Thursday, April 30, 2009, Condensed Matter Biological Physics Seminar/Chemistry Seminar, Alexey Ladokhin, University of Kansas Medical Center, "pH-Triggered Membrane Protein Insertion: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Aspects", 4:45 PM, Mellon Institute Conference Room, CMU.  Refreshments will be served at 4:30 PM. (Please note special time and location.)

Abstract:

Experimental determination of the free energy stabilizing the structure of membrane proteins in their native lipid environment is undermined by the lack of appropriate methods and suitable model systems. My lab is interested in developing spectroscopic tools suitable for thermodynamic and kinetic studies of membrane protein folding/insertion. In my talk I will illustrate our progress in applying such methods to characterize the mechanism of pH-triggered insertion of annexin B12 and diptheria toxin T-domains into lipid bilayers.