Ricerc@Sapienza

The structure of macromolecules is a crucial information to precision medicine, biotechnology and drug design. The structure of molecular targets allows to understand the fine mechanisms of cell physiology and pathology. Academic and for-profit organization are racing to determine the structure of all Covid-19 proteins and of their complexes with host interactor to design new drugs and therapeutic strategies.
Sapienza is at the forefront of structural biology and it has been active, with its Structural Biology group, giving an internationally recognized contribution to the understanding of pathological phenomena at the molecular level, of protein structural dynamics and of protein usage for biomedicine and biotechnology.
Since its inception, the Dept. of Biochemistry of the Sapienza University, in collaboration with the CNR Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, has deposited over 200 protein structures in the Protein Data Bank and published over 300 papers.
The main methodology in the field is X-ray crystallography, based on diffraction by protein crystals, it is of vital importance to utilize high-throughput equipment to maximize crystal yield. The acquisition of a latest generation crystallization robot to replace the present obsolete and unrepairable equipment will allow the continuation of a high-profile research activity and expand its potential. It will allow the Structural Biology group to provide a service to other Depts of Sapienza and/or external parties, including Companies. This equipment will be unique at Sapienza, in Rome and in the region Lazio, serving all central Italy.
Furthermore, it will create a synergy with other equipment for the biophysical characterization of proteins (eg SAXS, electron microscope) and it will continue to support grant application in Sapienza for Departments involved in molecular biology, drug design, biomedicine and physiology, strengthening the competitiveness of Sapienza at the European and national level.