Recent progress in structural biology: lessons from our research history

Area of Science:

• Structural Biology
• Biophysics
• Molecular Medicine

Background:

• The 'resolution revolution' in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has transformed structural biology.
• Cryo-EM now provides near-atomic resolution structural data, comparable to X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy.
• This advancement impacts basic research and pharmaceutical development by enabling visualization of atomic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the research history and findings of the authors in structural biology.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of fundamental cellular processes using advanced structural techniques.
• To highlight the application of cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography in understanding biological systems.

Main Methods:

• Joint application of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography.
• Structural analysis of microtubule-based motility of the molecular motor kinesin.
• X-ray crystallography of in vitro reconstituted multi-protein complexes for transcriptional regulation studies.

Main Results:

• Detailed structural mechanisms of kinesin's microtubule-based motility were elucidated.
• Structural insights into transcriptional regulation via multi-protein complexes were obtained.
• The study showcases the power of combining cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography for complex biological problems.

Conclusions:

• Cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography are powerful tools for understanding molecular mechanisms.
• These techniques have significantly advanced the fields of structural biology and medicine.
• The reviewed research provides fundamental insights into cellular motility and gene regulation.