Dear All

I would like to warmly invite you to our next Nencki Institute Seminar on the 26th of October at 3pm in the CN lecture hall. We will host prof. Khanh Huy Bui. Prof. Bui’s lecture will be entitled: "Deciphering cilia function using integrative structural biology"

Abstract

In eukaryotes, cilia are ubiquitous organelles that contribute to cellular motility and sensory function. The ciliary axoneme is a long microtubule-based cytoskeleton consisting of two central singlets and nine outer doublet microtubules. Understanding the molecular architecture of the axoneme will lead to insights into its assembly and function. Using cryo-electron microscopy and complementary techniques such as artificial structure prediction, in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry and proximity proteomics, we aim to study cilia structures at multiscale resolutions. We showed that we identified and modelled more than 60 proteins from proteins inside the lumen to the outside mechano-complexes regulating ciliary beating. This helps us reveal the importance of ciliary proteins in cilia function and assembly. It also led to the discovery of novel microtubule-binding motifs that might be essential for microtubule stability and function. We also visualized the cilia tip, the zone of ciliary growth by cryo-electron tomography. The distinct structure of the ciliary tip provides new insights into its function and informs about ciliary assembly mechanisms.

The lecture will be followed by a get together.
With best wishes
Tomasz Wypych