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

Leaving group specificity in the chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of peptides. A stereochemical interpretation.
AR Fersht, DM Blow, J Fastrez
Biochemistry
(2002)
12
Anomalous pH dependence of Kcat/Km in enzyme reactions. Rate constants for the association of chymotrypsin with substrates
M Renard, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(2002)
12
Acetylpyridinium ion intermediate in pyridine-catalyzed hydrolysis and acyl transfer reactions of acetic anhydride. Observation, kinetics, structure-reactivity correlations, and effects of concentrated salt solutions
AR Fersht, WP Jencks
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2002)
92
Reactions of nucleophilic reagents with acylating agents of extreme reactivity and unreactivity. Correlation of .beta. values for attacking and leaving group variation
AR Fersht, WP Jencks
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2002)
92
Free energies of hydrolysis of amides and peptides in aqueous solution at 25 degrees.
AR Fersht, Y Requena
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2002)
93
Acyl-transfer reactions of amides and esters with alcohols and thiols. A reference system for the serine and cysteine proteinases. Concerning the N protonation of amides and amide-imidate equilibria.
AR Fersht
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2002)
93
Mechanism of the .alpha.-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of amides. pH dependence of kc and km. kinetic detection of an intermediate
AR Fersht, Y Requena
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2002)
93
Mechanism of the -chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of specific amide substrates.
AR Fersht
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2002)
94
Stability and folding of the protein complexes of barnase
JL Neira, E Vázquez, AR Fersht
European Journal of Biochemistry
(2002)
267
Aggregation of proteins with expanded glutamine and alanine repeats of the glutamine-rich and asparagine-rich domains of Sup35 and of the amyloid beta-peptide of amyloid plaques
MF Perutz, BJ Pope, D Owen, EE Wanker, E Scherzinger
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(2002)
99