Structural and Computational Biology for
Systems Biology
The lectures will be structured according to the following
schedule: Structural Biology and Computational Biology. The integration of
advanced imaging technologies and computational science with basic molecular and
cellular research offers insight into how living systems function, thus giving
rise to the science of systems biology. This short lecture series will look at
the main experimental technologies and computational approaches, in use and
under development, in order to understand complex biological systems at the
molecular level. Structural Biology. Proteins make up about half of the
material within the body's cells. They are involved in all essential life
functions. A detailed analysis of protein-protein and protein-ligand
interactions is a crucial goal for systems biology and, determination of
three-dimensional protein structure is particularly important to proteomic
research, since subtle changes in structure can affect the proper function of a
protein, changing its activity, and possibly leading to its instability and
ultimate destruction by the cell. The lectures will cover the major techniques
and state-of-the-art strategies used in structural biology research, including
structural genomics initiatives. Computational Biology. Another goal of
systems biology is to develop a computer model of an entire cell. Such a model
would revolutionise drug development, allowing the most promising drugs to be
identified more quickly and in a more rational, informed way. Development of
computational methods, informed and supported by experimental data, for 'in
silico' testing and discovery of new drugs would help speed the drug discovery
process and, most certainly, help eliminate early poor drug candidates. We will
explore some key developments in the area of computational biology targeted
toward prediction of three-dimensional protein structure, both protein-protein
and protein-ligand interactions, particularly relevant to the drug discovery
process.