In the old lecture hall right under the roof top of the Schloss Ryan Gilmour, the new CiM Professor of Chemical Biology and Roland Wedlich-Söldner, CiM Professor for Multiscale Imaging in Cell Biology gave their first CiM lectures.
Ryan Gilmour gave a lecture on the importance of controlling molecular space in molecular design. He introduced the concepts of symmetry and chirality (molecular handedness) and showed the importance of these phenomena in modulating biological processes using small molecules. Examples of his work included a study of fluorinated quinine derivativesfor anti-malarial chemotherapy, and the use of fluorinated amines to study the Dunathan Hypothesis that rationalises the specificity of pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent enzymes. In closing Gilmour discussed his future research amibitions within the CiM framework involving the use of carbohydrates and their role in molecular recognition.
Bucher C and Gilmour R. Fluorine-directed glycosylation. Angew. Chem. 2010, 122, 8906-8910; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 8724-8728. Abstract
Sparr C, Salamanova E, Schweizer WB, Senn HM, Gilmour R. Theoretical and X-ray Crystallographic Evidence of a Fluorine-Imine Gauche Effect: An Addendum to Dunathan's Stereoelectronic Hypothesis. Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 8850-8857. Abstract
Bucher C, Sparr C, Schweizer WB, Gilmour R. Fluorinated Quinine Alkaloids: Synthesis, X-ray Structure Analysis and Anti-Malarial Parasite Chemotherapy. Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 7637-7647. Abstract
Projects in Roland Wedlich-Södlner's lab focus on the organization and role of the cell cortex during cellular morphogenesis and cell polarization. In particular he combines advance fluorescence microscopy techniques including total internal reflection (TIRF) microscopy, or fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to study cortical actin dynamics and lateral segregation in the plasma membrane. His findings suggest that the yeast plasma membrane self-organizes into a patchwork of co-existing domains. Through work in yeast, bacteria and mammalian cells, he also found that cortical actin filaments are actively translated through molecular motors - either by myosins or through processive cell wall synthesizing enzymes. Ultimately, he aims to integrate these various approaches to obtain a systems level understanding of the cell cortex. Wedlich-Söldner underlaid is talk with colourful images of cells in motion.
Yu JH, Crevenna AH, Bettenbühl M, Freisinger T, Wedlich-Söldner R. Cortical actin dynamics driven by formins and myosin V (2011) Journal of Cell Science 124: 1533-41 Abstract
Domínguez-Escobar J, Chastanet A, Crevenna AH, Fromion V, Wedlich-Söldner R. Carballido-López R. Processive movement of MreB-associated cell wall biosynthetic complexes in bacteria. (2011) Science 333: 217-30. Abstract
Spira F, Mueller NS, Beck G, von Olshausen P, Beig J, Wedlich-Söldner R. Patchwork organization of the yeast plasma membrane into numerous coexisting domains. (2012) Nature Cell Biology 14: 640-8 Abstract