Structural Biology is Cool

My name is Michael Rudolph. I am a scientist who investigates how the three-dimensional shape of a protein molecule affects how the protein functions. In this blog, I will write about this seemingly peculiar fact. I'll write about how we study these extremely small protein molecules using a technique called X-ray crystallography and also how we benefit from protein structure information. For example, how protein structural knowledge facilitates the drug design process. Furthermore, I will write about structural biological phenomenon related to exercise and human performance as a consequence of my research interests and my background as an athlete (I played college football at Hofstra University).
In a nutshell, protein function comes from protein form. Subsequently, when a protein molecule has an altered shape it may perform differently, potentially leading to disease or improved health. Scientists, like me, primarily study the form/function relationship of protein molecules with the hope of understanding and abrogating disease. For example, when hemoglobin (figure above is the structure of hemoglobin - red arrows point to oxygen binding sites), the protein that binds and transports the oxygen we breathe, changes shape due to a "mutation" it may loose the ability to bind oxygen. This inability to bind oxygen may lead to disease as well as premature death. Therefore, if we can figure out why the deformed protein malfunctions this may lead to a cure. Theoretically there are many ways to manage poorly functioning proteins and understanding the shape of a protein molecule plays a massive part in this task. On the other hand, a different hemoglobin "mutation" could improve oxygen binding, imparting advantage in endurance events such as the Tour de France. Perhaps the great cyclist Lance Armstrong has a strong-oxygen binding form of hemoglobin enhancing his ability to ride so effectively under low oxygen conditions (ie. high altitude).
So, this blog will focus on the molecular structure of proteins and how their shape affects their function either positively or negatively particularly related to human performance and how small molecules (ie. drug design and ergogenic compounds) affect the protein molecules involved. I hope you enjoy this expedition with me. I am sure you will because science is one of the coolest ways to interpret our world especially at the molecular level.