1) Completion of the structure of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, many of which were first cloned here. The study of protein-RNA systems has been extended to mammalian signal recognition particles and many proteins interacting with mRNAs.
(2) RNAs from viruses, such as influenza and rabies, aim to understand how they replicate and assemble.
(3) Eukaryotic transcription factor protein-DNA complex crystals. Recently, emphasis has been placed on the structural determination of the T protein/DNA complex and the first Stat/DNA complex.
The EMBL Grenoble site participates in the European Structural Proteomics Project and is actively involved in consortia with other institutions: the Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB), a consortium for structural biology in Grenoble, France, and the Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions (UVHCI). The UVHCI was created in January 2007 with two partners: the CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research) and the UJF (University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble). University Joseph Fourier).
In the framework of the PSB, the EMBL Grenoble site has not only built infrastructure and equipment dedicated to resolving the structure, function and crystallization of huge quantities of proteins, but has also set up a laboratory for the deuteration of biomolecules, the D-Lab, in collaboration with the ILL.
The great advantage of the Neutron Source for biological research is the possibility of "eyewitnessing" the hydrogen atom, whereas the Synchrotron Light Source has the potential to "witness" the hydrogen atom. " hydrogen atoms, which are difficult to detect with synchrotron X-rays. The relationship between the structure and function of macromolecules is intricate, varying from biological function when present as a single atom, to biological function when present as an assembly, or a complex bound to other molecules. The "eyewitness" observation of hydrogen atoms provides unique information on the organization of hydrogen atoms at all levels.
Almost half of all biomolecules are composed of hydrogen atoms. Therefore, hydrogen atoms play a pivotal role in the composition of biological macromolecules. The participation of hydrogen atoms in the catalytic reactions of enzymes is the basis for the existence of life. Deuterium, or heavy hydrogen (about twice the mass of hydrogen), deuteration is the isotopic separation of hydrogen atoms to replace them. Selectively deuterating a hydrogen atom and replacing it allows for a more detailed analysis of the internal structure of a molecule. Deuterating biological macromolecules is extremely difficult, but that's exactly what D-Lab does. It takes full advantage of the neutron light source to become the world's unique base for the application of neutron sources in the biological field.