BATS

Date/Time:

Oct 7, 2016 - 12:00 PM

Location:

Hosts:

Bevin P. Engelward

Speaker:

Title:

Engineering Rational Modification of Ribosomally Synthesized Peptides as a Source of Novel Drugs

Abstract:

Ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a class of natural products with uniquely engineerable biosynthesis, but research has been limited to minor alterations to natural compounds. The purpose of my project is to understand how ribosomally synthesized peptides can be combined with diverse modifying enzymes to rationally design new RiPP gene clusters and biosynthesize completely novel compounds. These novel and structurally complex small molecules will be useful for drug screening or as chemical probes.

Speaker:

Title:

Phosphotyrosine Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract:

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, with no effective treatments for preventing disease. Despite recent progress in deciphering the genetics of this disease, there remains a dearth of knowledge on how these factors fit into the larger signaling networks in the brain. To address this gap, we have quantified the changes in protein phosphorylation induced in a mouse model of disease. This uncovered a set of phosphorylation sites changing in the non-neuronal cells thought to respond to the toxic insults to the brain.