Center For Structural Biology
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Putting the fun back in antifungals: new insights into Acanthamoeba drug targets
Acanthamoeba can cause diseases blinding keratitis, an infection of the eye, or granulomatous amebic encephalitis, a generally fatal infection of the brain and spinal cord. Antifungals that target the biosynthesis of fungal sterols, such as ergosterol, are often used as treatment, but the Acanthamoeba ergosterol biosynthetic pathway has been shown to differ significantly from that found in fungi. Read MoreJun. 12, 2024
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STOP the GAP: New cryo-ET package aims to fill in the ‘missing wedge’
Cryo-ET suffers from the “missing wedge” problem: as samples become more tilted, their thickness at the extremes is increased and sample penetration decreases. William Wan and collaborators describe the creation of a new subtomogram averaging package called STOPGAP. Read MoreJun. 3, 2024
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School of Medicine Basic Sciences Staff Spotlight: Karen Davis
Karen Davis, the program coordinator for the Center for Structural Biology, enjoys feeling like she is "a part of something bigger” than herself, both in and out of the office. She is a huge soccer fan and coaches two co-ed recreational soccer teams at the Nashville Youth Soccer Association. Read MoreApr. 17, 2024
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New structures offer insight into how a bacterial motor powers bacterial chemotaxis, a key infectious process
An international collaboration led by Professor of Pharmacology Tina Iverson identified how bacteria move in response to their environment, a process essential for infection by pathogens. Read MoreApr. 17, 2024
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Vanderbilt researchers showcase cutting-edge structural biology at annual CSB Symposium
The 2024 Center for Structural Biology Symposium, which took place on March 28, celebrated its decades of success, research undertakings, and goal of strengthening the structural biology community at Vanderbilt. Read MoreApr. 15, 2024
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Q&A: Illuminating a critical step in initiating DNA replication in eukaryotes
Brandt Eichman and Walter Chazin, professors of biochemistry, worked together to provide a better understanding of how exactly DNA replication is initiated. Their work will influence novel small molecule modifier designs that may serve as tools for detailed studies of DNA replication in cells and eventual therapies. Read MoreMar. 15, 2024
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Exploring the basics of neurological disorders: Calcium transport in receptors
Led by Terunaga Nakagawa, an international collaboration describes for the first time the fundamental mechanism underpinning cellular processes that lead to learning and memory. Read MoreFeb. 26, 2024