Published:Thursday, April 25, 2013

Updated:Thursday, April 25, 2013 02:04

Ko Pholsena | THE DAILY BAROMETER

Andy Karplus, professor of biochemistry and biophysics, explains the enormously scaled up model of a protein structure.

Andy Karplus, a professor in Oregon State Universitys department of biochemistry and biophysics, will deliver this years F.A. Gilfillan Memorial Award lecture, speaking about his work with identifying protein structure.

Karplus received the award in September and will deliver a lecture on Tuesday at the LaSells Stewart Center Construction and Engineering Hall. A reception will take place at 6:15 p.m. with the lecture to follow at 7:15 p.m.

Karplus studies protein structure and function, using X-ray crystallography to find out the exact positions, in space, of every atom in a protein molecule, Karplus said.

Proteins are too small to see with microscopes. Instead, scientists, like Karplus, use X-ray crystallography to determine protein structure, which is important for understanding protein function, as proteins are involved with the active aspects of life like metabolism and muscle contraction, Karplus said.

Using the information from X-ray crystallography, Karplus is able to construct physical and computer models of proteins.

There are lots of drug development projects, which refer to our work, and a lot of research that was actually in part stimulated by our research in terms of figuring out new ways, for instance, that cells become cancerous and some ways that cell growth and development are regulated, Karplus said.

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Karplus professes a passion for protein structures