Oxford University, Structural Bioinformatics & Computational Biochemistry Unit

Welcome to the Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry Unit

We are interested in using computational methods to explore the relationship between structure and function in membrane proteins. This is important, as membrane proteins account for ~25% of all genes, and play key roles in the physiology of cells. Indeed, membrane proteins are targets for ~50% of drugs, and mutations in membrane proteins may result in diseases ranging from diabetes to cystic fibrosis.

Computer simulations allow membrane proteins to 'come alive' - that is, we can simulate the motions of membrane proteins and use this to explore the relationship between (static) structure and dynamic function. This is relevant to a number of areas ranging from biomedicine to nanotechnology.

Follow the links above to find out more about who we are and the work that we do.

STUDENTSHIP AVAILABLE

NC3Rs studentship: Using Molecular Simulation to Improve Prediction of Drug Export. Supervisor: Dr Phil Biggin.

Eligibility: Must be a UK candidate or an EU candidate who has resided in the UK for at least 3 years by 30.9.2013 if starting DPhil on 1.10.2013.

For more information click here.

Upcoming Events

Latest Publications:

Lelimousin, M. and Sansom M.S. (2013)
Membrane Perturbation by Carbon Nanotube Insertion: Pathways to Internalization.
Small (abstract)

Schmidt, M.R., Stansfeld, P.J., Tucker, S.J. and Sansom M.S. (2013)
Simulation-based prediction of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding to an ion channel.
Biochemistry (abstract)

Fotinou C., Aittoniemi, J., de Wet H., Polidori A., Pucci B., Sansom M.S., Venien-Bryan C., and Ashcroft F.M. (2013)
Tetrameric structure of SUR2B revealed by electron microscopy of oriented single particles.
FEBS J. (abstract)

Rollauer, S.E. et al. (2012)
Structure of the TatC core of the twin-arginine protein transport system.
Nature (abstract)

Munz, M., Hein J. and Biggin, P.C. (2012)
The Role of Flexibility and Conformational Selection in the Binding Promiscuity of PDZ domains.
PLoS Comp Biol. (abstract)

Yates, L.A., Lumb, C.N., Brahme, N.N., Zalyte, R., Bird, L.E., De Colibus, L., Owens, R.J., Calderwood, D.A., Sansom M.S. and Gilbert, R.J. (2012)
Structural and functional characterization of the kindlin-1 pleckstrin homology domain.
J. Biol. Chem. (abstract)

Biggin, P.C. (2012)
Protein dynamics - a moving target: Comment on "Comparing proteins by their internal dynamics: Exploring structure-function relationships beyond static structural alignments" by C. Micheletti.
Phys Life Rev. (abstract)

Crowet, J.M., Parton, D.L., Hall, B.A., Steinhauer, S., Brasseur, R., Lins, M. and Sansom M.S. (2012)
Multi-scale simulation of the simian immunodeficiency virus fusion peptide.
J. Phys. Chem. B. (abstract)

More SBCB publications available from

Last updated 22 February 2013