Integrated multi-user crystallisation facility comprising a robot and storage system with image retrieval. (360G-Wellcome-101528_Z_13_Z)

The key objective of this proposal is to equip the Structural Biology Laboratory at York with a modern facility to allow exploitation of cutting-edge new technologies in protein crystallisation; the critical step in X-ray structure determination. The bid aims to create a new-generation facility that will enhance our ability to generate diffraction quality crystals. This will underpin York research into proteins of relevance to human health by: (i) enabling high-throughput protein crystallisation , (ii) facilitating expansion into membrane proteins and challenging eukaryotic systems, (iii) underpinning disease research initiatives between the Chemistry and Biology Departments thus ensuring YBSLs position as an international centre of excellence. This proposal requests partial funding for a crystallisation robot and for a crystallisation storage and imaging system. Our major objective is to advance research on proteins relevant to human health. In particular we highlight our work on: i) viral proteins involved in replication and virus assembly ii) structural and functional crosslinks between diabetes and cancers iii) carbohydrate processing enzymes and glycans in health and disease iv) proteins involved in biofilm formation on medical devices v) methodologies for structure and fragment-based drug discovery vi)molecular mechanisms of protozoan infection in the search for new therapeutic strategies