Speaker: Dr. Buyong Ma, Senior Scientist

Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. National Cancer Institute, NIH, USA

Time: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 30th , 2016

Place: Room 412, Building 5, School of Pharmacy

Host : Professor Jianwei Zhu

Abstract: Proteins are dynamic molecules. In the cell, the conformational ensembles of all soluble proteins fluctuate around their native states. To form a well-functioning machine with ordered movements, a protein unit has to recognize other molecules, to catalyze a chemical reaction, or to pass signal to other molecules in a dynamic way. The single molecule time-dependent dynamics of a protein is also decided by its conformational energy landscape, which is difficult to measure. Using different simulation approaches, we can examine various aspects of protein conformational dynamics to understand related protein functions. Protein contact network analysis of protein dynamic trajectories helps to decode both kinetic and thermodynamic properties in signal transduction. New methodologies are needed to understand and characterize the subtle protein signal transduction within protein complex and protein interaction network in immune response.