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

Role of phenylalanine-327 in the closure of loop 6 of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum.
AG Day, P Chène, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
32
Engineering a novel specificity in subtilisin BPN'.
M Rheinnecker, G Baker, J Eder, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
32
Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli. Stoichiometry of ligand binding and half-of-the-sites reactivity in aminoacylation.
R Jakes, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
14
Folding of subtilisin BPN': characterization of a folding intermediate
J Eder, M Rheinnecker, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
32
Nature and consequences of GroEL-protein interactions.
LS Itzhaki, DE Otzen, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
34
Reconstruction by site-directed mutagenesis of the transition state for the activation of tyrosine by the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase: a mobile loop envelopes the transition state in an induced-fit mechanism.
AR Fersht, JW Knill-Jones, H Bedouelle, G Winter
Biochemistry
(2002)
27
Movement of the position of the transition state in protein folding
A Matouschek, DE Otzen, LS Itzhaki, SE Jackson, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
34
Structural Factors Contributing to the Hydrophobic Effect: The Partly Exposed Hydrophobic Minicore in Chymotrypsin Inhibitor 2
DE Otzen, M Rheinnecker, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
34
Assignment of histidine resonances in the proton NMR (500 MHz) spectrum of subtilisin BPN' using site-directed mutagenesis
M Bycroft, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
27
Thermodynamic study of the acid denaturation of barnase and its dependence on ionic strength: evidence for residual electrostatic interactions in the acid/thermally denatured state.
M Oliveberg, S Vuilleumier, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
33