This grant is the second phase of a Senior Research Scholar Award (2004-2007) awarded to Professor Jisnuson Svasti. As previously, the grant focuses on studying proteins and developing capablility in protein research. This is essential, since proteins perform biological actions in all living systems (see Section II for Overview). Thus, the completion of the Human Genome project in 2001, establishing the DNA sequence of human beings, has shown clearly that further studies are needed to understand the structure, action, synthesis, and localisation of proteins which are synthesised from this DNA, if we wish to understand living systems. Unfortunately, protein science in Thailand, although started earlier than DNA research, underwent a period of slow growth due to the lack of expensive major equipment necessary for modern protein research. However, during the first phase of this Senior Research Scholar Award (2001-2004), various agencies recognised the importance of protein research, and provided major equipment items, enabling us to delve deeper into more advanced research in protein science. Thus, the second phase of the Senior Research Scholar Award continues the studies intiated in the first phase, allowing significant advances in the field. In addition, apart from obtaining research results of interest, we have placed emphasis in the development of manpower in protein research, and encouraging other researchers to be more active in protein research. These various aspects are discussed below. Our research group has two major focal points. First, the core of the research group is represented by the Center for Excellence in Protein Structure and Function (CPSF), which has 6 members: Professor Jisnuson Svasti, Dr. Jirundon Yuvaniyama, Dr. Palangpon Kongsaeree, Dr. Pimchai Chaiyen, Dr. Pramvadee Wongsaengchantra, and Dr. Kittisak Yokthongwattana. CPSF has X-ray crystallographic equipment for determining three-dimensional structure of a protein, as well as a stop-flow spectrophotometer for studying reaction intermediates in enzyme reactions at the pre-steady state phase. The other focal point is the Laboratory of Biochemistry, Chulabhorn Research Institute (CRI), which has instrumentation for amino acid analysis, protein sequencing, proteomic and mass spectrometry facilities. These facilities complement each other, and allow a broad range of research activities for studying proteins, which are made available to collaborators in the project.