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Material Measurement Laboratory /Biomolecular Measurement Division

Biomolecular Structure and Function Group

The Biomolecular Structure and Function Group advances new measurement methods and modeling tools for structural analysis of biomolecules and biomolecular complexes.

In collaboration with U.S. industry, government agencies, and scientific institutions, the Biomolecular Structure and Function Group develops precision measurement and modeling tools and standards to support determination of biomolecular structure, dynamics, energetics and function.  The group also advances innovative approaches for engineering biological systems to support applications in biotechnology and bioscience research.  

Our group is located at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), a joint institute of the University of Maryland and NIST.  For information on group activities please visit IBBR. 

News and Updates

Projects and Programs

Bioman lifecycle

Biomanufacturing Initiative

Ongoing
The objective of the NIST biomanufacturing program is to support US biopharmaceutical industry delivery of high quality and low cost protein drugs around the world. The mission is fulfilled through the development of standards, measurement science, and state of the art tools that support advances in
component 1

Consistency Analysis and Uncertainty in ‘omic Data

Ongoing
‘Omics is increasingly moving out of the laboratory and towards use in industrial and commercial applications. For instance, in biomanufacturing, there is a need for quality control when developing biotherapeutics, which will almost certainly require a machine-learning classifier to separate
Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) image of an LNP/RNA formulation

LNP-RNA Research Grade Test Material

Ongoing
The currently planned LNP/RNA material (designated RGTM 10240) will include a fragment of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that is approximately 4 kb in length. This fragment was previously included (in unencapsulated form) as “Fragment 1” of NIST RGTM 10169. The RNA fragment is not designed for cell-based
Fab Domain from NISTmAb

Metrologies for Protein Structure, Dynamics and Function

Ongoing
Based on its established expertise, infrastructure, and resources for structure/function studies of biological macromolecules, the program aims to impact advances in physics, chemistry, and engineering relevant to biological problems. NIST researchers also develop new technologies for application to

Publications

Monitoring Spectrometer Drift with Unsupervised Machine Learning

Author(s)
Benjamin Harding, Ziling Hu, Ashley Hiett, Frank Delaglio, Katherine Henzler- Wildman, Chad Rienstra
Solid-state NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR) is a powerful technique to probe structural and dynamic properties of molecules at an atomic level. Modern SSNMR methods

Effects of Glycans and Hinge on Dynamics in the IgG1 Fc

Author(s)
Christina Bergonzo, J. Todd Hoopes, Zvi Kelman, David Travis Gallagher
The crystallizable fragment (Fc) domain of immunoglobulin subclass IgG1 antibodies is engineered for a wide variety of pharmaceutical applications. Two

Awards

Contacts

Group Leader