Our DNA contains all of the information required to tell a cell what it needs to do, but it is constantly being damaged. This damage can cause severe problems, making repair processes hugely important. One common type of DNA damage, known as crosslinking, involves links forming inappropriately between two nucleotide letters. Although the specific repair pathway that fixes DNA crosslinks, and the complex at the heart of it, have been known about for decades, a full mechanistic understanding has been missing. Lori Passmore’s group, in the LMB’s Structural Studies Division, has now revealed the structure of the complex at the heart of this repair pathway for the first time.
Decade-long collaboration results in the first structure of the Fanconi anaemia core complex
LMB 365 – Day 304
Day 304 of #LMB365 shows a model of the 70S ribosome, printed by Mark Hoelzer at 3D Molecular Designs. The atomic co-ordinates were provided by Venki Ramakrishnan, who shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Thomas Steitz and Ada Yonath for their work on the ribosome.
LMB 365 – Day 303
Day 303 of #LMB365 is a photograph from Madeline Lancaster’s group in the Cell Biology Division of brain organoids bathing in a nutrient rich broth that helps them to grow and develop. Their large size means you can see them with your bare eye.
LMB 365 – Day 302
Day 302 of #LMB365 shows the LMB Governing Board in 1967: Hugh Huxley, John Kendrew, Max Perutz, Francis Crick, Fred Sanger and Sydney Brenner. When the LMB was formally set-up in 1962, out of the previous MRC Unit, Max was appointed Chairman of a Governing Board, rather than being Director. The board met only occasionally when major decisions of scientific policy were needed but they did not direct the Lab’s research, just provided the means by which people could carry out their work. The Governing Board was the fore-runner of the current Executive Committee, which is chaired by the LMB Director
Student prizes awarded for outstanding doctoral research
From fly connectomics to molecular and cellular mechanisms of cytoplasmic dynein, from genetic code fidelity to the molecular mechanism of trans-translation – the Max Perutz Student Prizes were awarded to a diverse range of PhD research.
LMB 365 – Day 301
Day 301 of #LMB365 shows the sun setting on the west end of the LMB building. It’s amazing how the building can look at different times of day throughout the year.