Our major research programme concerns the folding, stability and activity of proteins. We apply a broad multi-disciplinary approach that combines methods and ideas of molecular biology and physical-organic chemistry. We use techniques including protein engineering, DNA cloning, sequencing and mutagenesis, cell culture, gene and peptide synthesis, spectroscopy, rapid reaction techniques, multi-dimensional NMR (we have a 500, 600, 700 and an 800 MHz spectrometers) and x-ray protein crystallography.

Current major projects include: protein folding, misfolding and disease; drug discovery; and structure-activity relationships of proteins involved in cancer and disease.

Although now emeritus, I am still fully active in research with long term funding, including an MRC Programme Grant.

Publications

Tumor suppressor p53 slides on DNA with low friction and high stability.
A Tafvizi, F Huang, JS Leith, AR Fersht, LA Mirny, AM van Oijen
Biophysical Journal
(2008)
95
Structure of tumor suppressor p53 and its intrinsically disordered N-terminal transactivation domain.
M Wells, H Tidow, TJ Rutherford, P Markwick, MR Jensen, E Mylonas, DI Svergun, M Blackledge, AR Fersht
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(2008)
105
High Temperature Unfolding Simulations of the TRPZ1 Peptide
G Settanni, AR Fersht
Biophysical journal
(2008)
94
A Guide to Measuring and Interpreting Φ‐values
NR Guydosh, AR Fersht
(2008)
1
Algorithm for prediction of tumour suppressor p53 affinity for binding sites in DNA.
DB Veprintsev, AR Fersht
Nucleic Acids Research
(2008)
36
Demonstration by burst-phase analysis of a robust folding intermediate in the FF domain.
P Jemth, CM Johnson, S Gianni, AR Fersht
Protein Eng Des Sel
(2008)
21
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of the folding pathway of Engrailed Homeodomain.
F Huang, G Settanni, AR Fersht
Protein engineering, design & selection : PEDS
(2008)
21
The role of the turn in beta-hairpin formation during WW domain folding
T Sharpe, AL Jonsson, TJ Rutherford, V Daggett, AR Fersht
Protein Science
(2007)
16
Comparative biophysical characterization of p53 with the pro-apoptotic BAK and the anti-apoptotic BCL-x(L)
B Sot, SMV Freund, AR Fersht
J Biol Chem
(2007)
282
Quaternary structures of tumor suppressor p53 and a specific p53–DNA complex
H Tidow, R Melero, E Mylonas, SMV Freund, JG Grossmann, JM Carazo, DI Svergun, M Valle, AR Fersht
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(2007)
104