Research Projects

This research aims to advance understanding of malaria parasite biology through four key objectives. First, it involves producing recombinant malaria aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) enzymes and conducting activity assays to evaluate their function. Second, it focuses on the in vitro synthesis and purification of malaria parasite transfer RNA (tRNA) to study its role in protein synthesis. Third, sample stability and homogeneity will be assessed using negative staining electron microscopy to ensure quality for structural analysis. Finally, the project seeks to determine the structures of enzyme-tRNA complexes using cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), providing insights into molecular interactions critical for malaria parasite survival and potential therapeutic targets.