Model of the enzyme Nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase

This enzyme, from the archaebacterium, Pyrococcus furiosus, is expected to be structurally similar to a clinically important human protein called B-cell colony enhancing factor based on amino acid sequence similarities and structure prediction methods. The structure consists of identical protein subunits, each shown in a different color, arranged in a ring.

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Credit: Berkeley Structural Genomics Center

A global "map of the protein structure universe"

The Berkeley Structural Genomics Center has developed a method to visualize the vast universe of protein structures in which proteins of similar structure are located close together and those of different structures far away in the space. This map, constructed using about 500 of the most common protein folds, reveals a highly non-uniform distribution, and shows segregation between four elongated regions corresponding to four different protein classes (shown in four different colors). Such a representation reveals a high-level of organization of the protein structure universe.

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Credit: Berkeley Structural Genomics Center

A global "map of the protein structure universe" indicating the positions of specific proteins

The preponderance of small, less-structured proteins near the origin, with the more highly structured, large proteins towards the ends of the axes, may suggest the evolution of protein structures.

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Credit: Berkeley Structural Genomics Center

Model of a protein involved in cell division from Mycoplasma pneumoniae

This model, based on X-ray crystallography, revealed a structural domain not seen before. The protein is thought to be involved in cell division and cell wall biosynthesis.

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Credit: Berkeley Structural Genomics Center

Model based on X-ray crystallography of the structure of a small heat shock protein complex from the bacteria, Methanococcus jannaschii

Methanococcus jannaschii is an organism that lives at near boiling temperature, and this protein complex helps it cope with the stress of high temperature. Similar complexes are produced in human cells when they are "stressed" by events such as burns, heart attacks or strokes. The complexes help cells recover from the stressful event.

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Credit: Berkeley Structural Genomics Center

Section of an electron density map

Electron density maps such as this one are generated from the diffraction patterns of X-rays passing through protein crystals. These maps are then used to generate a model of the protein's structure by fitting the protein's amino acid sequence (yellow) into the observed electron density (blue).

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Credit: Southeast Structural Genomics Center

Structure of sortase b from the bacterium, B. Anthracis, that causes anthrax

Sortase b is an enzyme used to rob red blood cells of iron, which the bacteria need to survive.

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Credit: Southeast Structural Genomics Center

Model of an enzyme, dUTP pyrophosphatase, from M. tuberculosis

Drugs targeted to this enzyme might inhibit the replication of M. tuberculosis.

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Credit: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Center

Model of an enzyme, PanC, which is involved in the last step of vitamin B5 biosynthesis in M. tuberculosis

PanC is essential for the growth of M. tuberculosis, and is therefore a potential drug target.

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Credit: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Center

Model of a protein, antigen 85B, which is the most abundant protein exported by M. tuberculosis

Antigen 85B is involved in building the bacterial cell wall and is an attractive drug target. Based on its structure, scientists have suggested a new class of antituberculous drugs.

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Credit: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Center

Model of an enzyme, PanB, from M. tuberculosis

This enzyme is an attractive drug target.

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Credit: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Center

Model of a secreted protein from M. tuberculosis that may function to protect the bacterium from oxidative damage

This protein is an attractive drug target.

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Credit: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Center

Model of a major secreted protein of unknown function, which is only found in mycobacteria

Based on structural similarity, this protein may be involved in host-bacterial interactions.

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Credit: Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Center

A knotted protein from an archaebacterium called Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicam

This organism breaks down waste products and produces methane gas. Protein folding theory previously held that forming a knot was beyond the ability of a protein, but this structure, determined at Argonne's Structural Biology Center, proves differently. Researchers theorize that this knot stabilizes the amino acid subunits of the protein.

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Credit: Midwest Center For Structural Genomics