Introduction
The Next Generation Chemistry theme at the Rosalind Franklin Institute brings the techniques of organic chemistry to bear on living systems. By investigating natural mechanisms using chemical approaches, scientists can generate fresh insights into complex biology.
Professor Ben Davis leads the Next Generation Chemistry theme. For nearly two decades, his research group at Oxford University has focused on improving our chemical understanding of biomolecular structure and function – particularly in proteins and carbohydrates. The manipulation of these biomolecules has a host of potential biotechnological applications, including the development of new disease therapeutics.
Professor Davis says: ‘One of the things we’re deeply interested in at the Franklin is the notion of being able to program the functional information that is found in biological molecules like proteins, sugars or lipids. What we’re exploring is how to insert information precisely into these molecules to alter their function. Instead of “gene editing”, you might call it protein editing – and I can see it developing into a hugely exciting area.’
A recent avenue of particular interest to scientists in the Next Generation Chemistry theme is the use of light as a benign trigger for activating (or deactivating) biological function in proteins, making and breaking chemical bonds to alter the information inside these ‘workhorse’ molecules. Medicine is the natural direction for much of this work, with conceivable applications in drug and vaccine development, as well as the therapeutic use of protein editing itself through the enhancement of ‘deficient’ proteins or the introduction of synthetic proteins into the body. But, says Professor Davis, the generation of chemical insights into the field of biology will be of much broader benefit and applicability.
He says: ‘The sense of excitement around the Franklin is remarkable. People here are driven by an ethos of collaboration and a desire to solve fundamental problems in life science, which will be transformational in bringing a deep understanding of chemistry into the heart of biology and physiology.’
This collaborative, problem-solving approach has been demonstrated clearly during the coronavirus pandemic. An early question surrounding the SARS-CoV-2 virus was whether it might be exploiting carbohydrate molecules to enter hosts. With evidence unclear, scientists from the Franklin’s Next Generation Chemistry and Structural Biology programmes worked alongside international colleagues to unpick the problem and, in remarkably quick time, produced a new picture of the role of host carbohydrate interactions in COVID-19 infection.
Professor Davis adds: ‘There are real synergies with the other themes at the Franklin, such as Structural Biology, Correlated Imaging and Biological Mass Spectrometry, which offer great opportunities for collaboration. There are also significant opportunities around high-throughput methodologies in this type of chemistry, and the use of AI and machine learning techniques for algorithm-based discovery.’
Science Director
Professor Ben Davis
Science Director, Next Generation Chemistry
Ben Davis got his B.A. (1993) and D.Phil. (1996) from the University of Oxford. During this time he learnt the […]
Deputy Science Director
Associate Professor Shabaz Mohammed
Deputy Science Director, Next Generation Chemistry
Shabaz Mohammed is the Deputy Science Director for Next Generation Chemistry and Head of Mechanistic Proteomics, and also teaches at […]
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