Faculty of the Division of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBS) are engaged in advanced study of the biological chemistry of cellular metabolites; enzymatic catalysis; the structure and function of biological macromolecules, especially nucleic acids and proteins; the supramolecular organization of complex cellular assemblies, including the transcription and DNA replication proteins, biological membranes; and, regulation of biological processes such as chromosomal folding, protein secretion and intracellular signaling.
These problems are being investigated in systems that range from bacteria and bacteriophage to yeast to human cells and their viruses. Faculty of this division also participate in interdepartmental programs in structural biology, chemical biology, microbiology and toxicology. Facilities include those for protein-sequence analysis, peptide and oligonucleotide synthesis, access to the synchrotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab for X-ray crystallography, and NMR spectrometry.
The Division holds a weekly seminar series by invited speakers, and each year is the host for the Chiron, Li, Stanier, and Wilson Lecturers. The Division holds its annual retreat at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California, in early January.