InstructFeaturing expert speakers from Instruct Centres across Europe, Instruct-ERIC Webinar Series: Structure Meets Function highlights some of the latest developments in structural biology, demonstrating how integrative methods are enabling scientists to decipher the mechanisms that underpin health and disease.
Watch the previous webinars in the series here.
The 14th webinar in the series will be hosted by Instruct Lithuania on 16 Nov 2021, 11:00 - 12:30 CET
Agenda
Webinar moderator: Mindaugas Linkaitis, Vilnius University Life Sciences Center
Talk 1: Biomembranes on a chip: tethered phospholipid bilayers for protein membrane interaction studies
Speaker: Dr Gintaras Valinčius
Affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius University Life Sciences Center
Abstract:Tethered phospholipid bilayer membranes provide convenient experimental platform for protein membrane interaction studies. At Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC) we have developed robust and reproducible methodology to assemble tBLMs on a chip, which size can vary from several sq.millimeters to several tens of sq. centimeters depending on methodology that is utilized to interrogate properties of membranes and proteins. tBLMs with reconstituted protein can be probed by a range of surface sensitive techniques including atomic force microscopy (regular and high speed), surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and fluorescence microscopy imaging. Neutron reflectometry is a method of choice to elucidate structural elements of tBLMs including reconstituted proteins along the normal to a surface. In our talk we will briefly review the methodology of preparation of tBLMs, applications and EIS data analysis algorithms developed at VU LSC. Several examples of the utility of tBLMs as sensing elements for pore-forming proteins (toxins) will be discussed.
Talk 2: Bacterial immunity: from restriction enzymes to CRISPR
Speaker: Dr Virginijus Šikšnys
Affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University Life Sciences Center
Abstract:Bacteriophages are major parasites of bacteria. To counter fight viral attacks bacteria developed multiple defense barriers that interfere with nearly every step of virus life cycle. These multiple defense barriers constitute a primitive immune system that protects bacteria against invading viruses. We aim to understand structural and molecular mechanisms of antiviral defense systems in bacteria and harness them into molecular tools for targeted genome manipulation.
