New Tools for Probing Protein Structure

Abstract

A computer–generated representation of the cro represser dimer (shown in orange and white) binding to operator DNA (X–ray coordinates were provided by Brian Matthews, University of Oregon). Understanding the structure–function relationships of proteins is the major challenge of protein biochemistry. Analytic techniques like mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and X–ray crystallography are currently being modified to extend their usefulness in determining protein structure.