A group of South Korean scientists have identified crytal structure of a key domain of a protein, an achievement that could help identify the cause of various viral diseases, such as AIDS and Opitz Syndrome, the scientists said Friday.
The team led by Oh Byung-ha, a professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology, has identified the structure of B30.2/SPRY domain of GUSTAVUS protein, the university said in a press release.
A paper on the research was published as the cover story of the latest edition of a biology journal, Molecular Cell, released worldwide at 2 a.m. Friday (Seoul time), according to the university.
Woo Jae-sung, first author of the paper, said the finding could help identify structure and functions of other proteins with SPRY domain, which, in turn, could help reveal the cause of various viral diseases such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and Opitz Syndrome.
"Our research could help identify structures of SPRY domains found in other proteins such as TRIM5," Woo said in a telephone interview.
TRIM5 is a protein found in human cells and is known to fend off various retrovirus infections, including human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.
"The study will definitely help further studies on structure and functions of SPRY domain of TRIM5 protein," Woo said.
Seoul, Dec. 29 (Yonhap News)
S. Korean scientists disclose structure of SPRY domain for first time |
