Invited by Prof. Li Conggang, Prof. Timothy A. Cross, Director of the NMR Program at National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (USA) visited WIPM On May 23rd, 2011and gave a seminar entitled “The Native structure of the M2 Proton channel from Influenza A using solid state NMR”.

Prof. Cross obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. He then joined Florida State University and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Cross’s group is working on the correlation of structure-dynamics-function of biological macromolecules, specifically membrane proteins. They are also interested in the development of solid state NMR methodology and high field NMR technology for membrane proteins.

In the seminar, Prof. Timothy A. Cross emphasized the importance of studying structures and dynamic of membrane proteins and the significance effects of the membrane environment on membrane protein functions. He pointed out that “tuberculosis and influenza are two kinds of stubborn killers in human history. However A few anti-influenza virus drugs are on the market, but they have serious side effects. Unless it’s a life and death situation, they're generally not prescribed”.Membrane proteins might be the key to designing more specific drugs by studying their structural and dynamics. Prof. Cross also showed the recent results on the M2 proton channel and other membrane proteins by using solid state NMR .