Crystallographic Studies of Chemokines, Chemokine Recept

我们的部分正在研究通过趋化作用的细胞间信号的结构基础，以及趋化因子和防御素在病毒感染过程中的作用。我们还对防御素和趋化因子的结构与它们的抗菌和趋化特性之间的关系感兴趣。我们还在研究L-天冬酰胺酶(包括人)、植物型天冬酰胺酶和毒素的酶机理和特异性。虽然我们在研究中主要使用X射线结晶学，但我们的研究技术扩展到生物化学和分子生物学。我们最近的努力集中在 三个不同的区域：1)趋化因子和趋化因子受体，2)α和β-防御素，3)植物型天冬酰胺酶，4)钾通道阻滞性毒素。

Our section is investigating the structural basis of intercellular signaling via chemotaxis and the role of chemokines and defensins in the process of viral infection. We are also interested in correlating the structures of defensins and chemokines with their antimicrobial and chemotactic properties. We are also studying the enzymatic mechanism and specificity of L-asparaginases (including human), plant-type asparaginases and toxins. Although we primarily use X-ray crystallography in our studies, our research techniques extend into biochemistry and molecular biology. Our recent efforts have been concentrated in three distinct areas: 1) chemokines and chemokine receptors, 2)alpha- and beta-defensins, 3) plant-type asparaginases, and 4)potassium chanel-blocking toxins.