Recently, two BIOTEC research projects have been selected to join the National Space Exploration (NSE), a collaborative program between the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), aiming to support the scientific experiments to be performed under a microgravity environment in the space.
Dr. Chairat Uthaipibull, the principal researcher at Protein-Ligand Engineering and Molecular Biology Laboratory at BIOTEC proposes the crystallization of a drug target protein and the co-crystallization in combination with its inhibitors under the microgravity environment in the space. The interactions between the protein domains, and between the protein and its inhibitors will be thoroughly investigated. The results will be useful in designing new and more effective antimalarial drugs for malaria patients.
Dr. Suriyan Cha-um, BIOTEC senior researcher of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, proposes the plant biological experiment on micro-tuberization in tuber crops under a microgravity environment. Potato and cassava will be selected as the candidate plant models for investigation. The basic knowledge acquired from the experiments will be crucial in designing a cultivation system for tuber crops for producing a carbohydrate source for astronauts and researchers in the International Space Station (ISS).