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SUMMARY:Membrane protein folding\, the regulation of membrane function and
  construction of synthetic membrane modules - Prof. Paula Booth\, King's C
 ollege London
DTSTART:20151202T103000Z
DTEND:20151202T113000Z
UID:TALK62782@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jerome Charmet
DESCRIPTION:Integral membrane proteins account for about 30% of all cell p
 roteins and provide the means for vital communication across the membrane 
 in the form of transporters\, receptors and signal transducers. Although t
 he number of gene sequences for these proteins is steadily increasing\, as
  is our knowledge of the clinical aspects of these proteins and their dema
 nd for drug development\, the study of the proteins themselves represents 
 one of the major challenges in modern day molecular biology research.\nFor
  a protein to be biologically active it must fold to a specific\, three di
 mensional shape and misfolding can lead to malfunction and disease. In con
 trast to the large body of information on the folding of water-soluble pro
 teins\, remarkably little is known about how membrane proteins fold to the
 ir final structures. Such knowledge not only solves a fundamental biologic
 al question but also aids the design of membrane proteins and functional m
 embrane vesicles or droplets for Synthetic Biology applications.\nResearch
  in my group focuses on membrane protein folding mechanisms and investigat
 ions into the role of the membrane lipids in regulating folding and membra
 ne protein activity. We are also interested in membrane protein design and
  exploiting artificial membranes and protein chemistry in synthetic applic
 ations. Several proteins are studied including G protein coupled receptors
  several transport proteins\, including multidrug and ABC transporters. An
  interdisciplinary approach is used involving time-resolved spectroscopic 
 techniques to measure folding kinetics\, calorimetric methods to probe the
  relevant energetics\, computer simulations and modelling\, site-directed 
 mutagenesis or chemical modification methods to investigate folding interm
 ediates and manipulation of the lipid environment to control the folding.
LOCATION:Department of Chemistry\, Cambridge\, Unilever lecture theatre
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