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.
The LMB is delighted to congratulate Michael Levitt, Arieh Warshel and Martin Karplus on being awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems.
A key part of the Nobel Prize winning research was undertaken at the LMB, in the Structural Studies Division, in the 1970s by Michael Levitt in collaboration with Arieh Warshel.
Professor Scott Emr will give the 2013 Milstein Lecture on Thursday 26 September at 4.15pm in the LMB’s Max Perutz Lecture Theatre. The lecture, entitled “Sorting out protein traffic: Ubiquitin-mediated endocytosis and a membrane protein’s final ESCRT”, is open to anyone in the local area who is interested in attending.
Scott is currently Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Director of the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, at Cornell University.
A method for parallel assembly of a large number of peptide-therapeutic cargo combinations, developed by Mike Gait’s group in the LMB’s PNAC Division, has been licensed to Cambridge Research Biochemicals (CRB). The company aims to launch a service in October to provide both researchers and pharmaceutical companies with custom-made libraries of peptide-cargo conjugates to help accelerate the delivery and development of new therapeutics.
It is with great sadness that we report that Hugh Huxley died yesterday following a major heart attack on Monday at his home with Frances in Woods Hole. Hugh was the very first Ph.D. student to join the MRC Unit for the Study of the Molecular Structure of Biological Systems in 1948 under the leadership of Max Perutz, with John Kendrew as his supervisor. During his Ph.D. he began his pioneering studies of muscle structure and function using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy.
Scientists from Leo James’ group, from the LMB’s PNAC Division, showed their new ‘Virus Wars’ exhibit at this year’s Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition – to help celebrate the MRC’s centenary and showcase the group’s work on virus neutralisation.
As lead scientist Will McEwan explains, “We designed our ‘Virus Wars – Antibodies Fight Back’ exhibit to explain our work on intracellular virus neutralisation in a user-friendly way.
Anyone with an interest in science can take part in an egg-themed online video game, organised to help advance the LMB’s research into the circuitry of the brain.
The ‘WormWatch Lab’ project involves watching footage of nematode worms and spotting every time they lay an egg. The project, which is sponsored by the MRC to celebrate its Centenary, is a collaboration between the LMB’s Bill Schafer and André Brown and citizen science organisation Zooniverse.