/employing new technologies to advance throughput in protein production and structure determination to both streamline our current research projects and enhance the feasibility of establishing new projects in the Laboratory.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	Microbiology, Plant Science, Structural Biology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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