Vol 1 - Support Services Ufs Ac Za - University of the Free State

dimensional electrophoretic analysis of the entireprotein complement of an organism, and theidentification of proteins and analysis of proteinmodifications using nanoflow liquid chromatographydirectly coupled to a mass spectrometer.2. BioinformaticsThis Focus Area is involved in bioinformaticsresearch; providing bioinformatics support toresearch activities within the Cluster; the de velopmentof databases to archive and allow correlativeanalysis of large data sets; and the development ofnew algorithms and software. The BioinformaticsNode also conducts intro duc tory and specialistwork shops in bio infor matics to researchers.3. Advanced cloning systemsResearchers in this area focus on the mani pula tionof the genetic content of microbes in a safe,contained environment to manufacture novel,modified proteins with valuable pro per ties. TheFocus Area also engages in bio-pro specting; thedesign of new genetic systems that facilitate thepreparation of large amounts of novel proteinsrequired in bio reme diation; and in the study ofprotein structure that is required in the design ofsyn the tic enzymes.4. Novel drugs discoveryThis Focus Area is involved in the systematic analysisof complex extracts from indigenous plants andlarge chemical libraries. The Focus Area, formedthrough collaboration between the Department ofChemistry and FARMOVS-PAREXEL, methodicallyscreen for candidate drugs that suppress the biologicalactivity of agents involved in human diseasedstates, including tissue inflammation and cancer.ActivitiesProjects within this Cluster range from understandinghow and why we age, to designing novelmolecules that act as drugs in the treatment ofmajor human diseases. Research group ings includebiochemists, organic chemists, microbiologists,mathematicians and computer scientists togenerate cutting edge advances in fundamentalscientific insight as well as developing newsolutions to central issues in biotechnology.Scientific questions studied in this group includean investigation of the chemistry of a cell thatallows lifespan extension, the way in which thepackaging of DNA in a cell regulates geneexpression, the identification of changes in thelevel of proteins in response to growth underextreme conditions or in the presence of xenobioticor even toxic components, the effect of pathogeninteraction on the gene expression and proteomicprofile of the host, and the identification of traitsin wheat that help with the breeding ofagriculturally superior strains.Ms Elize Muller-Patterton and Prof Hugh Pattertonare leading two projects, namely (i) proteomic analysisof sirtuin targets in polyphenol-mediated lifespanextension; and (ii) the identification of common pathsin gene expression networks involved in lifespanextension by resveratrol and EGCG.41