Center for Bioinformatics at KU

As part of our public Seminar Series
http://bioinformatics.ku.edu/seminars

October 28, Tue 2008
1:00 pm, MRB 200 Conference Room

Dr. Liang Tang

Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas

Assembly of large dsDNA viruses

Assembly of large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses is a precisely coordinated molecular synergy involving large numbers of protein subunits, nucleic acid, and in some cases, membrane. We have utilized multi-resolution structural approaches including X-ray crystallography and electron cryo-microscopy to investigate critical molecular events during morphogenesis of these viruses. These have been enabled by high-performance computing and semi-automated image acquisition system. Intricate inter-molecular interactions and large-scale conformational changes have been observed. The implications on virus-host interactions upon infection will be discussed.