National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

राष्ट्रीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान, राउरकेला

ଜାତୀୟ ପ୍ରଯୁକ୍ତି ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାନ ରାଉରକେଲା

An Institute of National Importance

Seminar Details

Seminar Title:
Computational Study of Phase Separation in Biological Systems
Seminar Type:
Progress Seminar
Department:
Physics and Astronomy
Speaker Name:
Sanchari Chakraborty ( Rollno : 520ph1001)
Speaker Type:
Student
Venue:
MC 126 (Physics Seminar Room)
Date and Time:
05 Apr 2024 9:00 AM
Contact:
Prof. Mithun Biswas
Abstract:

Biomolecular condensates are membrane-less assemblies consisting of proteins and nucleic acids. Altered protein dynamics can however lead to pathogenic condensates linked to several neurodegenerative diseases. Numerous studies have reported Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS) to be the key mechanism resulting in the formation of biomolecular con- densates. During LLPS, a homogeneous mixture spontaneously separates into a dilute and a dense phase and which then coexist. Computational techniques help us in understanding the dynamics behind protein phase separation. &alpha-Synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein consisting of 140-residues whose aggregated states are associated with Parkinson&rsquos disease. Sequence of amino acids play a vital role in modulating its phase behavior. In this work, the phase behaviour of P1 (residues 36-42) region, a 7 residue segment from the N-terminal of &alpha-Synuclein is studied. All-atom molecular dynamic simulations at varying temperatures have been conducted to assess the phase change. This study will aid in further understanding the role of different domains of a-Synuclein in phase separation.