Laboratory of Biomolecular Architecture

Biomolecular architecture, constructed by macromolecular interactions, provide frameworks for diverse cellular activities. We are trying to understand the biomolecular architecture by investigating macromolecular interactions. Inspired by the architectural features of macrmomolecular interactions, we are developing modulators such as antibodies and artificial proteins to interfere with these macromolecular interactions. We employ a variety techniques in structural biology such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray solution scattering and cryo-electron microscopy. These structural biology approaches are complemented by a battery of techniques in biochemistry, cell biology and recently de novo protein design. Phytohormones such as abscisic acid (ABA) play pivotal roles in adaptaion to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. We investigate atomic structures of key signaling components and their interactions. We also attempt to develop strategies to regulate the ABA signaling by designing modulators. Antibodies are key players in the human immune system. We select antibody clones specific to biologically and medically important biomarkers and engineer them to be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Chaperones protect cells in stress conditions such as heat by promoting protein refolding and preventing protein aggregation. Unraveling principles dictating different oligomeric assembly of chaperones would expand our knowledge in chaperone structure-function relationship. Ubiquitination modulates molecular interactions and functions. not to mention serving as a degradation signal. We are particularly interested in how ubiquitination on cellular proteins regulate their functions at atomic level. We study molecular mechanisms of proteins and protein complexes by employing various s