MX Macromolecular Crystallography Unit

X-ray Crystallography is a technique that makes use of electron scattering of X-ray waves in order to determine three dimensional structures of molecules. The Macromolecular Crystallography Unit at ITQB, coordinated by Professor Maria Arménia Carrondo, is a top research group that aims the study and characterization of biological molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, to a resolution higher enough to help elucidating the detailed mechanisms by which these macromolecules carry out their functions in living cells and organisms.

The Unit is presently composed of four laboratories each one specialized in a different field of research: the Structural Genomics Laboratory, headed by Maria Arménia Carrondo, the Industrial and Medical Applied Crystallography Laboratory, headed by Pedro Matias, the Structural Biology Laboratory, headed by Carlos Frazão, the Membrane Protein Crystallography Laboratory, headed by Margarida Archer and the Structural Virology Lab, headed by Colin McVey.

The Unit is involved in several national and international projects (such as SPINE-2 Complexes and E-MeP), and is a TID Centre (Training, Implementation and Dissemination Centre), of BIOXHIT and TEACH-SG projects under the Framework Programmes V and VI of the European Commission.