Editing Structural biology (section)

== Applications ==
[[File:Structural Biology and Drug Discovery.png|thumb|Flowchart of how structural biology plays a role in drug discovery]]
Structural biologists have made significant contributions towards understanding the molecular components and mechanisms underlying human diseases. For example, cryo-EM and ssNMR have been used to study the aggregation of amyloid fibrils, which are associated with [[Alzheimer's disease]], [[Parkinson's disease]], and [[Type 2 diabetes|type II diabetes]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Iadanza MG, Jackson MP, Hewitt EW, Ranson NA, Radford SE | title = A new era for understanding amyloid structures and disease | journal = Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology | volume = 19 | issue = 12 | pages = 755–773 | date = December 2018 | pmid = 30237470 | doi = 10.1038/s41580-018-0060-8 | s2cid = 52307956 | url = http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/136866/ }}</ref> In addition to amyloid proteins, scientists have used cryo-EM to produce high resolution models of tau filaments in the brain of Alzheimer's patients which may help develop better treatments in the future.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Anthony W. P.|last2=Falcon|first2=Benjamin|last3=He|first3=Shaoda|last4=Murzin|first4=Alexey G.|last5=Murshudov|first5=Garib|last6=Garringer|first6=Holly J.|last7=Crowther|first7=R. Anthony|last8=Ghetti|first8=Bernardino|last9=Goedert|first9=Michel|last10=Scheres|first10=Sjors H. W.|date=2017-07-13|title=Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer's disease|journal=Nature|volume=547|issue=7662|pages=185–190|doi=10.1038/nature23002|issn=1476-4687|pmc=5552202|pmid=28678775|bibcode=2017Natur.547..185F}}</ref> Structural biology tools can also be used to explain interactions between pathogens and hosts. For example, structural biology tools have enabled [[virologist]]s to understand how the [[HIV envelope]] allows the virus to evade human immune responses.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Engelman |first1=Alan |last2=Cherepanov |first2=Peter |date=2012-03-16 |title=The structural biology of HIV-1: mechanistic and therapeutic insights |journal=Nature Reviews Microbiology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=279–290 |doi=10.1038/nrmicro2747 |pmid=22421880 |pmc=3588166 |s2cid=14088805 |issn=1740-1526|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Structural biology is also an important component of [[drug discovery]].<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | vauthors = Thomas SE, Mendes V, Kim SY, Malhotra S, Ochoa-Montaño B, Blaszczyk M, Blundell TL | title = Structural Biology and the Design of New Therapeutics: From HIV and Cancer to Mycobacterial Infections: A Paper Dedicated to John Kendrew | journal = Journal of Molecular Biology | volume = 429 | issue = 17 | pages = 2677–2693 | date = August 2017 | pmid = 28648615 | doi = 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.06.014 | series = John Kendrew’s 100th Anniversary Special Edition | doi-access = free }}</ref> Scientists can identify targets using genomics, study those targets using structural biology, and develop drugs that are suited for those targets. Specifically, ligand-[[Nuclear magnetic resonance|NMR]], [[mass spectrometry]], and [[X-ray crystallography]] are commonly used techniques in the drug discovery process. For example, researchers have used structural biology to better understand [[C-Met|Met]], a protein encoded by a protooncogene that is an important drug target in [[cancer]].<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Wendt KU, Weiss MS, Cramer P, Heinz DW|date=February 2008|title=Structures and diseases|journal=Nature Structural & Molecular Biology|volume=15|issue=2|pages=117–120|doi=10.1038/nsmb0208-117|pmc=7097323|pmid=18250627}}</ref> Similar research has been conducted for [[HIV]] targets to treat people with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]].<ref name=":0" /> Researchers are also developing new antimicrobials for mycobacterial infections using structure-driven drug discovery.<ref name=":0" />