IMM & CLS Research Seminar

Title：Precise Medicine: Modulating Calcium Signaling and Quantitative Molecular Imaging

Speaker：Jenny J. Yang, Ph.D.

Distinguished University Professor

Associate Director of GSU Center for the Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Centers for Drug Design and Advanced Biotechnology, Georgia State University, USA

Time：2015年7月22日（星期三）下午4:00-5:00

Place：北京大学英杰交流中心306会议室

Host：北京大学分子医学研究所  程和平 (Tel. 6276-5957)

Abstract: Our long term goal is approaches to modulate calcium signaling, understanding molecular basis of diseases, and creating novel materials and tools for research, diagnostics and therapeutics. My lab has extensive experience in protein design and engineering metal binding sites with high co-ordinations in proteins. I will first discuss our effort in development of computational search engine and bioengineering approaches to enable visualization of the role of calcium in various biological and pathological processes (Calciomics). Several novel mechanisms for integrating extracellular with intracellular Ca2+ signaling & cell-cell communication, molecular causes for related diseases, as well as new ways to intervene in disease processes and drug actions by modulating calcium signaling via key protein targets, have been uncovered. I then discuss our progress in designing de novo calcium-binding sites into proteins as calcium sensors to probe cellular calcium changes and dynamics in signaling and disease states. Finally I will report our progress in developing a novel class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (ProCAs) for molecular imaging with desired relaxation properties in addition to a strong metal binding affinity and selectivity over excess Ca2+ and other metal ions. We have recently discovered that modification of protein contrast agents lead to further increases of r1 and r2 relaxivities and improvement in in vivo dose efficiency in mouse models. Furthermore, we have successfully designed targeted MRI contrast agents to specifically recognize various biomarkers with desirable penetration of tissue and the endothelial boundary.  

欢迎各位老师同学积极参加！