|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
At
top, Mark Flory, assistant professor of molecular biology and biochemistry,
lectures to a group during the Sixth Annual Biophysics Retreat for the Molecular
Biophysics Program Sept. 15. At left, Maggie Chen, a Ph.D candidate in the
Department of Chemistry explains her research titled “Site-Resolved Dynamics
and Energetics of a Ribosomal RNA” during the Fall Retreat Poster Session,
part of the biophysics program. |
|
| Posted 10.01.05 |
Biophysics Retreat Focuses on Research, Information Exchange
|
The Sixth Annual Biophysics Retreat was held at
the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown on Sept. 15.
Organized by David Beveridge, professor of chemistry, Manju Hingorami,
assistant professor of molecular biology and Ishita Mikerji, associate
professor of molecular biology, the event was supported by the Edward W.
Snowdon lecture fund.
The retreat was designed to bring together students and faculty in the
molecular biophysics and biological chemistry programs and provide them an
opportunity to discuss their current research, explore new ideas and
possible collaborative work. About 60 people attended this year’s retreat.
One of the featured speakers was Mark Flory, assistant professor of
molecular biology and biochemistry.
A newly-appointed member of the molecular biology and biochemistry
department, Flory spoke about his research which included studying the
process by which cancer cells are formed in yeast. By relying on mass
spectrometry, an analytical technique used to identify complex compounds, to
study yeast cells, Flory hopes that he can gain further insight into why
such cells become abnormal during tumors and cancer.
“We are currently looking at the systems in yeast using genetics,” Flory
says. “At some point, we can then make the jump and connection to human
cells.”
Other presentations by Wesleyan faculty included “Time resolved fluorescence
studies of U1A protein dynamics,” presented by Joseph Knee, professor of
chemistry and “Controlling the effects of stereochemistry on biological
activity” by Michael Calter, associate professor of chemistry.
In addition, Wesleyan post doctorate fellow Bethany L. Kormos presented
“U1A-RNA Complex Formation: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.”
Brian T. Chait, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Professor at The Rockefeller
University, delivered the keynote address titled “Proteomic tools for
dissecting cellular function.”
The event also featured posters by several Wesleyan students, including
“Spectroscopic and Molecular Dynamics Evidence for a Sequential Mechanism
for the DNA B-A Transition,” by sixth-year molecular biology and
biochemistry Ph.D. candidate Kelly Knee. Knee’s research examines the
transition of certain proteins on DNA, which may potentially help with drug
design in the future.
Another highlight was a poster by Congju (Maggie) Chen, a sixth-year
Chemistry Ph.D. candidate, which detailed her research about how a specific
strand of RNA could be attacked and broken down by Ricin, a toxin that has
been linked to terrorist attacks in the past. |
| |
| By
Laura Perillo,
associate director of Media Relations |
|
|
 |
|
|
