| Mission |
The Laboratory of Biochemistry follows a multi disciplinary approach using a variety of techniques and expertises to gain fundamental insight in the structure, function and biocatalytic properties of proteins. The translation of the fastgrowing primary DNA sequence data towards the function of genes and encoded proteins requires that new tools in bioinformatics are combined with molecular knowledge of proteins and their mechanism of action. Research at the Laboratory of Biochemistry aims to contribute to this rapidly developing field in biochemistry and aims to link Bioinformatics with Structural Biology (macromolecular structure, protein folding, structure-function relationships) and Enzymology (biocatalysis, reaction mechanisms, signal transduction pathways and regulation). Common objectives among the different research projects are: understanding the molecular determinants of protein folding, enzyme catalysis, protein dynamics, membrane/protein and ligand/receptor interactions in vitro and in vivo and the application of proteins and enzymes in food technology. The research projects are embedded in the graduate schools EPS and VLAG. Many (inter)national collaborations exist to provide additional techniques and expertise. Important research facilities include the Wageningen NMR Centre (WnmrC, since 1993) and the Micro Spectroscopy Centre (MSC, since 1996). Both centra have an excellent national and international reputation. |
