Category: Doctoral students seminar WiSe 2016/17

Talk by P. Enke at MLU (March 14, 2017)

Effect of Different Crowding Agents on Structure and Dynamics of Unfolded Proteins

The interior of a cell is completely filled with molecules like proteins, lipids, RNA, and more which can act as crowders. The so-called macromolecular crowding plays an important role in the dynamics and the structure of proteins, especially unfolded proteins and polypeptide chains.

To investigate the influence of crowder agents on the dynamics and structure of unfolded polypeptide chains we performed time-resolved ensemble FRET experiments with different sizes of crowders and different unfolded polypeptide chains. Continue reading “Talk by P. Enke at MLU (March 14, 2017)”

Talk by A. Korn at UL (February 21, 2017)

Serine substitution in Amyloid-β – a possible link between β-Methylamino-L-alanine and Alzheimer’s disease?

In 1944 Guam was recaptured and fortified by US forces. Decades later soldiers that were stationed at Guam developed ALS-PDC (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis–parkinsonism/dementia complex) 50-100 times the incidence of ALS. Also Guam’s natives, the Chamorro, are plagued by severe neurodegenerative diseases. When looking for a possible cause for this phenomenon, scientists soon focused on the neurotoxin BMAA, found in cycad tree fruits, an important food source in Guam. BMAA is a non- proteinogenic amino acid produced by cyanobacteria that can be enriched via the food chain in plants, seafood and higher animals. This is a critical factor because cyanobacteria are known for their excessive blooms not only in marine ecosystems but also in lakes that are used as fresh water source for millions of people.

Continue reading “Talk by A. Korn at UL (February 21, 2017)”

Talk by E. Schreck at MLU (6th December 2016)

Polymers on Surfaces – or how to catch them all

The talk  will feature recent developments in the lab. It focuses mainly on the preparation of thinnest polymer films / single molecules under UHV condition. It introduces the techniques quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), quartz microbalance (QMB) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and how their results should lead to a successful preparation. A short overview of what is coming next will be given at the end of the talk.

Location: MLU Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 3, SR 1.03, 06120 Halle (Saale)
Date and time: 06.12.16 at 3.30pm

Talk by P. Leube at UL (29th November 2016)

Characterization of the multiresponsive Poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) by spin probing EPR spectroscopy

The still rising number of publications dealing with stimuli-responsive polymers prove the high interest in such smart materials. Poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) exhibits thermo-, pH- and ionic strength responsive behavior in aqueous solutions, being a multiresponsive homopolymer [1]. The goal of this study is to under- stand, how the pH and ionic strength affect the thermoresponsivity of PDMAEMA.

Continue reading “Talk by P. Leube at UL (29th November 2016)”

Talk by S. Pylaeva at MLU (October 18th 2016)

Molecular dynamics simulations of polyQ14: structural and spectroscopic parameters

Polyglutamine proteins (PolyQ) are members of a big family of intrinsically disordered proteins or IDPs. Very flexible as monomers in solutions PolyQs tend to aggregate and form amyloid fibrils which were shown to be neurodegenerative. [1]

Continue reading “Talk by S. Pylaeva at MLU (October 18th 2016)”

Talk by Z. Evgrafova at MLU (January 31, 2017)

Amyloid Beta Aggregation in the Presence of Temperature-Sensitive Polymers

The formation of amyloid fibrils is considered to be one of the main causes for many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease [1]. Current knowledge suggests that amyloid-aggregation represents a nucleation-dependent aggregation process in vitro, where a sigmoidal growth phase follows an induction period. Here, we studied the fibrillation of amyloid β 1-40 (Aβ40) in the presence of thermoresponsive polymers, expected to alter the Aβ40 fibrillation kinetics due to their lower critical solution behavior [2-6]. Continue reading “Talk by Z. Evgrafova at MLU (January 31, 2017)”