Structural Studies

Joint Heads of Division
Lori PassmoreandSjors Scheres
Divisional Administrator
Ann Enticknap
Assistant Divisional Administrator
Jasmine Hood
Contact Division
+44 (0) 1223 267080

Dynein molecular motor complex (purple and tan) with multiple ATPase heads moving along a blue microtubule track.

The Structural Studies Division investigates the mechanisms of biological processes through the analysis of molecules and cells in three‑dimensions.

By combining detailed studies of macromolecules in isolation and in cellular contexts, we aim to understand the molecular basis of life.

The structure of dynein, a molecular motor that moves cargo inside cells by travelling along microscopic tracks called microtubules. Discover how scientists revealed this complex machinery.

A major area of our research is understanding the macromolecules that mediate the flow of information from DNA to RNA to protein, and that promote cellular organisation. The Structural Studies Division also focusses on developing experimental and computational methods, including improvements in structure determination by cryo-EM and methods to better understand the relationship between protein structure and function.

By developing and using emerging technologies in structural biology, we are able to gain unique and exciting new insights.

Lori Passmore

JOINT HEAD OF DIVISION

Group Leaders

Matteo AllegrettiStructural StudiesThe macromolecular basis of nuclear shape and remodelling
David BarfordStructural StudiesMechanism and regulation of chromosome segregation in mitosis
Tanmay BharatStructural StudiesRole of surface molecules in microbial multicellularity
Andrew CarterStructural StudiesThe structure and mechanism of dyneins
Joe GreenerStructural StudiesImproving force fields for biomolecular simulation
Jan LöweStructural StudiesProkaryotic cytoskeletons and other molecular machines
Garib MurshudovStructural StudiesComputational structural biology
Kelly NguyenStructural StudiesMolecular mechanism of telomere maintenance
Lori PassmoreStructural StudiesMolecular machines that regulate gene expression
Christopher RussoStructural StudiesImaging the atomic structure of biological molecules by electron cryomicroscopy
Sjors ScheresStructural StudiesStructural biology of neurodegeneration
Chris TateStructural StudiesStructure and function of G protein-coupled receptors
Suyang ZhangStructural StudiesMechanism of transcription-coupled alternative splicing

Emeritus

Brad AmosStructural StudiesOptical microscope development
Tony CrowtherStructural StudiesStructure of macromolecular assemblies
Phil EvansStructural StudiesStructural studies of endocytosis components
Richard HendersonStructural StudiesHigh-resolution 3D structures by electron cryomicroscopy
John Kendrick‑JonesStructural StudiesMultifunctional myosin motors
Andrew LeslieStructural StudiesStructural studies of macromolecules
David NeuhausStructural StudiesSolution structure by NMR spectroscopy
Venki RamakrishnanStructural StudiesStructure of the translational apparatus
Daniela RhodesStructural StudiesChromosome structure and function
Murray StewartStructural StudiesNuclear transport