Lisa Dana R EngelhardtPhD student

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a technique which allows us to reconstruct the 3D structure of proteins involved in all aspects of cell functions. If a cell would be a factory, the proteins within a cell could be described as the machinery within that factory. The same way we would need to inspect every clog and bolt in a machine to understand its function, cryoEM allows us to investigate the structure of complex molecular machines. Obtaining these structures subsequently allows us to understand how they work at the atomic level. My project mainly consists of using cryo-EM to investigate the Clp proteins belonging to the ATP Associated with diverse cellular Activities (AAA+) family. These Clp proteins allow cells to overcome stressful environments, leading to cell survival. During heat-stress conditions, proteins will tend to form aggregates which can hinder important cellular processes. It is therefore important for cells to dismantle these aggregates in order to ensure the maintenance of healthy cellular activity. With the use of cryo-EM, we intend to uncover the atomic details of how these Clp proteins are able to efficiently unfold and/or degrade protein aggregates, in both bacteria and humans.