Virtual seminar by Prof. Lipi Thukral

CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India

Engineering membrane activated conformation of LC3B to control autophagy

Our lab has long-standing interest in understanding protein-membrane interactions through the lens of molecular simulations. These interactions are central to numerous cellular processes, including signaling, trafficking, and and organelle biogenesis. Recent advances in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations now allow us to explore these events within physiologically relevant environments. Due to their transient, flexible and complex nature, the protein-membrane systems are often elusive to capture through experimental approaches. In this talk, I will present how we leverage large-scale MD simulations to investigate the conformational dynamics of proteins on membranes. A particular focus will be on LC3 protein, a key marker protein in autophagy pathway and how its membrane interactions drive binding specificity under lipid environments. Furthermore, we identified a tunable allosteric site that modulates binding specificity, paving the way for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies to treat autophagy-related diseases.

Zoom link: https://rwth.zoom-x.de/j/66813470686?pwd=I3Pa1qhxXSabLWqNvKcIf00WmwQP75.1

Meeting ID: 668 1347 0686, Passcode: 543828