In this weekly seminar series, Catherine L. Drennan, professor in the Departments of Biology and Chemistry at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA, will present a one-hour talk titled:
Capturing Snapshots of Metalloenzymes in Action
Abstract The use of radical-based chemistry allows for amazing transformations in living organisms. To carry out their functions, radical enzymes like ribonucleotide reductase often need to be flexible and assume different conformational states, with units of the protein swinging back and forth to enable reactants to bind the protein or products to leave while protecting radical-based intermediates during the chemical steps in the reaction. In this presentation, Drennan will present her lab’s structural studies of ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs). RNRs employ metallocofactors to generate radical species to afford the conversion of ribonucleotides (the building blocks of RNA) to deoxyribonucleotides (the building blocks of DNA). These enzymes are chemotherapeutic targets and proposed antibacterial targets. Here, she will describe how the “resolution revolution” of cryo-electron microscopy allowed for the capture of an active state structure of ribonucleotide reductase for the first time.
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This seminar will be presented in the ASRC Auditorium and broadcast via Zoom, with snacks and refreshments to start at 11:30am in the cafe.
To join these ongoing events via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 968 3104 2138
Passcode: ASRC-CDI
For more information about this hybrid event please contact:
Hyacinth Camillieri
hcamillieri@gc.cuny.edu
