They will then determine the structure of one or more proteins from each family, for a total of about 10,000. These structures will teach the researchers valuable lessons about the relationship between gene sequence and protein structure. With this knowledge as a guide, scientists hope to use gene sequences to predict the structures of all other proteins. The time is ripe for the structural genomics effort for another reason. Because details of a protein's structure reveal aspects of its function, a main goal of these structural studies is to better understand how individual proteins work in the body.
Scientists learn much from comparing the structures of different proteins.
By studying thousands of molecules in an organized way in this project, researchers will deepen their understanding of how protein structure and function are interrelated. The first spurs individual scientists to develop new techniques that will accelerate any aspect of protein structure determination. The second supports the formation of pilot centers to develop and test techniques for high-throughput operations by subsequent, larger research networks. The medical incentives for understanding protein structure are great. Several diseases, including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease, are caused by defects in a single protein.