| Abstract
| - Genome sequencing projects have provided a wealth of data, mostnotably the primary sequences of all the proteins that a givenorganism can produce. The understanding of this information atthe functional level is still in the beginning stages. Three-dimensional structural information is necessary to unravel at theatomic level the mechanisms by which a protein carries out itsfunction, and such information can often be very useful to predictat least gross functional features, even in the absence of biochemical data. An exhaustive structural characterization of the proteinsencoded in the genomes is thus highly desirable. To enhance thefunctional insights provided by genome-scale structural determination, we have prioritized our research to target specific processesof the cell, i.e., those responsible for controling metal homeostasis.In this Account, we present the results obtained by the MagneticResonance Center of the University of Florence on proteinsinvolved in the homeostasis of copper. The general researchstrategy is presented, followed by a discussion focused on differentkey experimental aspects. An overview of the initial results and oftheir relevance to the understanding of molecular function andcellular processes is also given.
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