Proteins pack together in crystal as molecular honeycomb,
leaving channels, cavities and large holes.
We want to exploit these naturally occurring architectures as starting
points for nano-engineering. This project addresses the first step -
developing algorithms that will mine the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/home/home.do
) and characterise these architectures in 3D.
The project aims is to develop innovative methods of searching for protein structures in the the Apple OS X Operating system environment and rendering a 3D cartoon on the fly, such that protein structure files can be browsed by 3D cartoon (see the Cover Flow representation in iTunes). Will involve C programming skills.
We wish to develop iPhone apps
for a selection of bioinformatic algorithms used in
research and teaching. Will require C
programming skills, and the student will learn how to write an iPhone app!
In all three projects students will work in a multidisciplinary research environment consisting of biologists, chemists, computer scientists and software developers.