※MRC LMB: Huge congratulations to Richard Henderson of MRC_LMB, Jacques Dubochet and Joachim Frank for their NobelPrize in Chemistry! (10/4)
MRC LMB_HP:
The LMB is delighted to announce the awarding of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to the LMB’s Richard Henderson, jointly with Jacques Dubochet and Joachim Frank “for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution”. More to follow soon.
※We are now accepting applications for our PhD programme. (9/22up)
Projects:
The PhD projects available for studies leading to a University of Cambridge PhD degree commencing 1 October 2018 are listed below.
・Chris Tate: "Cryo-EM of GPCRs."
Chris Tate: "Structural StudiesStructure of activated states of G protein-coupled receptors by Electron Cryo-Microscopy."
The structures of G protein-coupled receptors in multiple different conformations are necessary to understand how agonists activate the receptor to facilitate G protein coupling.
In addition, structures are also required bound to arrestins to understand the molecular mechanism of biased agonism.
We have developed a thermostabilisation technology that has allowed us to determine the structures of multiple different GPCRs bound to inverse agonists, partial agonists, biased agonists and full agonists.
Recently, we also developed a thermostabilised G protein that has allowed us to determine the structure of the activated state of the adenosine A2A receptor.
We wish to build on these successes and to utilise the developments in electron cryo-microscopy to determine structures of GPCRs bound to stabilised heterotrimeric G proteins and arrestin by single particle imaging.
The successful candidate will be expected to learn all the steps involved in the overexpression, purification and preparation of cryo-EM samples of a GPCR
and to determine one or more structures using the Titan Krios equipped with state of the art detectors.
※Brochure - MRC LMB. (9/19 update)
Impact:
The LMB has an enviable track record in promoting the application of its research findings.
Researchers at the LMB benefit from the Laboratory’s long experience in this field, and from being able to access expert advice on how best to exploit their discoveries
- whether by the licensing of patents, collaborations with existing companies or by founding new spin-off companies.
・・・
Other notable contributions include the development of laser-scanning confocal microscopes
and the more recent spin-off, Heptares Therapeutics, exploiting structural analysis of G-protein-coupled receptors for drug design.
The location of AstraZeneca adjacent to the Laboratory has led to a joint collaboration fund to foster interactions,
and other biomedical companies including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Heptares and Eli Lilly also fund work at the LMB.
Methods to determine atomic structures of macromolecules by electron microscopy, developed at the LMB, are being transferred to industry to further their own research and development.
Impact: Heptares Therapeutics.
In 2007 the LMB’s Richard Henderson and Chris Tate co-founded Heptares Therapeutics to exploit pioneering new technology to stabilise G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
As Chris comments:
'Understanding the structure of GPCRs at a molecular level is important in designing new and more effective drugs to combat many human illnesses.
Heptares’ StaR (Stabilised Receptor) technology platform allows us to apply contemporary drug discovery approaches to stabilised GPCRs
- improving the chances of finding drugs to previously intractable targets and enabling the development of safer and more selective therapeutic agents.'
Heptares is using this technology to work on its own and with partners to discover new medicines to target key diseases such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, type 2 diabetes, cancers and HIV.
※Heptares：will be relocating to the Cambridge area in "July 2018". (9/6up)
※MRC LMB: Huge congratulations to Richard Henderson of MRC_LMB, Jacques Dubochet and Joachim Frank for their NobelPrize in Chemistry! (10/4)
MRC LMB_HP:
The LMB is delighted to announce the awarding of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to the LMB’s Richard Henderson, jointly with Jacques Dubochet and Joachim Frank “for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution”. More to follow soon.
※We are now accepting applications for our PhD programme. (9/22up)
Projects:
The PhD projects available for studies leading to a University of Cambridge PhD degree commencing 1 October 2018 are listed below.
・Chris Tate: "Cryo-EM of GPCRs."
Chris Tate: "Structural StudiesStructure of activated states of G protein-coupled receptors by Electron Cryo-Microscopy."
The structures of G protein-coupled receptors in multiple different conformations are necessary to understand how agonists activate the receptor to facilitate G protein coupling.
In addition, structures are also required bound to arrestins to understand the molecular mechanism of biased agonism.
We have developed a thermostabilisation technology that has allowed us to determine the structures of multiple different GPCRs bound to inverse agonists, partial agonists, biased agonists and full agonists.
Recently, we also developed a thermostabilised G protein that has allowed us to determine the structure of the activated state of the adenosine A2A receptor.
We wish to build on these successes and to utilise the developments in electron cryo-microscopy to determine structures of GPCRs bound to stabilised heterotrimeric G proteins and arrestin by single particle imaging.
The successful candidate will be expected to learn all the steps involved in the overexpression, purification and preparation of cryo-EM samples of a GPCR
and to determine one or more structures using the Titan Krios equipped with state of the art detectors.
※Brochure - MRC LMB. (9/19 update)
Impact:
The LMB has an enviable track record in promoting the application of its research findings.
Researchers at the LMB benefit from the Laboratory’s long experience in this field, and from being able to access expert advice on how best to exploit their discoveries
- whether by the licensing of patents, collaborations with existing companies or by founding new spin-off companies.
・・・
Other notable contributions include the development of laser-scanning confocal microscopes
and the more recent spin-off, Heptares Therapeutics, exploiting structural analysis of G-protein-coupled receptors for drug design.
The location of AstraZeneca adjacent to the Laboratory has led to a joint collaboration fund to foster interactions,
and other biomedical companies including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Heptares and Eli Lilly also fund work at the LMB.
Methods to determine atomic structures of macromolecules by electron microscopy, developed at the LMB, are being transferred to industry to further their own research and development.
Impact: Heptares Therapeutics.
In 2007 the LMB’s Richard Henderson and Chris Tate co-founded Heptares Therapeutics to exploit pioneering new technology to stabilise G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
As Chris comments:
'Understanding the structure of GPCRs at a molecular level is important in designing new and more effective drugs to combat many human illnesses.
Heptares’ StaR (Stabilised Receptor) technology platform allows us to apply contemporary drug discovery approaches to stabilised GPCRs
- improving the chances of finding drugs to previously intractable targets and enabling the development of safer and more selective therapeutic agents.'
Heptares is using this technology to work on its own and with partners to discover new medicines to target key diseases such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, type 2 diabetes, cancers and HIV.
※Heptares：will be relocating to the Cambridge area in "July 2018". (9/6up)