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Unmasking antagonists: a deep dive into the structural binding poses of PPARγ ligands

Dec. 13, 2024—Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-regulated transcription factor located in the nucleus. Endogenous ligands, such as lipids and fatty acids, bind an orthosteric pocket in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of PPARγ and function as agonists to activate gene expression related to adipogenesis and insulin sensitization. Synthetic small molecule ligands, including FDA-approved antidiabetic drugs,...

CSB Research Spotlight: Mchaourab Lab – Describing conformational landscapes of cell membrane transporters

Dec. 6, 2024—PhD student Alexandra Schwartz and Professor Hassane Mchaourab (Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Protein Dynamics) developed a methodological blueprint to describe the structure of cell membrane transporters. Read more to learn how the Spectroscopy and AI method provide a unique window into protein structure and a mechanism of action. Morphing...

CSB Research Spotlight: Ren Lab – Understanding mRNA export

Dec. 5, 2024—A newly determined structure from the lab of Yi Ren reveals information about the mRNA export pathway and suggests that herpes viruses could hijack that interaction to infect their host. The new structures also reveal how certain mutations in the protein complex could play a role in cancers. First author Bradley Clarke and coauthors describe...

Looking in All Directions: Exploring a New Horizon for PCOS Therapeutics

Nov. 14, 2024—This article was originally published in The Protein Society’s November 2024 Under the Microscope newsletter. It is published here by permission of The Protein Society and the author. By Kathryn R. Brewer, PhD Candidate in Biochemistry, Sanders Lab A 20-year-old woman waits to see her gynecologist. For years she has been experiencing troubling symptoms —...

Jenny Tran wins the Dr. Anne Karpay Award in Structural Biology

Nov. 12, 2024—Congratulations to Jenny Tran, of the Breann Brown lab, on being named the 2025 recipient of the Dr. Anne Karpay Award in Structural Biology. “It’s such an honor to be selected as the recipient of the Karpay Award,” Tran said. Although she completed a summer research internship with Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor David G....

MOE November Software Training

Nov. 12, 2024—Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software users can participate in training sessions focused on Antibody Modeling and Protein Engineering applications. The sessions are held at various dates throughout November and cover topics, including, protein engineering and properties, developability, hot spot analysis, antibody modeling, humanization and molecular surfaces. Mauricio Rodriguez, of Chemical Computing Group, will lead the...

Unlocking the Secrets of Protein Folding

Oct. 18, 2024—It’s often the simplest and most informal of invitations that can open a world of endless possibilities and lifelong relationships. That’s how Professor Jens Meiler’s extraordinary scientific journey began in the lab of Nobel Prize winner David Baker. What has he made of the opportunities presented to him that day? Here is his story. ...

Meiler lab receives funding to advance vaccine research against alphaviruses

Oct. 11, 2024—The Meiler lab is leading a multi-institution team that was awarded up to $46 million in funding to drive groundbreaking vaccine research from ARPA-H‘s Antigens Predicted for Broad Viral Efficacy through Computational Experimentation (APECx) program. The funding will support a consortium of 14 principal investigators (PIs) across eight institutions, enabling a collaborative effort to push...

CSB adds Carterra LSAXT to its stable of instruments

Sep. 25, 2024—Carterra Inc., the world leader in innovative technologies enabling high-throughput biology, and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences announced the addition of the Carterra LSAXT label-free interaction analysis platform to the Center for Structural Biology. Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers will be able to discover and characterize large molecules including antibodies....

V-FIRST is hiring tenure-track faculty in Structural Biology & Imaging

Sep. 18, 2024—V-FIRST is hiring a cohort of up to 8 highly-motivated and accomplished early-career researchers. These tenure-track (Assistant Professor level) faculty positions offer an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in one of two areas: 1) Structural Biology & Imaging or 2) Genetic and Omic Discovery & Health Disparities. Priority deadline to apply is November...

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