Papers
2
Total Citations
12
H-Index
2
About
Debanu Das is a structural biologist whose research centers on determining the three-dimensional structures of proteins from minimal genomes, particularly those of the human pathogens *Mycoplasma pneumoniae* and *M. genitalium*. As a key contributor to the Berkeley Structural Genomics Center (BSGC), Das has advanced our understanding of protein function through X-ray crystallography, focusing on conserved hypothetical proteins with unknown roles. His most-cited work, the 2007 crystal structure of a novel single-stranded DNA binding protein from *M. pneumoniae* (8 citations), sheds light on DNA replication and repair mechanisms in these reduced-genome organisms, which are linked to autoimmune conditions and respiratory infections. Another notable contribution is the 2004 structure of the conserved hypothetical protein MPN330 (4 citations), which exemplifies the BSGC’s integrated approach to inferring function from structure. Though citation counts are modest, Das’s work is foundational for structural genomics, providing essential templates for understanding pathogenicity and evolution in mycoplasmas—organisms with the smallest known genomes. His achievements highlight the power of structural biology in decoding the molecular basis of infection and immunity.
Research Focus
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