> The XSB Unit

The research activity at the Structural Biology Laboratory (XSB) is centered on the study of protein three-dimensional structures through X-ray crystallography. Final aim of such studies is the understanding of protein functionality in vivo, to answer specific questions in biochemistry, biomedicine, and in biotechnology. It is, in fact, through knowledge of the atomic resolution structure of proteins that fundamental questions such as (macro)molecular recognition, enzyme catalysis and inhibition, protein-based transport processes, but also drug design, can rationally be addressed. Camillo Rosano's active projects (see below) are centered around this basic statement.

> Research lines active in 2004

1. Enzymes of the nucleotide-sugar biosynthetic pathways
2. Amyloid proteins
3. Acylphosphatases
4. Computer modeling of protein : substrate interaction.

> Camillo Rosano's past research lines

1. Human brain Hexokinase I
2. Avidin - biotin
3. AFM analysis of protein crystals
4. Hemoprotein functionality