María Teresa Pisabarro - Protein Structure-Function Relationships, Molecular Recognition and Design
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Previous and current research
Our research focuses on the following areas:
Protein structure-function relationships
Protein fold recognition for structure-based functional annotation of uncharacterized
proteins
Comparative analysis and prediction of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions
Protein engineering and rational ligand design
Protein structure represents a fundamental bridge to understanding biological function at molecular level. We are interested in comparative multidimensional analysis of structural and physical properties of 3D protein structures to obtain the information required to differentiate related protein family members and insights on the location and nature of binding sites. In particular, we are interested in pharmacologically and biotechnologically relevant protein families involved in cell signaling and trafficking (i.e. Docking Protein Domains).
We are also interested in enhancing the identification and annotation of uncharacterized proteins. We are developing and applying fold recognition methods for automated structure-based functional protein annotation.
Our goal is to use the information obtained in our studies to enhance the identification and characterization of new protein family members and to help in the discovery, engineering and design of interesting molecules with impact on biology, medicine and biotechnology.
Future prospects and goals
1. Integrative Bioinformatics for structure-based functional annotation of uncharacterized proteins and new target discovery:
We are developing and applying Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biology methods for identification and structure-based functional annotation of uncharacterized proteins.
2. Computational studies on molecular recognition for rational engineering and de novo design
Characterization of protein structure-function relationships and "3D fingerprinting".
Detailed computational characterization of protein interfaces and their classification for comparative structural analysis.
Comparative analysis and prediction of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions.
Engineering and rational design of proteins and ligands of therapeutical and/or biotechnological interests.
Selected publications
Teyra, J.; Paszkowski-Rogacz, M.; Anders, G.; Pisabarro, M. T. "SCOWLP classification: Structural comparison and analysis of protein binding regions". BMC Bioinformatics, 9:9 (2008)Baldauf, C.; Pisabarro, M. T. "Stable Hairpins with β-Peptides - A Route to Tackle Protein-Protein Interactions". J. Phys. Chem. B, 112(25):7581-91 (2008)
Teyra, J. and Pisabarro, M. T. "Characterization of Interfacial Solvent in Protein Complexes and Contribution of Wet Spots to the Interface Description". PROTEINS: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, 67, 1087-1095 (2007)
Pisabarro, M. T.; Leung, B; Kwong, M.; Corpuz, R.; Frantz, G. D.; Chiang, N.; Vandlen, R.; Diehl, L. J.; Skelton, N.; Eaton, D.; Schmidt, K. N. “Novel Human Dendritic Cell- and Monocyte-attracting Chemokine-like Protein Identified by Fold Recognition Methods". Journal of Immunology, 176, 2069-2073 (2006)
Kittler, R.; Putz, G.; Pelletier, L.; Poser, I.; Heninger, A. K.; Drechsel, D.; Fischer, S.; Konstantinova, I.; Habermann, B.; Grabner, H.; Yaspo, M. L.; Himmelbauer, H.; Korn, B.; Neugebauer, K; Pisabarro, M. T.; Buchholz, F. “An endoribonuclease- prepared siRNA screen in human cells identifies genes essential for cell division”. Nature, 432, 1036-1040 (2004)
María Teresa (Mayte) Pisabarro
1997: PhD in Structural and Computational Biology at EMBL Heidelberg
1997-1998: Postdoctoral work at EMBL Heidelberg and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
1998-2001: Group Leader, Protein Engineering, Genentech, San Francisco, USA
2002-2004: Visiting scientist at MPI-CBG Dresden
since 2004: Group Leader, Structural Bioinformatics, BIOTEC TU Dresden
