Protein Structural Biology

Protein structural biology studies the three-dimensional shapes of proteins, which are vital molecules in all living organisms. By understanding a protein’s structure—how its atoms are arranged and how its parts fold and connect—we can learn how it functions, interacts with other molecules, and how changes in its shape can lead to disease. Techniques like X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy reveal these structures at atomic detail. This knowledge helps in developing new medicines, designing better drugs, and understanding fundamental biological processes.