Resolving local structures and dynamics of proteins with 2D IR spectroscopy
PhD ceremony: Mr. S. Roy, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Dissertation: Resolving local structures and dynamics of proteins with 2D IR spectroscopy
Promotor(s): prof. J. Knoester
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Proteins are essential components of a living system as they perform many mechanical and bio-chemical functions that are needed for survival. For example, elastin provides elasticity and enzymes function as catalysts to activate most of the reactions in the living system.
A protein spontaneously folds into the most stable structure with minimum free energy, which is known as protein folding. It is important to understand how proteins fold, as folding into wrong structures leads to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, type II diabetes, and cancer. To investigate functions and folding of proteins one needs to know their structures.
Resolving protein structure at different steps of bio-chemical reactions or in a folding process is a great challenge. This is because these phenomena happen in a wide range of time scales which can be from 1/1000000000000000 of seconds (femtoseconds) to seconds. We have developed methodologies that allow to resolve proteins structures which are involved in ultrafast interconversions (time scale ~100000 femtoseconds). This is done by combining theories and computations with experiments that are performed using infrared lasers to probe molecular vibrations. The methodologies can be used to identify different intermediates and the time scales at which they interconvert in a reaction/folding pathway.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 12.59 a.m. |
More news
-
17 July 2024
Veni-grants for ten researchers in Groningen
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a Veni grant of up to €320,000 each to ten researchers of the University of Groningen and the UMCG. The Veni grants are designed for outstanding researchers who have recently gained a PhD.
-
15 July 2024
Funding for RUG researchers from National Growth Fund programme Circular Plastics NL
For research on making plastics circular, Professors Patrizio Raffa and Katja Loos together receive about 1.2 million euros from the National Growth Fund programme Circular Plastics NL.
-
09 July 2024
NWO Open Technology funding for improving quality 3D printing technology
Dr. Liangliang Cheng receives a NWO OPT grant of EUR 950,000 for research on safer application of metals in 3D printing technology.