Definition

Noun: - The branch of genomics that determines the three-dimensional structures of proteins: Structural genomics is a scientific field focused on systematically discovering and analyzing the complete three-dimensional (3D) shapes of proteins encoded by a genome. Its goal is to provide a comprehensive structural framework to understand biological function at the molecular level.

Usage

• Structural genomics aims to map the entire universe of protein folds.
• High-throughput X-ray crystallography is a common technique used in structural genomics projects.
• The insights from structural genomics can help in drug design by revealing potential binding sites on proteins.

Advanced Usage

• As a distinct field from functional genomics: While functional genomics studies what genes do, structural genomics specifically focuses on determining and cataloging their 3D architectural forms.
  • The national institute funded initiatives in both functional and structural genomics.
• In the context of protein structure prediction: The data from structural genomics projects are crucial for improving computational methods to predict protein structures from amino acid sequences.
  • The algorithm was trained on a dataset provided by a structural genomics consortium.

Variants and Related Words

• Structural proteomics (n): Often used synonymously with structural genomics, it emphasizes the large-scale study of protein structures.
• Genomics (n): The broader study of genomes, their structures, functions, and evolution.
• Structural biology (n): A wider field encompassing the study of molecular structures in biology, which includes the goals of structural genomics.

Synonyms

• Structural proteomics
• 3D genomics (less common)

Related Phrases

• Protein structure initiative: A specific, large-scale research program often associated with structural genomics goals.
• High-throughput structure determination: The methodological approach central to structural genomics.

Noun

1. the branch of genomics that determines the three-dimensional structures of proteins