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Paul Curmi is a structural biologist and molecular biophysicist.�� His laboratory focuses on the structure and function of proteins: macromolecules that are the fundamental molecular machines in any living system.�� Understanding how these machines work requires a knowledge of the three dimensional atomic structure of the protein.�� The focus of our group is to understand the molecular and cellular function of various protein systems. Our key experimental technique is x-ray crystallography, although we also utilise a battery of other biochemical, biophysical and computational (bioinformatics) techniques to enhance our understanding.�� Our group uses the tools of modern molecular biology to prepare proteins of choice.�� Our lab is equipped such that we can go from sequence to protein to structure in house.�� We are currently working on several themes:

Metamorphic proteins: where one sequence codes for several stable structures.�� CLIC proteins are extremely plastic, having the ability to exist in both soluble cytoplasmic forms and an integral membrane form that produces an ion channel.�� Our aim is to understand the biological function of the CLIC family and how their structural plasticity supports function.

Synthetic biology: creating a protein-based molecular motor using non-motor components.�� We are part of an international consortium to construct a protein-based motor that will “walk” along a track.�� This will test our understanding of the basic principles of molecular machines and will launch new nanotechnologies.

Quantum biology: does quantum mechanics play a non-trivial role in biology?�� Aquatic photosynthetic organisms utilize sophisticated light harvesting systems to optimize the capture of solar energy which is severely filtered by water.�� We have determined the structures of a set of light harvesting proteins from single-celled algae (the cryptophytes) that have unusual physical properties and evolutionary history.�� These proteins maintain long-lived quantum coherence under physiological conditions.�� We are exploring the evolution of quantum coherence in light harvesting and whether is has a physiological role.

Pattern formation in cells: what determines when and where a cell divides?�� Cell division in prokaryotes is precise in position and timing.�� We believe that the underlying mechanism for this is the establishment of a Turning pattern by a reaction-diffusion system of proteins.

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