How To Build a Biological Nanomachine
Event details
| Date | 25.10.2019 |
| Hour | 09:30 › 10:30 |
| Speaker | Prof. Anđela Šarić, University College London (UK) |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
BIOENGINEERING SEMINAR
Abstract:
The molecular machinery of life is largely created via self-organisation of individual molecules into functional assemblies. Such processes are multi-scale in nature and constantly driven far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Our group develops minimal computer models to help understand how a large number of macromolecules self-organises into a functional nanomachine.
Here I will discuss the physical mechanisms behind two key biological nanomachines that operate via protein assembly – ESCRTIII filaments that remodel cell membranes and split evolutionary simple cells in two, and bacterial mechanosensitive channels that convert mechanical signals into chemical. I will discuss the model development, the simulation results, and the mapping of the simulation data to in vivo experiments. Beyond their biological context, our findings can also guide the design of artificial structures that are able to perform work at the nanoscale.
Bio:
Anđela Šarić is an Associate Professor of Biological and Soft Matter Physics at University College London (UK). She obtained a PhD from Columbia University in New York, followed by a postdoc at the University of Cambridge (UK). Her research is currently focused on functional and pathological protein assembly and cell remodeling. She is a recipient of the Royal Society University Research Fellowship and the ERC Starting Grant.
Zoom link for attending remotely: https://epfl.zoom.us/j/844875598
Abstract:
The molecular machinery of life is largely created via self-organisation of individual molecules into functional assemblies. Such processes are multi-scale in nature and constantly driven far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Our group develops minimal computer models to help understand how a large number of macromolecules self-organises into a functional nanomachine.
Here I will discuss the physical mechanisms behind two key biological nanomachines that operate via protein assembly – ESCRTIII filaments that remodel cell membranes and split evolutionary simple cells in two, and bacterial mechanosensitive channels that convert mechanical signals into chemical. I will discuss the model development, the simulation results, and the mapping of the simulation data to in vivo experiments. Beyond their biological context, our findings can also guide the design of artificial structures that are able to perform work at the nanoscale.
Bio:
Anđela Šarić is an Associate Professor of Biological and Soft Matter Physics at University College London (UK). She obtained a PhD from Columbia University in New York, followed by a postdoc at the University of Cambridge (UK). Her research is currently focused on functional and pathological protein assembly and cell remodeling. She is a recipient of the Royal Society University Research Fellowship and the ERC Starting Grant.
Zoom link for attending remotely: https://epfl.zoom.us/j/844875598
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
Contact
- Institute of Bioengineering (IBI), Christina Mattsson