Scientific Activities

Different biological systems are being studied from the atomic to the cellular level of organization using state-of-the-art structural methods such as X-ray crystallography, NMR and electron microscopy as well as other spectroscopic methods and biochemical and molecular biology techniques.

The investigation of the molecular structure of biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids is accompanied by structure-function studies.

Major research topics include structural studies on components involved in transcription and translation of the genetic code such as ribosomes (Yonath), tRNA synthetases (Safro), and transcription factors (Shakked). Additional reasearch in this area includes work on helicases (Sagi) and DNA structure (Shakked).

Another major area of activity is work related to structural and dynamical aspects of protein function such as on acetylcholine esterase (Sussman), metalloenzymes (Sagi), chaperonins (Horovitz) and proteins involved in membrane-fusion and virus entry (Fass) into cells.

Research on molecular recognition includes NMR studies (Anglister, Muszkat) on proteins involved in the immune response such as antibodies and interferon (Anglister) and work on antibodies that interact with monolayer and crystal surfaces (Addadi).

Finally, work at the cellular level of organization includes studies on biomineralization (Addadi, Weiner), such as crystal growth by organisms to form skeletal tissues, and on the nanomechanics and dynamics of virus assembly and hearing (Rousso).