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

Structure and activity of the tyrosy1-tRNA synthetase: the hydrogen bond in catalysis and specificity
AR Fersht, RJ Leatherbarrow, TNC Wells
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences
(1986)
317
Molecular cloning of the gene encoding the valyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus
NJ Brand, AR Fersht
Gene
(1986)
44
Transition-state stabilization in the mechanism of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase revealed by protein engineering.
RJ Leatherbarrow, AR Fersht, G Winter
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
(1985)
82
Tailoring the pH dependence of enzyme catalysis using protein engineering
PG Thomas, AJ Russell, AR Fersht
Nature
(1985)
318
Hydrogen bonding in enzymatic catalysis analysed by protein engineering
TNC Wells, AR Fersht
Nature
(1985)
316
Engineering of tyrosyl tRNA synthetase
H Bedouelle, P Carter, MM Waye, G Winter, DM Lowe, AJ Wilkinson, AR Fersht
Biochimie
(1985)
67
Hydrogen bonding and biological specificity analysed by protein engineering.
AR Fersht, JP Shi, J Knill-Jones, DM Lowe, AJ Wilkinson, DM Blow, P Brick, P Carter, MM Waye, G Winter
Nature
(1985)
314
Synthesis of tetrahydrofolate derivatives.
CJ SUCKLING, AR BATTERSBY, SC TAYLOR, D ARIGONI, JR KNOWLES, SM ROBERTS, GM WHITESIDES, JB JONES, AR FERSHT
Ciba Foundation symposium
(1985)
111
ENGINEERING OF TYROSYL TRANSFER-RNA SYNTHETASE
H BEDOUELLE, P CARTER, MMY WAYE, G WINTER, DM LOWE, AJ WILKINSON, AR FERSHT
BIOCHIMIE
(1985)
67
NAD+ degradation by resting cells.
H SIMON, GM WHITESIDES, K MOSBACH, AR FERSHT
Ciba Foundation symposium
(1985)
111