Titia Sixma

Structural biology

We are interested in the working mechanism of proteins. We use cryo-EM and crystallography to obtain snapshots of proteins in atomic detail, to uncover function, such as how one protein activates another. By combining protein structure analysis with quantitative biochemical analyses we gain insight into protein action.

The group is interested in the signaling processes that regulate DNA function repair, in particular ubiquitination. We study ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes that affect the DNA damage response and the access to DNA, many of which have been linked with cancer. Understanding the relationship between their structure and function can be valuable for designing new and effective anti-cancer drugs.