Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Division

The objectives of the Division are to gain insights into human biology and disease at the molecular level with a view to developing strategies for diagnosis and treatment.

Work in the Division focuses on biological processes central to immunity and cancer, and uses molecular, cellular and transgenic approaches, exploiting genomics, proteomics and molecular evolution.

In 2012 a new chemistry-oriented Centre for Chemical and Synthetic Biology (CCSB) was established, to help support the Division’s work in synthetic biology and strengthen its chemical expertise.

Group Leaders and MRC Investigators

• Mariann Bienz - Molecular mechanisms of Wnt signal transduction
• Jason Chin - Systematic genetic code reprogramming / Centre for Chemical and Synthetic Biology
• Gerry Crossan - Maintenance of genome stability in the germline
• Philipp Holliger - Evolution of novel biopolymers
• Leo James - Intracellular immunity
• Patrycja Kozik - Dendritic cells and initiation of immune responses
• Andrew McKenzie - Investigation of immune and haematopoietic disorders
• Felix Randow - Cell-autonomous and innate immunity
• Julian Sale - Vertebrate mutagenesis and DNA damage tolerance
• John Sutherland - Chemical origins of molecular biology
• Ana Tufegdzic Vidakovic - Molecular basis of gene transcription
• Roger Williams - Structural studies of phosphoinositide signalling and intracellular sorting
• Joseph Yeeles - Mechanisms of chromosome replication

Independent Investigator Scientists

• Cristina Rada - Mechanisms of immunity in the cell nucleus

Scientific Facilities within the Division

• Biological Services
• Biophysics
• Flow Cytometry

Emeritus

• Alan Fersht - Tumour suppressor p53 structure and drug discovery
• Michael Gait - Therapeutic applications of synthetic oligonucleotide analogues & their peptide conjugates
• Greg Winter - Bicyclic peptides & chemistry of bicycles

Past Group Leaders

• David Komander - Left October 2018 to work at the Walter+Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
• KJ Patel - Left June 2020 to work at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford

Joint Heads of Division:
Andrew McKenzie and Jason Chin

Divisional Administrator:
Michele Hare

Assistant Divisional Administrator:
Jo Ferreira

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 267090
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 268306

Centre for Chemical and Synthetic Biology Administrator:
Emma Thurston Division of Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry,
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology,

Francis Crick Avenue,
Cambridge Biomedical Campus,
Cambridge CB2 0QH,
UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 267089
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 268306