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SUMMARY:Mimicking biological ion channels using DNA origami - Dr. Ulrich K
 eyser (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20150512T200000Z
DTEND:20150512T203000Z
UID:TALK59317@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Paulina Rowicka
DESCRIPTION:Membrane proteins control transport in and out of biological c
 ells and  can be extremely complex. At the same time\, these protein chann
 els are notoriously difficult to understand due to the often missing knowl
 edge of their three-dimensional  structure. Inspired by Feynman's famous  
 quote:"What I cannot create\, I do not understand"\, my group is developin
 g artificial protein channels that are designed entirely from DNA by harne
 ssing  Watson-Crick base pairing and self-assembly. In combination with co
 ntrolled chemical modifications we built functional DNA structures that in
 duce ionic current flows through lipid membranes. These so-called "DNA ori
 gami nanopores" exhibit  ion channel-like characteristics including voltag
 e gating and ion selectivity. I will introduce the DNA origami technique\,
  explain why DNA self-assembly offers a straightforward pathway to design 
 functional elements mimicking membrane proteins\, and briefly highlight so
 me exciting applications in nanomedicine.\n
LOCATION:Senior Palrour\, Gonville &amp\; Caius College
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