That's the initial goal of a new international effort involving scientists in at least nine countries.
Proteins are the worker molecules in every living thing.
They help us digest our food, allow our blood to carry oxygen, fight infections, and carry out many other critical jobs. They come in many sizes and shapes. By determining the detailed, three-dimensional structures of proteins, we are better able to understand how each protein functions normally and how faulty protein structures can cause disease. Scientists can use the structures of disease-related proteins to help develop new medicines and diagnostic techniques. Determining protein structures is often a difficult, time-consuming task.