Integrated Calendar

EPR spectroscopy can be used to measure nanometre-scale distances within biomolecules and other soft matter, through determining the dipolar coupling between paramagnetic centres. These can be placed site-specifically within the molecules-of-interest as spin labels. Some experiments that measure the dipolar coupling will be introduced, and results including new spin labels and applications of the methodology will be discussed.

In this seminar I’ll review the rationale behind, and the essence of, the redefinition of the standard international systems of units that happened on May 20th 2019. I’ll review some of the possible experiments with which standard units can be realized for empirical references. .

Immune cells and their derived molecules have major impact on brain function, but despite the robust influence on brain function, peripheral immune cells are not found within the brain parenchyma, a fact that only adds more mystery into these enigmatic interactions between immunity and the brain. Our results suggest that meningeal space, surrounding the brain, is the site where CNS-associated immune activity takes place and through which it impacts brain function. Unique sub-types of immune cells within meningeal spaces are producing certain sets of cytokines that impact specific behaviors. Three main cytokines and their neuromodulatory functions will be discussed in social, learning and risk-taking behaviors.

The E. coli secondary multidrug transporter, MdfA from the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), uses the electrochemical potential to extrude a vast variety of dissimilar drugs from the cytoplasm. It was proposed that MdfA follows the alternating access model, in which its N- and C-terminal domains rock one against the other, exposing the drug binding site either towards the cytoplasm or the periplasm. In our study we aim to analyze the functional states of MdfA to better understand its conformational behavior during drug binding and transport. For this we used double electron-electron resonance and cysteine-cysteine crosslinking to probe intramolecular distances under different conditions, both in detergent micelles and in nanodiscs.