On the mechanism of biomolecular pattern self-organization for spatio-temporal control of cellular processes

Dear All,

Cell Signal Unit (Yamamoto Unit) would like to inform you of a seminar by Dr. Kiyoshi Mizuuchi from National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Date: Monday, November 19, 2018

Time: 13:30-14:30

Venue: C016, Level C, Lab 1

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Speaker:

Dr. Kiyoshi Mizuuchi from National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Title:
On the mechanism of biomolecular pattern self-organization for spatio-temporal control of cellular processes

Abstract:
In biological systems, positional control of many events needs to be coordinated at the scale much larger than the dimension of individual molecules involved. Even when cytoskeleton assembly and disassembly are involved, a variety of upstream (and downstream) control and feedback loops must spatio-temporally coordinate the system. However, these control mechanisms are in many cases not clearly understood. It is becoming increasingly clear that some of the biological spatio-temporal organization systems involve Turing-style reaction-diffusion principles. In bacteria, a family of deviant Walker-type ATPases are involved in dynamic molecular distribution pattern self-organization reaction systems that control cell division processes. We study the MinC/D/E cell division septum positioning system and plasmid DNA partition mechanisms involving ParA/B/C systems by combining cell-free reconstituted reaction systems, kinetic measurements and modeling approaches. These ATPases form activated dimeric states when ATP-bound, which bind membrane (MinD), or DNA (ParA). Their partner ATPase stimulators, MinE or ParB, control dynamic behavior of the ATPases leading to ATP hydrolysis and membrane/DNA dissociation of the ATPases. How these cyclic membrane (or DNA) association/dissociation steps leads to meso-scale organization of the cellular processes at molecular level has been enigmatic. I will discuss our recent progress in the mechanistic understanding of these systems.

Host:
Prof. Tadashi Yamamoto

We hope to see many of you at the seminar.

Best regards,

Yuki Nakagawa

Research Unit Administrator

Cell Signal Unit