|
The Norwegian Structural Biology Centre
NORSTRUCT is a national service and competence centre in structural biology, performing structure determination and 3D analysis of biologically active macromolecules. The Centre aims to serve as a structural biology centre of high international standard with respect to facilities and competence. Researchers are invited to submit protein samples to NORSTRUCT, or bring proteins for scientific stays at the platform.
The Centre is established through the Norwegian functional genomics initiative (FUGE) and it is financed by the FUGE-program and the University of Tromsø. On the 22nd of August 2007 the FUGE board decided to prolong the financing of NorStruct so that this national service platform will continue from 2008-2012. This is very good news for the NorStruct customers, activities and people involved.
 |
| Crystallization robot |
New crystallization robot at NorStruct
Recently, a liquid handling robot mixing reservoirs and a crystallization robot to put up the crystallization plates and nanoliter drops were installed in Tromsø. The plates will be stored in a hotel and viewed automatically by the imager. The system was delivered by Rigaku.
Already, one new protein has been crystallized and verified to diffract to better than 2.5 Å resolution using all the new robotics available to NorStruct customers.
Sciencedays
During the Sciencedays in Tromsø 20th-21st of September 2007, NorStruct was present with a stand where the public could meet enthusiastic NorStruct staff. Everybody could view protein crystals of trypsin, lysozyme or myoglobin, or they could build ball-and-stick models of vitamin-C (ascorbic acid), explosives or the smell of lemon (limonene). Many enthusiastic children, students and people came to visit the stand during these two days.
Latest doctoral dissertations at Norstruct
Magne Olufsen defended his PhD thesis on the 25th of May. It was entitled; The molecular origin of cold adaptation: A comparative study of cold- and warm-active uracil DNA glycosylase. Right Photo: Magne is temporarily employed for teaching by the Department of Chemistry for the autumn – 07.
The 20th of April, Laila Niiranen presented the world of
extremophiles: A touch of salt - a comparative study of Vibrio salmonicida and Vibrio cholerae proteins. Left photo: Inspired by the spring it had to be a flower party for Laila. The wreath of flowers suited the candidate well, big is beautiful!
Previously, the 16th of March, Inger-Lin Ræder presented her thesis: Comparative functional and structural studies of proteins from the marine psychrophilic bacterium Vibrio salmonicida. Right photo: Inger Lin dressed as a princess by her more or less well meaning friends at her dissertation party.
19th of January 2007, Ellen Wang defended her thesis entitled: “A structure study of three biotechnologically applicable proteins, and in particular of the cold adapted alkaline phosphatase from the Antarctic bacterium TAB5”. Left photo: Ellen has taken a Post doc position at the University of Lund, Sweden
Celebration of professor Edward Hough
Professor Ed Hough is retiring from his position at the Department of Chemistry after 30 years. He has had a great impact on the development of the Protein crystallography group in Tromsø as well as his out-reach activity bringing chemistry to schools and public. This was properly celebrated at the institute with a lecture covering his 30 year of research, cakes and honoring. Right photo: Here properly dressed for a take off – aero planes, as well as flying them (!!), is his greatest hobby.
Former information from NORSTRUCT can be found under Previous news
|
