Intézeti szeminárium (elte.hu)
24 April (Thursday) 15:00, Gróh auditory (062)
Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
From SARS-CoV-2 membrane proteins to protein-RNA phase separation – how can we use multi-faceted bioNMR spectroscopy as a Swiss knife?
BioNMR spectroscopy is a powerful and versatile tool for exploring the structure, dynamics, and interactions of biomolecules. In this talk, I will illustrate its broad applications through recent studies on viral membrane proteins and biomolecular phase separation.
First, I will present solid-state NMR investigations of SARS-CoV-2 accessory membrane proteins, highlighting their structural features, oligomerization, and potential interactions with host proteins. These findings provide insights into their roles in viral pathogenicity.
Second, I will discuss how solution-state NMR reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying protein-RNA liquid-liquid phase separation, a key process in formation of biocondensates in cells. By examining the phase separation behavior hnRNPC1 protein and its interactions with RNA, we aim to obtain a deeper understanding of ribonucleoprotein particle assembly and function.
These examples showcase how advanced NMR techniques can address fundamental questions in structural biology and biophysics, offering a molecular-level perspective on complex biochemical phenomena.