MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology: University of Cambridge

The Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is engaged in fundamental research to understand a variety of biological processes at the molecular level; such understanding is now, more than ever before, essential for tackling human disease. They use whatever biological system is best suited to investigating particular phenomena accessible to new kinds of experimentation.

They have four subdivisions in the LMB:

1. Structural studies
2. Cell biology
3. Protein and nucleic acid chemistry
4. Neurobiology

Key research areas

• Protein structure:

  Protein determination using X-ray crystallography, NMR or electron microscopy, is complemented by computational analysis of protein structures and genome sequences. There is an increasing focus on large protein assemblies, protein-nucleic acid complexes, membrane receptors and ion channels. Recent highlights include structure determination of the 30S ribosome, mitochondrial ATP synthase, components of the spliceosome, G-coupled receptors, the acetylcholine receptor, telomere binding proteins, Pi3 kinase complexes and clathrin coats.

• Cell biology:

  An important focus is on endocytosis and membrane trafficking, including genetic and biochemical characterisation of proteins involved in both yeast and animal cells. The yeast mitotic spindle and its organising structure, the spindle pole body, are being characterised.

• Developmental studies:

  These include investigations of pattern formation, cell polarity, the EGF and Wnt signalling pathways and tumour suppressor homologues in Drosophila, and cell type specification in Dictyostelium. Genetic analysis of behaviour is being pursued using C. elegans.

• Cancer biology:

  They are investigating the functions of genes involved in chromosomal translocations and the development of novel cancer therapies. Genes have been identified controlling haematopoiesis and vascular formation, which are subverted in certain T cell leukaemias.

• Immunology:

  Investigations include the mechanisms of DNA recombination and repair and the roles of cytokines and their eceptors.

• Biotechnology:

  Their focus is on the development of Darwinian selection technologies, and on high throughput screening technologies. The application of selection technologies in the creation of novel small folded protein domains may offer new ways to make vaccines and therapeutic human proteins.

• Neurobiology:

  Their research aims to understand how nerve cells communicate through the action of neurotransmitters; also how events at the synapse lead to long-term changes through activation of gene expression. Another major focus is to elucidate molecular processes underlying Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative disorders. In addition to genetic, biochemical and structural approaches, specialised electrophysiological and imaging techniques play an important role in neurobiological studies.

Further information:

• www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
• see Graduate School website: www.bio.cam.ac.uk/gradschool