| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/E014062/1 |
| Title: |
On the Protein Folding Problem |
| Principal Investigator: |
Harriman, Professor A |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
School of Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
Newcastle University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research |
| Starts: |
16 April 2007 |
Ends: |
15 April 2009 |
Value (£): |
100,999
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Analytical Science |
Chemical Biology |
| Complex fluids & soft solids |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Proteins are the biological workhorses that carry out vital functions in living cells. Before they can carry out their required functions, the proteins must fold into a complex three-dimensional structure but the underlying factors that perform this folding process remain unclear. Although the steps leading to protein folding are fast and highly efficient, things sometimes go wrong. This can have harmful consequences, as the incorrect folding of proteins is thought to be the cause of many diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and certain types of cancer. We propose here to build an instrument that will enable the systematic study of the dynamics of protein folding over a very wide temporal range. A key feature of the new instrument will involve a high-pressure cell that allows conformational motion to be controlled by varying frictional forces. The instrument will be used to follow large-scale unfolding of a short protein triggered by breaking a disulphide bond. This study should expose the mechanism and thermodynamics associated with the unfolding and refolding processes. Subsequent work should help unravel the role of metal ions in promoting Alzheimer's disease.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ncl.ac.uk |