About the Visiting Scientist Program
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The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) is a not-for-profit organization that determines
the three dimensional structures of proteins of medical relevance, and places them in the public
domain without restriction. The SGC operates out of the Universities of Oxford and Toronto and
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. The SGC works on structures of proteins from its Target List
of ~2,400 proteins, which comprises human proteins associated with diseases such as cancer,
diabetes, inflammation, and genetic diseases, as well as proteins from human parasites such
as those that cause malaria. Since its inception the SGC has generated thousands of purified
human and malaria-related proteins and determined over 500 high resolution protein structures.
For example: J Biol Chem. 2006, 281(49):38061-70; Nature, 2006, 440(7085): 833-7; PNAS 2006, 103(20):7637-42.
As part of its mandate the SGC has developed multiple strategies for the recombinant expression, purification, crystallization and biophysical and biochemical characterization of human and protozoan proteins. The SGC routinely performs small molecule binding screens on its target proteins in order to identify compounds that promote protein purification or crystallization. About 20% of the SGC protein structures were determined in the presence of a compound derived from the SGC screening initiatives. Many additional complexes of SGC targets with natural and synthetic ligands were determined to gain insight into the mechanism of protein/ligand protein/peptide and protein-protein interactions [PNAS 2006, 103 (43):15835-40; EMBO J. 25(18):4245-52 2006; PNAS 2006, 103(20):7829-34] The SGC welcomes collaborations with the biomedical research community on proteins of mutual interest. The SGC organizes its research around protein families of related biochemical function and of therapeutic interest. Collaborative opportunities exist for visiting scientists, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to work for 6-12 month terms at an SGC site on SGC targets of mutual interest. Guest scientists are expected to cover their own salary and local accommodations, and the SGC will pay for laboratory supplies and equipment. Guest Scientists would be expected to work on SGC target proteins with the goal of obtaining a 3D structure. Examples of potential projects include
This is an excellent training opportunity for young scientists in high throughput protein expression, structural biology, and biophysical characterization techniques. Interested applicants are encouraged to download the Application Form and outline their project proposal. To submit the application or for further information, please contact:
Krysia Ogilvie |
