HLRB Project h1321
Computation of the conformational free-energy landscape of the SH2 tandem from the Syk tyrosine kinase
Max-Planck-Institute fuer Biophysics
Proposing Institution
Max-Planck-Institute fuer Biophysics
Project Manager
Dr. Jose Faraldo-Gomez
Max-von-Laue Str 3
60438 Frankfurt am Main
Abstract
A wide range of cellular processes – including immunity, transcription and apoptosis – rely on the propagation of chemical signals from the cell surface into the interior. Multi-domain allosteric enzymes that function as reversible “molecular switches” play a major role in this propagation. In the current proposal we aim to elucidate the physico-chemical principles that underlie the conformational plasticity of these important proteins, through free-energy calculation based on atomically detailed molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, we have chosen the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Syk as a model system, a protein of crucial importance for our immune response.
