Structure Determination Service
Introduction What We Offer Advantages Publication FAQs Customer Review Related Services Contact Us
Creative Biolabs has been focusing on drug discovery for years. Our team is able to provide structural determination services using a wide range of cutting-edge methods to facilitate your research in structural biology.
Structure Determination in Drug Discovery
Structure determination is a process to obtain the three dimension coordinates of a molecule or biomolecule by a selected method. In the drug discovery process, the next important step, after the target is identified, is to obtain this 3D structure. This helps to generate the topological map and study mode of action (MOA) of molecular surfaces to optimize efficacy and selectivity.
Our Capabilities in Structure Determination
X-ray Crystallography
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For molecules of any size.
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Sample must be crystallized in a lattice structure.
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Atomic resolution but crystallization may take years and damage protein structure.
NMR Spectroscopy
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For small molecules.
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Sample must be dissolved in water.
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Closer to real protein structure but larger protein can not be resolved.
Cryo-Electron Microscopy
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For larger molecules.
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Sample is frozen in its native state.
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Near-atomic resolution, fast sample preparation.
Advantages of SANS and SAXS:
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Help scientists get information about the size, shape, and spatial relationship of analyte, macromolecules and components.
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SANS and SAXS do not require analytes to crystallizes in advance.
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Get useful information even in the range of 1-1000 nm.
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Measure the size, shape and spatial relationship of macromolecules and components.
Publication
Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) are vital for producing polyketide antibiotics, but their complex structural analysis limits mechanistic understanding. This report explores ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) as a tool for structural analysis of these proteins. Using the FD-891 PKS loading module as a model, researchers constructed a chimeric protein by replacing a native domain with an ancestral counterpart via ASR. This allowed for the successful determination of high-resolution crystal and cryo-EM structures, which were previously unattainable for the native protein. The findings demonstrate that integrating ASR with structural analysis provides deeper mechanistic insight into modular PKSs. This approach, applicable to partial regions of multi-domain proteins, offers a valuable framework for investigating the structure and function of various complex proteins.
Fig.1 GfsA loading module: A mechanistic view of domain organization and starter unit construction.1
FAQs
Q1: What type of samples are suitable for your structure determination service?
A1: We can work with a wide range of biomolecules, including soluble proteins, membrane proteins, protein-protein complexes, nucleic acids, and even viruses. The suitability often depends on factors like sample purity, stability, and concentration.
Q2: Can Creative Biolabs assist with protein expression and purification if my sample is not ready?
A2: Absolutely! Creative Biolabs offers comprehensive upstream services, including gene synthesis, protein expression (in various systems like bacterial, insect, and mammalian), and purification. This integrated approach ensures that your sample is optimized for subsequent structural studies.
Q3: How do I choose between Cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and NMR spectroscopy for my project?
A3: The best technique depends on your specific target's characteristics. Cryo-EM is ideal for large, flexible, or membrane-bound complexes. X-ray crystallography is excellent for well-behaved, crystallizable proteins, offering high atomic resolution. NMR is superb for smaller proteins, peptides, and studying dynamics or ligand interactions in solution.
Customer Review
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Enhanced Drug Design
Using Creative Biolabs' structure determination service in our research has significantly improved our ability to design more potent and selective drug candidates. Their Cryo-EM platform provided unprecedented detail on our GPCR target, allowing for structure-guided lead optimization that was previously impossible. - Dr. L**
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Accelerated Target Validation
Using Creative Biolabs' Structure Determination Service for our novel viral protein has significantly improved our understanding of its mechanism of action. Their X-ray crystallography expertise provided a high-resolution structure that confirmed our hypotheses about its active site, validating it as a promising antiviral target. - A** K***
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us.
Related Services
To further support your research and development efforts, Creative Biolabs offers a suite of complementary services that can seamlessly integrate with our structure determination offerings:
Membrane Adsorption Assay
Membrane adsorption for endotoxin removal, traditionally limited, has advanced with high-efficiency adsorbers like ACP-PVDF, achieving >99.8% removal. Creative Biolabs now offers membrane adsorption assays, leveraging selective adsorption for effective endotoxin removal.
Learn More →
B Cell-based NMR Assay
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy precisely characterizes antigen-antibody interactions and maps epitopes. Creative Biolabs offers antibody-based NMR assays for cancer epitope analysis, comparing NMR spectra before and after antibody binding to identify interaction interfaces.
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Contact Us
We can assist with your structural biology project. For more information or to request a quote for our services, please contact us. We look forward to discussing your research needs.
Reference
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Chisuga, Taichi, et al. "Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction as a Tool for Structural Analysis of Modular Polyketide Synthases." Nature Communications 16.1 (2025): 6847. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62168-0
For Research Use Only | Not For Clinical Use
