Abstract: A crystal comprising an isoform of an N-terminally truncated glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) chosen from the group consisting of a monoclinic P21 space group with unit cell dimensions of a =84.05±2.3 ?, b=62.74±2.3 ?, c=101.35±2.3 ? and ? =106.69° (GAD67) or an orthorhombic C2221 space group with unit cell dimensions of a=78.25±2.3 ?, b=99.05±2.3 ? and c=120.01±2.3 ?(GAD65).

Abstract: The invention relates to the X-ray crystal structure of PfA-M1 aminopeptidase alone, and in complex with the phosphinate dipeptide analogue hPheP[CH2]Phe. More specifically the present invention provides the structure coordinates of PfA-M1 and PfA-M1 in complex with Co4. The invention also includes the use of the X-ray crystal structures as drug target models for anti-malarial drug design and a method for identifying or designing novel anti-malarial drugs, for example using high-throughput chemical screening and medicinal chemistry methods. The invention further provides anti-malarial drugs identified or designed according to the aforementioned method and their use for obstructing protein metabolism and synthesis in a parasite by blocking the entrance of Hb-derived peptides and/or blocking the exit of released amino acids at the active site of PfA-M1 protease.

Abstract: A crystal comprising an isoform of an N-terminal truncation of GAD chosen from the group consisting of a monoclinic P2L space group with unit cell dimensions of a=84.05±2.3 ?, b=62.74±2.3 ?, c=101.35±2.3 ? and ?=106.69 (GAD65) or an orthorhombic C222L space group with unit cell dimensions of a=78.25±2.3 ?, b=99.05±2.3 ? and c=120.01±2.3 ? (GAD67).

Abstract: The present invention relates to purified multimeric proteins, comprising PlyCB monomers or functional fragments or variants thereof, which self-assemble into a ring like structure. The present invention also encompasses such multimeric proteins that comprise an integrin-binding sequence. The present invention further discloses contrast reagents, implant coatings, bone implants, and complexes for use in bionanotechnology applications, each of which comprise such multimeric proteins.