Structural and Molecular Biology

3D Structure Determination

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The arrangement of chemical bonds between atoms in a molecule specifically which atoms are chemically bonded to what other atoms with what kind of chemical bond, together with any information on the geometric shape of the molecule needed to uniquely identify the type of molecule. Also, various functions in the biological system depend on the structure of proteins. The dynamics of protein can be scrutinized mainly by determining the structure and function. Protein-protein interaction, protein interaction with other molecules, catalysis of enzymes and folding and misfolding that are associated with the diseases can be studied through structure determination. It is a procedure by which three dimensional atomic co coordinates are solved by analytical techniques. In crystallography, it refers to elaboration of three dimensional positional coordinates. The most common techniques used in structure determination are X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy and molecular modeling. Very often scientists use them to study the "native states" of biomolecules.