With a multimillion-dollar electron microscope and computer programs that can pick out the shapes of structures only six atoms wide, Dr. Wah Chiu and his colleagues at
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston are attempting to explain the intricate structures of
viruses and proteins.
"What we’re trying to do is understand the architectural design of biological molecules," said Chiu, director of the National Center for Macromolecular Imaging at Baylor and a professor in the department of biochemistry. "Genetics alone is not sufficient, it’s just the beginning. You need both genetics and structures to understand the functions of proteins and protein aggregates."
Chiu has over 50 collaborators around the world who work with him to develop three-dimensional images of the molecules they study in their own labs. These images can help the scientists make hypotheses about the functions of different parts of a protein.
In addition, the shape and organization of a molecule might lead to new ideas for antiviral drugs or vaccines, he said. For example, if a virus consists of five types of molecules arranged repetitively in a sphere, a researcher might think of ways to disrupt this pattern to render the virus harmless, like plug the hole or destabilize the ring.
"Having a structure really can focus their attention on what’s the next best experiment to do," said Chiu. His lab has determined the structure of the herpes simplex virus type 1, LDL cholesterol, and calcium ion channels, among other things.