Division of Intramural Research
Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry

Dr. James Ferretti, Chief
E-mail: jf4x@nih.gov

This laboratory investigates the physical and chemical properties of molecules with a view to relate their structures to biochemical functions. Specialties are high field nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, x-ray crystallography, scanning tunneling/force field microscopy, chromatography, and laboratory computer applications. These techniques are increasingly applied to the study of proteins and other macromolecular species such as oligosaccharides and glycolipids. Structural studies of smaller molecules such as cofactors, colchinoids, adducts of heme and anesthesia metabolites, cyclic peptides, and signaling substances are also being conducted. A special concern is the identification and development of new analytical techniques and integration with problems of current interest within NHLBI and NIH. Extensive collaborations are carried out with chemists, physicists, clinicians, biologists and computer specialists.