Australia's Science Future

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Dr Tom Garrett received a PhD from the University of Sydney for his determination of the structure of an electron-transport protein involved in photosynthesis. He then spent five years at Harvard University as a postdoctoral fellow with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. There he studied proteins of the human immune system, namely, HLA, a transplantation antigen, and CD4, which serves as a receptor for HIV. Upon returning to Australia in 1992, he joined the Biomolecular Research Institute and took up a Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship. His research now focuses on the structures of cell surface receptors of the immune and endocrine systems in order to treat cancer and hypersensitivity.

ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
Australia's science future
3-4 May 2000

Molecular structure and recognition

Structural genomics – giving some shape to the flood of information
by Tom Garrett

Abstract
In the past five years DNA sequences have been determined for the genomes of bacteria and some higher organisms. In the next few years we will also have the complete DNA sequence for humans. Thus we will have a list of all the proteins present in our bodies. But will it be of any use? Past experience has shown that a considerable portion of a genome can be understood by reference to proteins of known structure and/or function. However, there is a large part for which we know nothing. Here protein structure determination can reveal the functions of novel proteins or the locations of active sites and can help us understand how the many proteins are related. Furthermore, as most drugs act to inhibit or potentiate protein function, protein structure determination will offer the possibility of designing a range of new or improved medicines.

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