Institute of Biotechnology

Department of Bioinformatics

In Bioinformatics Laboratory we mainly deal with protein sequences and their three-dimensional structures. There are two main directions of our research:

• Methods development. We aim at improving computational methods for sequence comparison and protein structure prediction (mainly in comparative modeling) as well as methods for assessment of protein structure quality.

• Application of computational methods to biological problems. Most often we use computational methods to characterize structure and interactions of both individual proteins and their complexes. In these studies we tend to focus on proteins/protein complexes that function in DNA metabolism including DNA replication, recombination and repair. Our objective is to make inferences regarding structural and functional features, molecular mechanisms, interactions, etc. that can be tested experimentally. Most of such studies are joint collaborations with experimentalists.

Sources of financial support for our previous and current research:

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute , International Research Scholars Program

• Research Council of Lithuania

• Ministry of Education and Science

• EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)