• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.

  • Home
  • About LMB
  • Research
  • Research Groups
  • Students
  • Recruitment
  • Life at the LMB
  • Achievements
  • News & Events
Home > News & Events > Insight on Research

Insight on Research

  • All
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010

A simple, novel mechanism to safeguard the integrity of the human genome

Stalling of DNA synthesis by Short Tandem Repeats

Nearly half of the human genome is composed of various forms of DNA repeat. Pierre Murat in Julian Sale’s group has revealed a mechanism that safeguards the genome from pathological expansion of one group of DNA repeats known as STRs.

More…

Published on 21st August, 2020

Discovery of a chaperone for membrane proteins

A membrane protein (teal) being assembled. The nascent protein is threaded into the membrane by a protein translocation channel (red). Within the membrane, the protein is helped in its assembly by the PAT complex (depicted as a hand temporarily holding part of the membrane protein).

Proteins embedded in the cellular membrane perform a wide variety of necessary tasks. Most are folded into complex shapes that pass back and forth across the membrane. Patrick Chitwood and Manu Hegde have discovered a new type of chaperone that helps them assemble correctly.

More…

Published on 19th August, 2020

Studying the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2

3D model of SARS-CoV-2 created using cryo-ET data, revealing positions, conformations and orientiations of the spike proteins on the virion membrane

John Briggs’ group has led two new studies of the spike (S) protein that mediates binding to the receptor ACE2 and is the dominant target of the immune system, with applications for development of vaccines and diagnostic tests.

More…

Published on 18th August, 2020

Membrane characteristics tune enzyme activity

Lipid membranes surround our cells and form the boundaries around compartments within them. Roger Williams’ group has now shown how membrane characteristics can tune the activities of protein complexes with important roles in autophagy and endosomal membrane trafficking.

More…

Published on 4th August, 2020

A map to show the way to sense smell, temperature, and humidity

Producing maps of how neurons connect with each other (connectomes) allows scientists to build and test theories of brain function. Greg Jefferis’ group have presented the first full map of olfactory, thermosensory, and hygrosensory projection neurons in the fly brain.

More…

Published on 23rd July, 2020

A new directed evolution technique to unlock the potential of XNAs

Diagram showing the reverse transcriptase structure (white) with nascent cDNA strand (red), XNA template (green) and different regions critical for reverse transcription of XNA templates (blue and purple)

Use of reverse transcription for synthesis of xeno-nucleic acids is limited by low reverse transcriptase enzyme activity. Philipp Holliger’s group have developed a new directed evolution method to improve reverse transcriptase activity for any nucleic acid chemistry.

More…

Published on 20th July, 2020
  • ‹
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • ›
  • »

Primary Sidebar

News & Events

  • Insight on Research
  • LMB News
  • LMB In The News
  • LMB Alumni News
  • Public Engagement
    • Supporting Education
      • I’m a scientist, get me out of here!
      • London International Youth Science Forum
    • LMB on the Road
      • Cambridge Festival
      • Royal Society Summer Science Exhibitions
      • Big Biology Day
      • LifeLab
    • Events at the LMB
      • Artists in Residence: Home in the Service of Science
      • LMB Open Day 2017
      • STEM in Song
    • Resources
      • Image Game
    • LMB Science Stories
      • Electron Cryo-microscopy
      • Tau and Alzheimer’s
    • Past Events
      • MRC Festival of Research
      • Crystal Growing Competition
        • Past Winners
        • MRC Lab Visits
      • The WormWatch Lab
    • Contact Us
  • Scientific Seminars
    • LMB Named Lectures
  • LMB Exhibitions
    • Sample holders for electron cryomicroscopy
    • Humira
    • Curios of 60 years of the LMB
  • Scientific Training
  • Information for Journalists
  • Scientific Glossary
  • Photographs
  • LMB 365
  • Newspaper Archive

Search

  • Privacy & Cookies
  • Contact Directory
  • Freedom of Information
  • Site Map
Find Us
©2025 MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology,
Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK. 01223 267000

The MRC is part of UK Research and Innovation

Contact Us

This site uses cookies. The LMB may use cookies to analyse how you use our website. We use external analysis systems which may set additional cookies to perform their analysis. These cookies (and any others in use) are detailed in our Privacy and Cookies Policy and are integral to our website. You can delete or disable these cookies in your web browser if you wish, but then our site may not work as it is designed. Ok