Protein structures on demand
Humans are composed of building blocks known as proteins. Proteins begin as chains of amino acids and then fold into a specific shape that determines the function of that protein. To determine that shape, scientists currently use x-ray crystallography (time-consuming) or NMR Spectroscopy (labour-inducing). Dr. Ming Li is working towards a very fast and accurate method of solving protein structures - one that will work with experimental data.
Currently, it takes several months to work out 1 protein structure using NMR experiments. Dr. Li and his team are working on an automatic system that would use 1 day to do the work, using massive parallel computers. Currently they have achieved this with 4 small proteins with high resolution.
In collaboration with Lars Konermann and Bin Ma, Dr. Li is working on a new way of solving protein structures using data from a mass spectrometer.
Bioinformatics has personal significance to Dr. Li, whose wife passed away from breast cancer in 2010. His loss further inspires him in his field. The Her-2 positive cancer is characterized by over-expression of the Her-2 protein on the cancer cell surface.
