Project 8: Biomolecular Structure, Dynamics and Function

Project abstract:  The Reichow Lab is focused on understanding how biomolecular nano-machines (e.g., proteins) assemble, interact and function at the molecular level. To achieve this aim, we apply high-resolution 3D-imaging by electron cryo-microscopy (CryoEM)—a revolutionary method that allows us directly visualize the structures of biological macromolecules, with near atomic-level detail. Modern CryoEM methods apply intensive computational image processing routines to classify and geometrically correlate 100’s of thousands of individual 2D-images (terabytes of data) in order to calculate a protein’s 3D-structure. Once a 3D-structure has been determined, we apply in silico methods to simulate the atomic-level molecular dynamics that allow these proteins to carry out their animated functions within the cell. The 3D structures and atomistic-movies provided by our research are used to advance the knowledge of how biological phenomena are performed at the molecular level, and to provide an architectural framework for developing novel pharmaceutical and genetic therapies to correct aberrant mechanisms associated with disease. REU students in the Reichow Lab will be immersed into these experimental and theoretical computational methods applied to describing the fascinating and dynamic world of molecular biology.

Keywords:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biomedicine

Faculty Mentor: Steve Reichow  https://www.pdx.edu/profile/dr-steve-reichow

Lab or team: The Reichow Lab, https://www.pdx.edu/reichowlab

Department: Chemistry and OHSU’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Community partner(s):  Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) 

Desired skills (but not required): Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Computational Science or Molecular Biology; however, students with other relevant interests are welcome to apply!

Tools to be used: Computational molecular modeling,Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Statistical Analysis

Involves teamwork: Yes