NMR in strucural genomics: signaling and membrane proteins

My research activities during my postdoctorial stay will be in the framework of a group concentrating on the use of NMR in structural genomics. Kurt Wüthrich and our group will be associated with the NIH-funded Joint Center of Structural Genomics (http://www.jscg.org). My interest will be primarily focused on the investigation of te possible roles of NMR methods in the context of structural genomics. How can NMR be used as a screening and strcutrue elucidation tool independently or in combination with X-Ray crystallography? For this the entire proteome of Thermotoga maritima will be accesible for us. We will start by screening for optimal conditions for structure elucidation using NMR and then plan to determine strcutures of selcted proteins, in particular signaling proteins. There is the possibility that these studies will be extended to eukaryotic systems (C. elegans, mouse or human). Because many signal receptors are membrane standing, we will also work on structure determination of membrane proteins by NMR. Using my knowledge from NMR methods development, I am well prepared to contribute to this project. Working on this project, I will be able to learn new biochemical methods that will expand my current knowledge, provide me with a broader view of structural biology and enable me to generate independet innovative projects in biological and biomedical research in the future.