Institute for Molecular Science

How does a protein fold into its native functional threedimensional structure from its one-dimensional amino acid sequence (= genetic information)? To elucidate such a problem of protein folding, we are studying (1) in vitro refolding reactions of model globular proteins, and (2) functional mechanisms of molecular chaperones that are known to mediate protein folding in biological cells. To this end, we are using various spectroscopic and biophysical techniques, including NMR, small-angle X-ray scattering and calorimetry, as well as molecular biological techniques such as sitedirected mutagenesis.