Decoding Molecular Plasticity in the Dark Proteome
Event details
| Date | 19.05.2015 |
| Hour | 09:30 |
| Speaker | Edward A. Lemke, Ph.D., European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Heidelberg (D) |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
BIOENGINEERING SEMINAR
Abstract:
The focus of our research lies on intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), which constitute up to 50% of the eukaryotic proteome. IDPs are enriched e.g. in vital processes like epigenetic mechanisms, nucleocytoplasmic transport and transcription. In addition, IDPs are flexible protein biopolymers, and their plasticity encodes much unexplored potential for bio-inspired material science research. While the ability of IDPs to sample multiple conformations is considered a major driving force behind their evolution as multifunctional hubs in eukaryotes, studying biological machineries enriched in such dynamic proteins imposes a major obstacle for conventional technologies (thus constituting what is termed the “Dark (invisible) Proteome”). I will show that fluorescence tools are ideally suited to study IDPs, since their non-invasive character permits smooth transition between biochemical and cellular studies. In particular, single molecule and superresolution techniques are powerful tools for studying spatial and temporal heterogeneities that are intrinsic to complex biological systems, as they provide an unbiased view on the underlying mechanisms. I will show that key to succeeding with this goal is to synergistically combine this effort with advanced tool development, in particular in chemical and synthetic biology as well as lab-on-a-chip miniaturization efforts, to increase strength and sensitivity of the approach as a whole. I will present our most recent advances on understanding the molecular plasticity and multivalency of nucleoporins in the transport pathway. Furthermore, I will talk about a new generation of site-specific bioengineering tools that permit custom tailoring of proteins for diverse applications ranging from fluorescence nanoscopy to targeting posttranslational modifications.
Bio:
PhD, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen.
Research Associate, the Scripps Research Institute, USA.
Group leader at EMBL since 2009.
Joint appointment with Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit.
Emmy Noether group leader since 2010.
Abstract:
The focus of our research lies on intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), which constitute up to 50% of the eukaryotic proteome. IDPs are enriched e.g. in vital processes like epigenetic mechanisms, nucleocytoplasmic transport and transcription. In addition, IDPs are flexible protein biopolymers, and their plasticity encodes much unexplored potential for bio-inspired material science research. While the ability of IDPs to sample multiple conformations is considered a major driving force behind their evolution as multifunctional hubs in eukaryotes, studying biological machineries enriched in such dynamic proteins imposes a major obstacle for conventional technologies (thus constituting what is termed the “Dark (invisible) Proteome”). I will show that fluorescence tools are ideally suited to study IDPs, since their non-invasive character permits smooth transition between biochemical and cellular studies. In particular, single molecule and superresolution techniques are powerful tools for studying spatial and temporal heterogeneities that are intrinsic to complex biological systems, as they provide an unbiased view on the underlying mechanisms. I will show that key to succeeding with this goal is to synergistically combine this effort with advanced tool development, in particular in chemical and synthetic biology as well as lab-on-a-chip miniaturization efforts, to increase strength and sensitivity of the approach as a whole. I will present our most recent advances on understanding the molecular plasticity and multivalency of nucleoporins in the transport pathway. Furthermore, I will talk about a new generation of site-specific bioengineering tools that permit custom tailoring of proteins for diverse applications ranging from fluorescence nanoscopy to targeting posttranslational modifications.
Bio:
PhD, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen.
Research Associate, the Scripps Research Institute, USA.
Group leader at EMBL since 2009.
Joint appointment with Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit.
Emmy Noether group leader since 2010.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free