Professor Olga Mayans
Division of Structural Biology
University of Basel
Basel, Switzerland

Friday, July 23, 2004
11:00 am (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

Cell ultrastucture is achieved via specialized filamentous networks. Far from resulting in static formations, architectural proteins are highly dynamic and subjected to tight regulation. The molecular mechanisms of modulation, assembly and structural-dynamic transitions of proteins related to structural frameworks in muscle are the focus of our research. As introduction, a brief overview of on-going projects will be provided. Following, the emphasis will be on the muscle filament titin. The latest structural results obtained by X-ray crystallography and complementary biophysical techniques will be presented. Implications for the elastic properties of the I-band of titin will be discussed.