My research focuses on the architecture and functional dynamics of large macromolecules such as membrane proteins, many of which exhibit medical relevance. There is increasing evidence that such macromolecules don’t act alone but are organised as nano-machineries which function through the concerted action of their individual components with high precision and specificity observed in both time and space. I seek to unravel the principles underlying the architecture, dynamics and ultimately function of these protein nano-machineries using advanced magnetic resonance techniques, specifically pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) – but also NMR techniques in combination with molecular biological and other biophysical methods. Throughout my career I have developed expertise that lies at the interface between the development and application of novel magnetic resonance techniques to address such questions. Here I will present some of these recent method developments that have allowed a shifting of the focus of magnetic resonance from being considered purely a niche technique towards a more universal structural biophysical tool. I will demonstrate, e.g., how to observe dynamic conformational changes at the molecular level [1], how to resolve multiple distance constraints in macromolecular ensembles [2], and how to identify the dynamic determinants of ligand binding. [3] Finally, I will describe my ideas for the directions I wish to take such method development in the future [4] as well as discussing potential new collaborative areas within the Institute of Physics and beyond for such applications. I will also describe one further area that I wish to pursue: the development of a cryogen-free flow cryostat suitable for high-throughput magnetic resonance experimentation at low temperatures, and the commercial benefits of such a development in the current climate of the spiralling costs of the limited resource liquid helium.

Nastupno predavanje će se održati u predavaonici u 1. krilu Instituta za fiziku.

Predavanje ćete moći pratiti i putem Zoom-a:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5081440931

Meeting ID: 508 144 0931