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SUMMARY:Heavy mice and lighter things: a chemistry approach to understandi
 ng the structure and roles of the extracellular matrix. - Prof. Melinda Du
 er\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20151021T131500Z
DTEND:20151021T141500Z
UID:TALK61905@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Lucy Colwell
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 structure dictates the behaviour of cells\, then we 
 can develop ways to treat diseases such as cancer\, by changing the extrac
 ellular matrix to drive the necessary change in cell behaviour.  However\,
  understanding the molecular level properties of the extracellular matrix 
 has been hampered by the lack of methods to study tissues at the atomic sc
 ale.  In this talk\, I will describe the various experimental and modellin
 g approaches we have used over the last decade to tackle these complex que
 stions.
LOCATION:Department of Chemistry\, Cambridge\, Unilever lecture theatre
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