Gunars CHIPENS

Professor Gunars CHIPENS

Leading Researcher,
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
Aizkraukles iela 21
Riga, LV 1006
Latvia

Phone: +371 67546348
Fax: +371 67550338
E-mail: chipens@osi.lv

Born: November 11, 1933, Riga, Latvia

Interests:

Brief Description of Main Research:

My recent research work concentrates on protein sequence analysis, based on the amino acid interaction code (the second half of the genetic code) deciphered with the effort of our research group during the last years. This is a distinct and independent code which determines the amino acid interactions. The designed model of code structure has allowed to elaborate a new method of analysis of protein structures, called CAACRA (comparative amino acid codon root analysis). This method has been used to demonstrate covert internal symmetry of peptide chains, to confirm protein emergence by multimerisation of peptide-coding gene segments (repeat units), and to explain the formation of exon and intron structures. Also, the locations of functionally active sites in several proteins have been determined. Particularly perspective seems the application of CAACRA for comparative analysis of proteins to determine their evolutionary relationship. Our current projects deal with the studies of structural and functional organization of superantigens.

Languages: English, Latvian, Russian

Education:

Experience:

Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis -

Honours and Awards:

Professional Activities and Memberships:

Courses:

Protein Chemistry, Biology and Genetics , University of Latvia and Riga Technical University, 1973 -1976

Recent/Representative Publications:  

Research Projects:



Last update 28.09.2007