Structural genomics
We are interested in the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell fate.To study such mechanisms, we employ the laws of physics and the rules of evolution to develop and apply computational methods for predicting the 3D structure macromolecules and their complexes.
SGU's main lines of research are:
- Protein-Ligand interactions. We have developed methods for comparative docking of small chemical compounds and their target proteins. Such method have already been applied to identify drug targets in ten genomes that cause tropical diseases. This work is part of the Tropical Disease Initiative and is funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.
- RNA comparative structure prediction. The recent interest in RNA, specially non-coding RNA molecules, has prompted us to develop a series of tools for the alignment of RNA structures and the prediction of their functions. This work is has been funded by a Marie Curie action and the Generalitat Valenciana.
- Structure determination of genomics domains. More recently, we have engaged collaboration with the Dekker group in UMass to study the 3D organization of chromatin. Such work is resulting in the first ever structures of genomic domains in the cell nucleous.
