Instruct-ERIC Events

Instruct-ERIC Webinar Series: Structure Meets Function - Webinar #8

Meeting
Date: 16-Mar-2021

Contact: Pauline Audergon_test

Instruct

 

Featuring 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 eight webinar in the series will be hosted by Instruct Centre EMBL,  on 16 March 2021, 11:00 - 12:30 CET.

 

 

Agenda

Webinar moderator: Stephen Cusack, EMBL Grenoble

 

Talk 1: In-situ structural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using subtomogram averaging and molecular dynamics

Speaker: Beata Turonova

Affiliation: EMBL Heidelberg 

Abstract: The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) enables viral entry into host cells and is thus the primary focus for vaccine development. Using cryo-electron tomography in combination with subtomogram averaging we can not only structurally analyze S in situ, but also quantify its abundance and distribution on viral surfaces. Furthermore, we are able to gain a better understanding of its highly flexible stalk by incorporating additional information from molecular dynamics simulations into our processing routine.

 

Talk 2: Structural analysis of COVID-19-related molecules at EMBL Hamburg 

Speaker: Dmitri Svergun

Affiliation: EMBL Hamburg

Abstract:  EMBL, Hamburg Unit, provides access to a modern sample preparation and characterization facility and to high brilliance synchrotron beamlines for structural analysis. These facilities were used in several projects to elucidate structures of proteins and complexes relevant for combating the COVID-19 plague. EMBL crystallography beamlines participated in a massive screening of two repurposing drug libraries against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). On the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) beamline, a rapid screening of neutralising antibodies to identify those binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was performed. A combination of SAXS with mass-spectroscopy provided insights into the organization of coronaviral non-structural proteins nsp7 and nsp8.
Further, three projects were conducted with participation of BioNTech company to analyze lipid nanoparticles for fine-tuning of tailored mRNA delivery systems and improve the formulation development for future vaccines. 

 

Talk 3: Online crystallography: Automated pipelines for protein crystallography and drug design. 

Speaker: Jose A. Marquez

Affiliation: EMBL Grenoble

Abstract:  The combination of the CrystalDirect technology for sample preparation with automated diffraction data collection at ESRF MASSIF1 and other synchrotron beam lines enables the operation of high throughput protein-to-structure pipelines integrating crystal screening and optimization, crystal soaking harvesting and cryo-cooling and X-ray diffraction data collection into a continuous and fully automated workflow. This approach accelerates, de novo structural analysis, large scale fragment screening and drug design applications. Examples from selected user projects as well as future developments through the MASSIF1 upgrade project will be presented.

 

 

Oxford, United Kingdom

Instruct-ERIC Webinar Series: Structure Meets Function - Webinar #8