[Faculty] Fwd: [CSRC.COLLOQUIUM] "Combining NMR and Computational Techniques to Elucidate the Molecular Structure and Assembly of Spider Silk"

[Jose Castillo]

*COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER AND DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY*




DATE:  *Friday, October 26, 2018*




TITLE:


*Combining NMR and Computational Techniques to Elucidate the Molecular
Structure and Assembly of Spider Silk*




TIME:  *3:30 PM*



LOCATION:  *GMCS 314*



SPEAKER/BIO:

*Gregory Holland and Bennett Addison, Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, SDSU*





ABSTRACT:

Over 300 million years spiders have evolved to produce six different silks
and one glue-like substance. Spider silks are comprised almost entirely of
protein and are used for a diverse range of applications such as web
construction, egg case production and wrapping prey. The silks vary
dramatically in their mechanical and physical properties with the major
ampullate silk (dragline) exhibiting a strength that exceeds steel and a
toughness greater than Kevlar while, the flagelliform silk has an
elasticity comparable to rubber. Our lab is focused on understanding the
molecular structure and dynamics of the proteins that comprise the various
spider silk fibers. It is the folded structures and hierarchical
organization of these proteins that imparts spider silks their impressive
yet, diverse mechanical and physical properties. Our research team has been
developing and applying a suite of analytical and computational techniques
including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Molecular Dynamics (MD)
simulations, synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and cryo-electron
microscopy (cryo-EM) to probe secondary structure, hydrogen-bonding, side
chain dynamics, nanocrystallinity and oligomeric protein assembly all of
which are crucial to understanding spider silk formation and the resulting
fiber properties. Recently, we have focused on understanding the
protein-rich fluid within the various silk producing glands to determine
and molecular structure and dynamics prior to fiber formation and elucidate
the important biochemical triggers responsible for converting this gel-like
liquid to fibers with unparalleled, yet diverse properties. It is our
belief that a better fundamental understanding of the spider silk protein
molecular structure and assembly process will accelerate the ability to
mimic and reproduce similar biologically inspired fibers in the laboratory.
  HOST:  Andrew Cooksy

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