Thomas C. Terwilliger is a Laboratory Fellow at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and a Senior Scientist at the New Mexico Consortium. His research interests include structural biology, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-EM. He is a member of the Phenix team, which develops tools for X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. Terwilliger's work focuses on model-building and improving density maps.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles (1978-1981)
PhD, University of Chicago (1981-1985)
Career
Thomas C. Terwilliger has had a long and distinguished career in structural biology and X-ray crystallography. He has made significant contributions to the development of algorithms and software for analyzing X-ray diffraction and cryo-EM data from macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. He is a leading expert in the field of structural biology, with a particular focus on protein structure and function.
Notable Works
Improving AlphaFold modeling using implicit information from experimental density maps(2022): In this work, Terwilliger and his colleagues hypothesized that by implicitly including experimental information from density maps, a greater portion of a protein model could be predicted accurately using machine-learning algorithms like AlphaFold.
Engineering an efficient and bright split Corynactis californica green fluorescent protein(2021): This paper describes the engineering of a bright and efficient split green fluorescent protein (GFP) derived from Corynactis californica. GFP has been widely used in cellular biology applications, and this work further enhances its utility.
Protein hydrogen-bond parameters as a new validation tool(2020): This paper introduces a new validation tool for protein identification based on automated model-building and side-chain matching using single-particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM).
Improvement of cryo-EM maps by density modification(2020): Terwilliger and his team presented a density-modification procedure for improving maps from single-particle electron cryogenic microscopy (cryo-EM). This method has been applied to improve the accuracy of maps and facilitate the interpretation of protein structures.
A Comprehensive Review on Mycobacterium tuberculosis Targets and Drug Development from a Structural Perspective(2019): In this comprehensive review, Terwilliger and his co-authors discuss the challenges posed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). They emphasize the importance of structural biology in understanding Mtb and developing new therapeutic approaches.
Awards and Recognition
Trueblood Award, American Crystallographic Association
American Crystallographic Association Fellow
Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer
Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow
Selected Publications
Terwilliger, T. C., Liebschner, D., Croll, T. I., et al. (2023). AlphaFold predictions are valuable hypotheses and accelerate but do not replace experimental structure determination. bioRxiv.
Terwilliger, T. C., Liebschner, D., Croll, T. I., et al. (2023). Accelerating crystal structure determination with iterative AlphaFold prediction. Acta Cryst. D79, 234-244.
Terwilliger, T. C., Poon, B. K., Afonine, P. V., et al. (2022). Improved AlphaFold modeling with implicit experimental information. Nature Methods, 19, 1376–1382.
Terwilliger, T. C., Sobolev, O. V., Afonine, P. V., et al. (2021). Protein identification from electron cryomicroscopy maps by automated model building and side-chain matching. Acta Cryst. D77, 457-462.
Terwilliger, T. C., Adams, P. D., Afonine, P. V., et al. (2020). Improvement of cryo-EM maps by density modification. Nature Methods, 17, 923-927.
Terwilliger, T. C., Adams, P. D., Afonine, P. V., et al. (2020). Cryo-EM map interpretation and protein model-building using iterative map segmentation. Protein Science, 29, 87-99.
Terwilliger, T. C., Liebschner, D., Afonine, P. V., et al. (2019). Macromolecular structure determination using X-rays, neutrons, and electrons: Recent developments in Phenix. Acta Cryst. D75, 861-877.
Terwilliger, T. C., Adams, P. D., Afonine, P. V., et al. (2018). A fully automatic method yielding initial models from high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy maps. Nature Methods, 15, 905-908.
Terwilliger, T. C., Sobolev, O. V., Afonine, P. V., et al. (2018). Automated map sharpening by maximization of detail and connectivity. Acta Cryst. D, 74, 545-559.
References
Thomas C. Terwilliger. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas-Terwilliger
Thomas C. Terwilliger. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://solve.lanl.gov/terwilliger/
Thomas C. Terwilliger. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://solve.lanl.gov/terwilliger/Terwilliger_publications.htm
4. Thomas C. Terwilliger - Wikidata. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37391688
Thomas C. Terwilliger
Overview
Thomas C. Terwilliger is a Laboratory Fellow at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and a Senior Scientist at the New Mexico Consortium. He is a member of the Phenix team, which develops tools for X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. Terwilliger's research interests include structural biology, protein structure, and the development of crystallographic and cryo-EM methods. He has authored numerous publications and has received several awards for his contributions to the field.
Education and Career
Thomas C. Terwilliger received his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1978. He then held teaching positions at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Chicago before joining the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1991. In October 2017, he joined the New Mexico Consortium as a Senior Scientist.
Notable Contributions and Publications
Thomas C. Terwilliger has authored or co-authored over 49,500 citations and has an H-index of 64. Here are some of his notable publications:
AlphaFold predictions are valuable hypotheses and accelerate but do not replace experimental structure determination– Terwilliger et al. (2023): This paper evaluates the accuracy of AlphaFold predictions by comparing them to density maps and corresponding deposited models.
Accelerating crystal structure determination with iterative AlphaFold prediction– Terwilliger et al. (2023): The paper presents an automatic procedure that uses AlphaFold predictions to produce electron-density maps and structural models, accelerating experimental structure determination.
Improving AlphaFold modeling with implicit experimental information– Terwilliger et al. (2022): The paper proposes a method to improve the accuracy of AlphaFold predictions by implicitly including experimental information from density maps.
Protein identification from electron cryomicroscopy maps by automated model building and side-chain matching– Terwilliger et al. (2021): The paper describes a method for protein identification using single-particle electron cryo-microscopy, which can be used to create atomic models and match proteins to the correct sequence.
Improvement of cryo-EM maps by density modification– Terwilliger et al. (2020): The paper presents a density-modification procedure to improve maps from single-particle electron cryogenic microscopy, based on maximum-likelihood density modification.
Macromolecular structure determination using X-rays, neutrons, and electrons: Recent developments in Phenix– Terwilliger et al. (2019): The paper discusses recent developments in the Phenix software package for macromolecular structure determination, including Terwilliger's SOLVE/RESOLVE software.
A fully automatic method yielding initial models from high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy maps– Terwilliger et al. (2018): The paper describes a fully automated procedure for optimizing and interpreting reconstructions from cryo-electron microscopy data, available in Phenix.
Structural Genomics– Terwilliger et al. (2003): As part of the Structural Genomics Initiative, Terwilliger and his team focused on determining and analyzing protein structures, with the goal of improving the understanding of biology.
The TB Structural Genomics Consortium– Terwilliger et al. (2003): Terwilliger founded and led the TB Structural Genomics Consortium, which was dedicated to determining structures of proteins from the pathogenic organism M. tuberculosis.
Awards and Recognition
Trueblood Award, American Crystallographic Association
American Crystallographic Association Fellow
Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer
Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow
Conclusion
Thomas C. Terwilliger is a renowned researcher and scientist who has made significant contributions to the fields of structural biology, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-EM. His work has advanced our understanding of protein structures and their role in various biological processes and diseases.
Youtube Videos
Youtube Title: Thomas C. Terwilliger received the Kenneth Trueblood Award at the ACA 2013 Meeting in Honolulu, HI