Joint-Seminar

Title:  What computational modeling can help the structural biologists?

Speaker: Haiguang Liu, Beijing Computational Science Research Center & Center for Biophysics, Arizona State University

Location:  520 Pao Yue-Kong Library

Time: 14:00-15:00, Thu June 12, 2014

Abstract:

It took Max Perutz and John Kendrew more than six years to get a high resolution structure of Hemoglobin (1958), the protein that is responsible for oxygen transportation. After more than 56 years, what is the current status of structural biology? More than 100,000 structures are deposited in the Protein Data Bank, yet many more protein structures are to be determined, especially the important membrane proteins and protein complexes that are difficult to crystalize. What roles are the computational modeling in modern structural biology? Bright X-rays from Synchrotrons have been used to determine majority of the 100,000 structures since the development of such facilities 30 years ago. Since 2009, a new type of X-rays, in the form of lasers are generated using linear accelerator and undulator arrays, the so called X-ray free electron lasers. This X-ray laser that is 10 billions time brighter than the most advanced synchrotrons brought hope to solve protein structures using single molecule diffraction methods. Will this be possible? What is the current status in this revolutionary research field? In particular, what challenges and opportunities are there for computational science and modeling? I will try to address these subjects.