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- A multi-pronged approach to targeting myeloproliferative neoplasms
- A new paradigm of machine learning-based structural variant detection
- A whole lot of junk or a treasure trove of discovery?
- Advanced imaging interrogation of pathogen induced NETosis
- Analysing the metabolic interactions in brain cancer
- Atopic dermatitis causes and treatments
- Boosting the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer
- Building a cell history recorder using synthetic biology for longitudinal patient monitoring
- Characterisation of malaria parasite proteins exported into infected liver cells
- Deciphering the heterogeneity of the tissue microenvironment by multiplexed 3D imaging
- Defining the mechanisms of thymic involution and regeneration
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- Epigenetics – genome wide multiplexed single-cell CUT&Tag assay development
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- Finding treatments for chromatin disorders of intellectual disability
- Functional epigenomics in human B cells
- How do nutrition interventions and interruption of malaria infection influence development of immunity in sub-Saharan African children?
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- Interaction with Toxoplasma parasites and the brain
- Interactions between tumour cells and their microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer
- Investigation of a novel cell death protein
- Malaria: going bananas for sex
- Mapping spatial variation in gene and transcript expression across tissues
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- Naturally acquired immune response to malaria parasites
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- Role of glycosylation in malaria parasite infection of liver cells, red blood cells and mosquitoes
- Screening for novel genetic causes of primary immunodeficiency
- Single-cell ATAC CRISPR screening – Illuminate chromatin accessibility changes in genome wide CRISPR screens
- Spatial single-cell CRISPR screening – All in one screen: Where? Who? What?
- Statistical analysis of single-cell multi-omics data
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- Using combination immunotherapy to tackle heterogeneous brain tumours
- Using intravital microscopy for immunotherapy against brain tumours
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- Using structural biology to understand programmed cell death
- Validation and application of serological markers of previous exposure to malaria
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Structural biology

The three-dimensional shape of molecules is crucial to their function within the body. Changes to the shape, or structure, of molecules can contribute to the development of diseases including cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Our research revealing the structures of biological molecules is leading to new ways to treat disease.
Structural biology research at WEHI
Our structural biologists are:
- Revealing the three-dimensional structures of proteins and how these relate to their functions in cells.
- Exploring how certain proteins interact in health and disease.
- Discovering new treatments for diseases based on the three-dimensional structures of critical proteins.
What is structural biology?
Every molecule in our bodies has a three-dimensional shape, its structure. Structural biology aims to determine the unique shapes of these molecules.
Proteins are relatively large molecules that have an intricate and unique structure. The structure of a protein allows it to fit, or interact, precisely with other molecules, like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.
Changes in the structure of particular proteins have been linked with many diseases. One cause of these changes to a protein’s structure is alterations (mutations) to the gene that carries the instructions to make that protein.
If genetic mutations occur, the resulting protein structure will be affected. This can alter its ability to interact with other molecules. This affects how the protein functions within the cell, potentially altering the cell’s behaviour. Thus, changes in protein structure can underlie disease.
Structural biology techniques
Structural biologists use techniques that can reveal molecular structures at the atomic scale. These include:
- X-ray crystallography, which uses x-rays to determine the structures of proteins. To achieve this, the proteins must be in a crystallised form. When the x-ray beam hits a crystallised protein (or some other crystallised molecule), the x-rays are scattered in discrete directions producing a diffraction pattern from which researchers are usually able to deduce the structure of the protein.
Synchrotrons are large devices that generate intense x-ray beams, improving the detail of protein structure that can be determined. Our structural biology researchers use the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne in their research.
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy uses strong magnetic fields to determine the location of atoms within a protein molecule. As well as revealing the protein's structure, researchers can detect how the protein structure can move under certain conditions.
- Electron microscopy is emerging as a powerful method for studying the structures of very large molecules even when they cannot be coaxed into a crystalline form. To take advantage of these developments, our researchers have partnered with Monash University in establishing the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Centre for Structural Cryo-Electron Microscopy.
From protein structure to treatment
Uncovering the structure of proteins and how this relates to their function is leading to new treatments for many diseases.
Our researchers are revealing the structure of proteins that are important in disease, and understanding how each structure relates to the protein’s function within cells. Our medicinal chemistry researchers can then design small molecules that can bind to crucial parts of the protein’s structure. This can influence the protein’s function, potentially stifling its contribution to disease. In the long term, some of these small molecules can undergo clinical trials to evaluate their potential as new medications.
Researchers:
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A landmark discovery about how insulin docks on cells could help in the development of improved types of insulin for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.