Structural Biology
Structural Biology - Related Videos
09:23
Assessing Two-dimensional Crystallization Trials of Small Membrane Proteins for Structural Biology Studies by Electron Crystallography
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Cited by 7 •
2010
Evaluating two-dimensional (2D) crystallization trials for the formation of ordered membrane protein arrays is a highly critical and difficult task in electron crystallography. Here we describe our approach in screening for and identifying 2D crystals of predominantly small membrane proteins in the range of 15 – 90kDa.
07:28
Synthetic Biology
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2023
This video presents synthetic biology and its role in bioengineering. Synthetic biology refers to the methods used to genetically modify organisms in order to make them capable of producing large quantities of a product. This product could be a protein that the cell already makes or a new protein that has been encoded in a newly-inserted DNA sequence. Here, we discuss how an organism's genetic material is modified using transformation or transfection. Then, the process is shown in the...
12:51
Simultaneous Multicolor Imaging of Biological Structures with Fluorescence Photoactivation Localization Microscopy
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Cited by 12 •
2013
We demonstrate the use of fluorescence photo activation localization microscopy (FPALM) to simultaneously image multiple types of fluorescently labeled molecules within cells. The techniques described yield the localization of thousands to hundreds of thousands of individual fluorescent labeled proteins, with a precision of tens of nanometers within single cells.
09:02
SEM Imaging of Biological Samples
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2023
Source: Peiman Shahbeigi-Roodposhti and Sina Shahbazmohamadi, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is an instrument that uses an electron beam to nondestructively image and characterize conductive materials in a vacuum. As an analogy, an electron beam is to the SEM as light is to the optical microscope. The difference is that the electron microscope yields images of much higher resolution and magnification. The...
12:56
Differential Imaging of Biological Structures with Doubly-resonant Coherent Anti-stokes Raman Scattering (CARS)
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Cited by 2 •
2010
A combination of three single wavelength short-pulsed lasers is used to generate coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and doubly-resonant CARS (DR-CARS). The difference between these signals provides enhanced sensitivity for otherwise difficult to detect coherent Raman signals, enabling imaging of weak Raman scatterers.
FAQs
Structural biology connects sequence information to molecular shape, and shape to function. A change in amino-acid sequence or nucleic-acid arrangement can alter interactions, conformational changes, or performance. In bioengineering, this relationship helps researchers identify which structural features to preserve, modify, or optimize when designing biological systems.
Conformational changes reveal that a molecule is not defined only by one fixed arrangement. By examining how molecular shape shifts, researchers can connect those shifts with interactions and functional behavior. This perspective is important in bioengineering because performance may depend on dynamic structural features, not simply on the presence of a particular sequence or overall molecular form.
Each named method offers a route to visualizing biological molecules or complexes, and structural evidence from these approaches can strengthen interpretation of molecular organization. The resulting information helps researchers relate atomic arrangements to interactions and conformational changes, rather than treating a protein or nucleic acid as an isolated sequence. That linkage supports more informed engineering decisions.
A structure-guided workflow begins by examining a protein, nucleic acid, or molecular complex with a structural biology method. Researchers then interpret its atomic arrangements, interactions, and conformational changes in relation to function. In bioengineering, those observations inform targeted design decisions, such as changing a molecule to improve performance or adapting a structure for a biological technology.
Structural insights can support the design of enzymes, biomaterials, biosensors, and therapeutic proteins. The value differs by application: researchers may use molecular shape and interactions to guide an engineered catalyst, a material, a sensing component, or a therapeutic molecule. Across these cases, structure provides a basis for connecting design choices with expected biological performance.
When a mutation is associated with disease, structural analysis can help explain how the altered sequence affects molecular shape, interactions, or conformational behavior. That explanation connects a sequence-level change to a functional consequence and can guide bioengineering efforts aimed at more precise biological technologies or therapeutic protein development.