Structural genomics

Structural Genomics (pronounced: struhk-cher-uhl jee-noh-miks) is a branch of Genomics that involves the characterization and providing a detailed description of the 3D structure of every protein produced by a given species, such as humans. The term was coined in the late 20th century, combining the words "structure" from Latin "structura" meaning "a fitting together, building" and "genomics" from the Greek "genomos" meaning "birth, descent".

Overview

Structural genomics seeks to describe the 3-dimensional structure of every protein encoded by a given genome. This genome-based approach allows for a high-throughput method of structure determination by a combination of experimental and modeling approaches. The principal difference between structural genomics and traditional structural prediction is that structural genomics attempts to determine the structure of every protein encoded by the genome, rather than focusing on one particular protein.

Techniques

With thousands of protein structures yet to be determined, new methods and technologies are being developed to make the process both more efficient and economical. Techniques used in structural genomics can include X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy and bioinformatics, among others.

Importance

Structural genomics has the potential to provide important insights into many areas of biology, medicine, and biotechnology. For example, knowing the exact 3D structure of proteins involved in a disease state can aid in the design of drugs that specifically target those proteins.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Structural genomics
Wikipedia's article - Structural genomics

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