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

A new approach to the study of transient protein conformations: The formation of a semiburied salt link in the folding pathway of barnase
M Oliveberg, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(1996)
35
Importance of two buried salt bridges in the stability and folding pathway of barnase
AC Tissot, S Vuilleumier, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(1996)
35
Rapid, electrostatically assisted association of proteins.
G Schreiber, AR Fersht
Nature Structural Biology
(1996)
3
Toward a mechanism for GroEL center dot GroES chaperone activity: An ATPase-gated and -pulsed folding and annealing cage
FJ Corrales, AR Fersht
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
(1996)
93
Structural and Energetic Responses to Cavity-Creating Mutations in Hydrophobic Cores:  Observation of a Buried Water Molecule and the Hydrophilic Nature of Such Hydrophobic Cavities
AM Buckle, P Cramer, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(1996)
35
Structure of the transition state for folding of a protein derived from experiment and simulation.
V Daggett, A Li, LS Itzhaki, DE Otzen, AR Fersht
Journal of Molecular Biology
(1996)
257
Formation of electrostatic interactions on the protein-folding pathway
M Oliveberg, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(1996)
35
Thermodynamics of transient conformations in the folding pathway of barnase: Reorganization of the folding intermediate at low pH
M Oliveberg, AR Fersht
Biochemistry
(1996)
35
Catalysis of Amide Proton Exchange by the Molecular Chaperones GroEL and SecB
R Zahn, S Perrett, G Stenberg, AR Fersht
Science
(1996)
271
Folding and binding - Editorial overview
KA Dill, AR Fersht
CURRENT OPINION IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(1996)
6