Research

Protein assembly, crystallisation and aggregation

Proteins assembly and aggregation in the bulk and/or at the surface of bio-substrates strongly influenced by the surrounding environment of organisms determines the bio-functionalities of the proteins.  In many cases, the assembly and aggregation of proteins is associated with some diseases.  Therefore, the knowledge on the formation and the mechanism of proteins assembly and aggregation is very important for the understanding of life related processes and the treatment of diseases.

Figure 1. AFPIII molecules significantly change their antifreeze efficiency after aggregation.

The structure of protein is the vital information for human genome projects.  X-ray crystallography turns out to be one of the most effective techniques to measure the protein structure.  From this point of view, to grow protein crystals with the sufficient size and quality is the precondition to carry out the x-ray crystallography.  Nevertheless, to grow protein crystals with the sufficient size and quality remains as a significant challenge in this field.   This is because in many cases, proteins form an amorphous phase other than a crystalline phase.  The effective technologies to control protein crystallization are also limited due to insufficient knowledge on the mechanism of protein crystallization.

The objectives of the research are as follows:

v    to obtain the comprehensive understandings on the mechanisms of protein assembly and aggregation both in the bulk and at the surface of substrates, and to establish the correlation to the bio-functionalities;
v    to establish fundamental understandings on the protein crystallization kinetics, and the transition between protein crystallization and aggregation;
v     to identify novel technologies to control, fabricate and engineer protein assembly, aggregation and crystallization.

For more details click the below links:

Kinetics of protein crystallization and criteria for protein crystallization and aggregation.

Spherulitic Growth Kinetics of Protein Crystals.

Kinetics of protein assembly and neurodegenenarative diseases.