Speaker
Megan Thielges, Ph.D.
Speaker's Institution
Indiana University
Date
20200220
Time
4:00 PM
Location
Chemistry A101
Mixer Time
3:45 PM
Mixer Time
Chemistry B101E
Calendar (ICS) Event
Additional Information

About the Seminar:

Characterization of protein molecular recognition is challenged by both the spatial heterogeneity of proteins and the rapid interconversion of potentially important conformational states. Our group takes advantage of the potential for high temporal and spatial resolution provided by linear and two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy in combination with the spectral selectivity afforded by site-specific incorporation of vibrational reporter groups to characterize local environments in proteins. I will share several vignettes about our application of this approach toward understanding the molecular recognition of protein systems with diverse roles in biology: Src homology 3 domain and proline-rich motifs, cytochrome P450cam and putidaredoxin, and plastocyanin and cytochrome f. Our studies resolve rapid dynamics at specific locations in the proteins and implicate their importance to protein function.

About the Speaker:

Megan Thielges received her B.S. at Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) in 2003. She completed graduate training in biophysics at The Scripps Research Institute (La Jolla, CA) where she earned a Ph.D. under the direction of Professor Floyd E. Romesberg in 2009. She went on to pursue postdoctoral research with Professor Michael D. Fayer at Stanford University (Stanford, CA). In 2012 she joined the faculty at IU where she is currently an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry. The Thielges group focuses on understanding the role of protein conformations and dynamics in their function by applying linear and multidimensional infrared spectroscopy in combination with protein labeling.

Image of Megan Thielges
CSU Ram logo 2