[Seminar] A structural journey through molecular life, death and design by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hiller

Speaker:  Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hiller, the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland

https://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/research/research-groups/research-groups-a-z/overview/unit/research-group-sebastian-hiller

Title: A structural journey through molecular life, death and design

Time: Wednesday, April 8^th 15:30 -16:30

Venue: Seminar Room L5D23 (Lab 5)

Abstract:

A structural journey through molecular life, death and design

Prof. Sebastian Hiller

Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland

Structural biology is arguably at the height of its time. The integrated use of methods resolves problems at atomic level that have long been out of reach. Thereby, solution NMR spectroscopy is ideal to map conformational landscapes to connect static structures towards their functional dynamics.

Our journey starts with protein biogenesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Newly synthesized nascent chains are refolded in the ER lumen by a network of molecular chaperones. We discover biomolecular condensates as the organizing principle of this chaperone network and report detailed functional and structural studies. We continue our journey with the death of cells. Cryo-EM studies show how the protein NINJ1 mediates plasma membrane rupture in various cell deaths including pyroptosis and discuss possible mechanisms of activation and execution.

Finally, we leverage protein design to establish an experimental pipeline for high-throughput characterization of protein structure and dynamics by NMR. A single operator can produce and analyze hundreds of proteins per week at minimal cost. This unlocks a new regime of statistical structural biology, where sequence–structure–dynamics relationships are gained from experimental ensemble studies of suitably designed proteins.

REFERENCES:

[1]  Leder A et al. Nat. Cell Biol. 27, 1422 (2025).

[2] Degen M, Santos JC, Pluhackova K et al. Nature 618, 1065–1071 (2023).

[3] Müntener T, Abramson D et al. bioRxiv (2026) https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.16.706194

 Host: Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit (Wolf Unit)