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SUMMARY:Heavy mice and lighter things: developing models of extracellular 
 matrix in health and ageing - Prof. Melinda J Duer\; Department of Chemist
 ry\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20211013T140000Z
DTEND:20211013T150000Z
UID:TALK161614@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Bobbie Claxton
DESCRIPTION:The extracellular matrix (ECM) forms the bulk of our structura
 l tissues and provides them with their particular mechanical properties.  
 At the microscopic level\, it provides the scaffold which supports cells b
 ut more intriguingly\, at the molecular level\, it provides the communicat
 ion system between the cells in the tissue and the signals that drives the
  individual behaviour of cells.  Ultimately\, if we can understand how the
  extracellular matrix molecular structure and dynamics dictates the behavi
 our of cells\, then we can develop ways to combat the effects of ageing\, 
 for instance\, by doing chemistry in the extracellular matrix to drive the
  necessary change in cell behaviour.  However\, understanding the molecula
 r level properties of the extracellular matrix has been hampered by the la
 ck of methods to study tissues at the atomic scale.  In this talk\, I will
  describe the interdisciplinary approaches my group has taken over the las
 t decade to tackle these complex questions\, including in calcified tissue
 s\, both physiologically calcified bone and pathological vascular calcific
 ation. \n \nSolid-state NMR spectroscopy underpins much of my work\, offer
 ing a means to assess molecular structural changes in intact biological ti
 ssues.  The first requirement for using solid-state NMR spectroscopy to st
 udy the molecular structures is native-like tissues in which we can introd
 uce NMR-active stable nuclear isotopes\,[1] 13C and 15N. Using multidimens
 ional solid-state correlation NMR spectra (13C-13C\, 13C-15N) as fingerpri
 nts of the underlying molecular structures in isotope-labelled native tiss
 ues has allowed us to develop laboratory-grown tissues that have demonstra
 bly highly similar molecular structures to native tissues\, and thus repre
 sent demonstrably good models of native tissue.[1-3]  The refined laborato
 ry-grown tissues can then be manipulated by growing them with isotope labe
 ls in specific components to allow detailed study of structure and functio
 n of the various extracellular matrix components.   \n \nWe have now coupl
 ed this NMR approach with a variety of other methods to examine the chemis
 try of ageing in the extracellular matrix and of calcification in bone and
  vascular calcification (hardening of the arteries).  We now have an intri
 guing insight into what may underlie the structural changes in the extrace
 llular matrix with age. \n\n\nJoin the webinar live using this link - \nht
 tps://us06web.zoom.us/j/96309173489 \n\nThis webinar is hosted by Dr Jonat
 han Clark.
LOCATION:Online via zoom
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