The Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, UK, is a research institute dedicated to understanding biological processes at the molecular level. The work at the LMB has led to scientific contributions that formed the basis for many biotechnology companies. By tackling fundamental and often long-term research problems, the LMB has established its reputation as a leading international research center. The institute employs men and women from over 50 countries.
Founding and Foundational Discoveries
In 1947, the Medical Research Council established the “Unit for Research on the Molecular Structure of Biological Systems.” This unit enabled Max Perutz and John Kendrew to advance their work using X-ray diffraction to study proteins. Housed within the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge, the group expanded to include research on DNA structure, muscle contraction, and viruses, becoming a birthplace of modern molecular biology. The potential for medical applications prompted the MRC to fund a new building, and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology was officially opened in 1962.
The early years of the LMB were marked by discoveries that reshaped biology. An achievement was the 1953 elucidation of the double-helix structure of DNA by Francis Crick and James Watson. This discovery revealed how genetic information is encoded and can be duplicated. Their work built upon X-ray diffraction images of DNA from Rosalind Franklin, which were a significant contribution to determining the molecule’s structure.
Alongside the work on DNA, researchers at the LMB made advances in understanding proteins. Max Perutz and John Kendrew determined the three-dimensional structures of hemoglobin and myoglobin, the proteins responsible for oxygen transport in blood and muscle. Using X-ray crystallography, they created the first atomic-resolution maps of these proteins. This work demonstrated how a protein’s structure dictates its biological function and led to Perutz and Kendrew sharing a Nobel Prize in 1962, the same year Crick and Watson were honored.
Innovations in Research Technology
The influence of the LMB extends beyond biological discoveries to the creation of research technologies. One such innovation was the development of techniques to determine the precise sequence of the chemical building blocks, or bases, in a strand of DNA. Fred Sanger developed a method for this process, which became known as Sanger sequencing.
Sanger sequencing allowed for the first complete genome of a virus to be sequenced. This method was instrumental in the Human Genome Project and became the standard for DNA analysis through the 1980s, accelerating the study of genetic diseases. Sanger’s work in this area earned him a second Nobel Prize in 1980.
Another technological advance was the development of monoclonal antibodies. In 1975, César Milstein and Georges Köhler devised a method to produce large quantities of a single, specific type of antibody. These monoclonal antibodies can be designed to bind to almost any substance, making them a versatile tool in research and medicine. Further work by Sir Greg Winter at the LMB “humanized” these antibodies, adapting them for safe use in patients and creating the foundation for a multi-billion pound biotechnology industry.
Current Research Divisions and Focus
The LMB continues its work through a structure of four main research divisions. These divisions are Cell Biology, Neurobiology, Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry (PNAC), and Structural Studies.
Each division has a distinct focus on fundamental biological processes. The Cell Biology division investigates the molecular mechanisms of cellular activities with potential medical relevance. The Neurobiology division works to understand the properties of nerve cells in both health and disease by studying their molecular workings.
The Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry division aims to gain insights into human diseases at a molecular and structural level. The Structural Studies division focuses on understanding the mechanisms that drive biological processes by determining the three-dimensional shapes of biological molecules.