Konstantin Ivanov Intercontinental Magnetic Resonance Seminar

Konstantin Ivanov intercontinental magnetic resonance seminar series started on April 8, 2020. It organises seminars on a range of topics in magnetic resonance covering NMR, EPR, hyperpolarisation, colour centres and optical pumping, and ZULF NMR. The emphasis of the talks are on both methods and applications and a perspective on the future of the field. The speakers include a wide range of scientists ranging from PhD students to post-doctoral fellows, to senior scientists.

Upcoming Talks:

• October 25, 2024, Nils-Alexander Lakomek, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany, “Investigating structural dynamics and binding interactions of intrinsically disordered SNARE proteins by NMR spectroscopy ”, NMR spectroscopy provides residue-specific insights into protein dynamics over a broad range of timescales. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), with their high internal mobility, are particularly well-suited for investigation by NMR. However, due to low spectral dispersion in the proton dimension, high magnetic field strengths are necessary for optimal resolution. We explore the structural dynamics and lipid binding interactions of the neuronal SNARE proteins Synaptobrevin-2 (also called VAMP2) and SNAP-25a, which play a key role in SNARE complex assembly and synaptic vesicle fusion, essential for neurotransmitter release. Previously, we demonstrated that both SNARE proteins exist in an intrinsically disordered monomeric pre-fusion state [1,2]. Using an optimized set of 15N relaxation measurements with sensitivity-enhanced HSQC detection and improved water suppression, we achieved a two-fold increase in signal-to-noise ratio and a four-fold reduction in measurement time compared to our previous TROSY-detected experiments [3,4]. High-field NMR relaxation data recorded at 1.2 GHz will allow for a more precise determination of the fast internal dynamics characteristic of IDPs. Additionally, DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR measurements conducted at 100K revealed novel features of the protein energy landscape and the conformational space sampled by intrinsically disordered SNARE proteins. 

• November 1, 2024, T. G. Ajithkumar, NCL, Pune, India

• November 8, 2024, Luc Patiny, Zakodium, Lonay, Switzerland

• November 15, 2024Kathrin Aebische, ETHZ, Switzerland

• Novermber 22, 2024, Venkata Subbarao, NYU, Abu Dhabi 

• November 29, 2024, Takuya Segawa, ETHZ, Switzerland

• December 6: 2024, Jeanine Prompers, Univ. of Utrecht, The Netherlands