Transcript Organization of nanoparticles with peptides

Department of Chemistry
Seminar Announcement
Date/Time/Venue
Title/Speaker
10 Feb (Thu)
10am – 11am
Organization of nanoparticles with peptides
@ S8 Level 3
Executive
Classroom
Professor Beate Koksch
Free University of Berlin, Germany
Host : Assoc Prof Lai Yee Hing
About the Speaker
Professor Beate Koksch received her Diploma in Chemistry from
University Leipzig. There, she earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry
under supervision of Professor H.-D. Jakubke in 1995. She was a
DFG research fellow in the laboratories of Professeor M. R. Ghadiri
and Professor C.F. Barbas III at The Scripps Research Institute, La
Jolla. In 2000 she returned to the University Leipzig to start her
independent career. In June 2004 she assumed a position as
Professor for Organic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry at
the Free University Berlin. Her research interests focus on the
interface of chemistry and biology and in particular on the role of complementary
interactions and cooperativity on peptide and protein folding.
Abstract
The directed assembly of nanoparticles by means of biomolecules is of great current
interest to the material science and medical technology field due to their potential use
in sensing and cell targeting. The application of electrostatic forces for the organization
of nanoparticles by peptides has been little explored. The Koksch laboratory is
developing peptide-based systems that will allow organizing functionalized
nanoparticles such as Cadmiumsulfide or Gold in defined networks.
In comparison to already known DNA-nanoparticle-conjugates, peptides provide many
advantages for the synthesis of bionanomaterials. The anionic nature of a DNAmolecule allows for only few defined and rigid interactions with particles. Peptides,
however, provide a huge diversity of functionalities that allow to fine-tuning the
structural and electostatic properties of the resulting materials. The -helical coiled coil
folding motif combines the broad functionalities of proteins with the molecular
recognition properties and structural stability of DNA, thus, providing an attractive
system for the organization of functionalized nanoparticles. We are applying the
intrinsic properties of pH responsive peptides established by our group to generate
nanomaterials that can be reversibly switched between different states of structural
organization.
Another aspect of our research in this area focuses on studying the impact of
nanoparticles on the aggregation tendency of peptides. This young topic specifically
aims at providing information on the biological effects of nanoparticles and to support
their safe medicinal application.
All are Welcome