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Many cancer cells require the enzyme glutaminase synthase C (GAC) to grow well. Consequently drugs that inhibit GAC are potential cancer treatments, and much work is being done to find the best ones. The Cerione group reports some of this work.

Resistance to antimicrobial agents is a worldwide problem. Not only do bacteria mutate to become resistant, they can acquire resistance genes from other bacteria. Using a structure-based strategy, researchers seek to identify new drugs which can inhibit this transfer and so limit the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Information encoded in our genes controls how we live and grow. As part of this complex process, DNA is transcribed to RNA, one "letter" (nucleotide) at a time, by an enzyme called RNA polymerase (RNAP).

A great challenge at many x-ray beamlines is to direct x-rays into in a very small, very clean footprint while maintaining high photon flux.

Chris Fromme, Cornell Molecular Biology & Genetics, has been awarded a prestigious Guggenheim fellowship for his work in structural biology.

Many cellular processes, particularly intercellular signaling, require enzyme-catalyzed reactions to occur inside a cell membrane.

Macromolecules typically produce only small crystals; to observe diffraction from them (and determine the molecular structure) we need the intense, highly collimated beam from a synchrotron source.

Application of high pressure to crystals of Snf7 has an unusual effect. Cryocooling protein crystals under pressure (HPC) can reduce damage due to the cooling process.