2022 Annual Report

Department of Structural Biology
Scientists in the Institute’s Department of Structural
Biology aim to understand the most basic building
blocks of biology to inform our understanding of
health and disease, and to aid in the development of
new, improved medications for an array of disorders.
Studying the foundations of life: Our scientists are
investigating the mechanisms that allow our DNA to
replicate, as well as the molecules at the core of some of
our most vital systems, such as temperature regulation,
communication between cells, and energy production
and regulation.
Turning weaknesses into strengths: Our scientists
are investigating molecular vulnerabilities in bacteria,
such as those that cause tuberculosis and urinary tract
infections, and in diseases, such as cancer, to find ways
to leverage these weaknesses for treatment.
Aiding drug discovery: By better understanding
molecular structure and function, our scientists could
aid in the development of more targeted medications
with fewer side effects.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Study reveals insights into enzyme that combats common greenhouse gas
An enzyme that combats the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2
O) may one day give scientists a potent new tool for
reducing the amount of the gas in the atmosphere thanks in part to findings published in Nature. The study details
how the enzyme — N 2
O reductase — is assembled and offers key insights into its ability to render nitrous oxide
into harmless nitrogen and water. The research was co-led by VAI's Dr. Juan Du and Dr. Wei Lü, and University of
Freiburg's Dr. Oliver Einsle. 1
Molecular ‘blueprint’ illuminates how plants perceive light
Plants rely on their ability to sense light for survival. But unlike animals, plants don’t have eyes full of photoreceptors
to capture and convey messages from visual stimuli. Instead, plants are coated with a network of light-sensing
photoreceptors that detect different wavelengths of light, allowing them to regulate their lifecycles and adjust to
environmental conditions. Now, VAI and Washington University scientists have determined the molecular structure
of one of these vital photoreceptors — a protein known as PhyB — revealing a wholly different structure than
previously known. The findings, published in Nature by VAI’s Dr. Huilin Li and Washington University’s
Dr. Rick Vierstra, may have implications for agricultural and “green” bioengineering practices. 2
VAI marks five years of discovery with cryo-EM
To understand life’s building blocks — the molecules that give structure to our cells, fuel our bodies and play integral
roles in health and disease — we need powerful technology that allows us to see them in deep detail.
That’s where cryo-EM comes in. Short for cryo-electron microscopy, cryo-EM is a special type of technique and
equipment that helps scientists zoom in on molecules in their natural state. The insights gleaned from these images
tell us how molecules work, how they interact with other molecules and how they might be leveraged to design new
treatments for disease.
Five years ago, VAI established the David Van Andel Advanced Cryo-Electron Microscopy Suite. It includes three stateof-the-art
microscopes, two of which are cryo-EM. Since then, our scientists have made many important discoveries
that are reshaping our understanding of health and disease, such as new insights into how our DNA repairs itself, how
our cells communicate and sense their environment, and how potential targets for new medications work.
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