MX Fact Bubbles - Protein Structures
TOXINS FROM CONE SNAILS
Conotoxins are interesting molecules and could be useful as therapeutics. Structures of conotoxins reveal how they interact with their targets.
(Thao et al. Scientific Reports 2021)
Visual: A ring of five multicoloured ribbon-diagram protein structures (orange, pink/magenta, purple, green, yellow) arranged in a circle, flanked by two black-and-white line drawings of cone snail shells.
Conotoxins are interesting molecules and could be useful as therapeutics. Structures of conotoxins reveal how they interact with their targets.
(Thao et al. Scientific Reports 2021)
Visual: A ring of five multicoloured ribbon-diagram protein structures (orange, pink/magenta, purple, green, yellow) arranged in a circle, flanked by two black-and-white line drawings of cone snail shells.
CANCER
The Bcl-2 protein regulates the destruction of cancer cells and is a promising target for cancer therapy.
(Lee et al. PNAS 2011)
Visual: A teal, smooth, dumbbell-shaped 3D protein surface model.
The Bcl-2 protein regulates the destruction of cancer cells and is a promising target for cancer therapy.
(Lee et al. PNAS 2011)
Visual: A teal, smooth, dumbbell-shaped 3D protein surface model.
AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES
The perforin protein structure is a step towards developing drugs to combat organ rejection and auto-immune diseases.
(Law et al. Nature 2010)
Visual: A teal ribbon-diagram protein structure on the left, next to a rainbow-coloured (blue-to-red heat-map) 3D surface model resembling a ring/pore-like structure on the right.
The perforin protein structure is a step towards developing drugs to combat organ rejection and auto-immune diseases.
(Law et al. Nature 2010)
Visual: A teal ribbon-diagram protein structure on the left, next to a rainbow-coloured (blue-to-red heat-map) 3D surface model resembling a ring/pore-like structure on the right.
HEART DISEASE
The structure of the Kir potassium channel will be used to develop drugs to help with arrhythmia and other heart problems.
(Clarke et al. Cell 2010)
Visual: A blue and purple ribbon-diagram protein structure, with a symmetrical, flower-like arrangement.
The structure of the Kir potassium channel will be used to develop drugs to help with arrhythmia and other heart problems.
(Clarke et al. Cell 2010)
Visual: A blue and purple ribbon-diagram protein structure, with a symmetrical, flower-like arrangement.
BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
Pathogenic bacteria use long fibres called pili to stick to target cells. Structures reveal how these fibers form, paving the way for new vaccines.
(Kang et al. Science 2007)
Visual: A blue ribbon-diagram protein structure on the left, next to a green-tinted microscope-style image of an elongated bacterium with hair-like pili fibres extending from its surface.
Pathogenic bacteria use long fibres called pili to stick to target cells. Structures reveal how these fibers form, paving the way for new vaccines.
(Kang et al. Science 2007)
Visual: A blue ribbon-diagram protein structure on the left, next to a green-tinted microscope-style image of an elongated bacterium with hair-like pili fibres extending from its surface.
COVID-19
Structures of proteins from Sars-CoV-2 reveal how they affect our immune systems, which could lead to new treatments.
(Pymm et al. Cell Rep 2021)
Visual: A cluster of pink, red, and blue ribbon/surface protein structures, with a simple line-drawing icon of a virus particle and a syringe beneath it.
Structures of proteins from Sars-CoV-2 reveal how they affect our immune systems, which could lead to new treatments.
(Pymm et al. Cell Rep 2021)
Visual: A cluster of pink, red, and blue ribbon/surface protein structures, with a simple line-drawing icon of a virus particle and a syringe beneath it.
STABILISING HUMAN PROTEINS
The protein heperanase is involved in diseases like cancer, diabetes and COVID-19, but is hard to study in a lab. Structures helped design a stable version that can be used in future studies.
(Whitefield et al. RSC Chem Bio 2022)
Visual: Teal, pink, and green translucent surface protein models overlapping, with a black wrench icon overlaid on top (symbolising "stabilising"/tools).
The protein heperanase is involved in diseases like cancer, diabetes and COVID-19, but is hard to study in a lab. Structures helped design a stable version that can be used in future studies.
(Whitefield et al. RSC Chem Bio 2022)
Visual: Teal, pink, and green translucent surface protein models overlapping, with a black wrench icon overlaid on top (symbolising "stabilising"/tools).
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Mutations in the protein PINK1 can lead to early onset Parkinson's disease. Structural analysis helps explain how this protein works so treatments can be developed.
(Gan et al. Nature 2022)
Visual: A dark red ribbon-diagram structure on the left, next to a colourful (green, blue, pink, tan) rounded molecular surface model arranged in a ring, with a black triangle marking symmetry at its centre.
Mutations in the protein PINK1 can lead to early onset Parkinson's disease. Structural analysis helps explain how this protein works so treatments can be developed.
(Gan et al. Nature 2022)
Visual: A dark red ribbon-diagram structure on the left, next to a colourful (green, blue, pink, tan) rounded molecular surface model arranged in a ring, with a black triangle marking symmetry at its centre.
THE GUT MICROBIOME
The human gut is home to hundreds of species of microbes. Structures of receptors lead to better understanding of the gut microbiome and how our diet might affect our immune systems.
(Oh et al. Nature 2021)
Visual: A large dark blue lumpy surface protein model, surrounded by simple flat-colour icons of food (an apple, egg, bread/toast, pizza slice).
The human gut is home to hundreds of species of microbes. Structures of receptors lead to better understanding of the gut microbiome and how our diet might affect our immune systems.
(Oh et al. Nature 2021)
Visual: A large dark blue lumpy surface protein model, surrounded by simple flat-colour icons of food (an apple, egg, bread/toast, pizza slice).
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Detailed structures of receptors from our immune systems reveal how our bodies respond to exposure to diseases.
(Rice et al. PNAS 2021)
Visual: A cluster of magenta, yellow, and green ribbon-diagram protein structures overlapping against a pale translucent surface backdrop.
Detailed structures of receptors from our immune systems reveal how our bodies respond to exposure to diseases.
(Rice et al. PNAS 2021)
Visual: A cluster of magenta, yellow, and green ribbon-diagram protein structures overlapping against a pale translucent surface backdrop.