Venki Ramakrishnan’s group has solved the structure of the protein complex formed when mRNA is being scanned to find the start codon, providing new understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning initiation of translation.
Catching the ribosome in the act of scanning mRNA
Sydney Brenner. 13 January 1927 – 5 April 2019
From modest beginnings Sydney became an extraordinarily influential and accomplished molecular biologist. His critical knowledge of, and insights into, key scientific problems were legendary. His irrepressible personality, acerbic wit and ebullient talks inspired a generation of young biologists. He made seminal discoveries in how genetic information is used for protein synthesis, and established Caenorhabditis elegans […]
Scientists create a drug that could repair damage to the brain and spinal cord
A team led by Radu Aricescu’s group created a synthetic compound that acts like a ‘bridge’ where connections have been lost due to damage or illness, offering hope of new therapies for a range of devastating conditions, from Alzheimer’s disease to epilepsy. More…
Kelly Nguyen honoured with Suffrage Science award
Kelly Nguyen, group leader in the LMB’s Structural Studies Division, has been chosen to receive a Suffrage Science award along with ten fellow women scientists and science communicators who work in the life sciences.
Chris Oubridge (1966-2020)
Chris Oubridge, Senior Scientist in Kiyoshi Nagai’s group at the LMB for over 30 years, who made essential contributions to deciphering of the full reaction mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing, died on Tuesday 25th August 2020
A synthetic molecule that can restore lost connections in the brain
The brain contains an enormous number of connections, known as synapses. Their loss is associated with many disorders. Radu Aricescu’s group and collaborators in Japan and Germany have designed a molecule that restores synapses in animal disease models, including Alzheimer’s.