Michael Giuliano, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the College of Charleston, will deliver a seminar entitled, "Irregular Secondary Structure and Biophysical Programming within Human Neuropeptides." Co-hosted by Bobby Arora and Tania Lupoli.
Zoom Link: https://nyu.zoom.us/j/96235264818
For more information about Michael Giuliano, click here.
Abstract: Small signaling peptides have themselves been the inspiration for generations of drug design efforts, and among these the neuropeptides have historically featured prominently. This talk will present our group’s work in the NMR and biophysical characterization of human neuropeptides. While the preferred conformations of some display a strong environmental dependence, others depict conserved clusters of hydrophobic residues across several discrete, but often irregular backbone arrangements, achieving near identical displays of sidechains. These results are discussed and presented in the context of the relationship between a small peptide’s sequence patterning, preferred structures, and ability to present a functional and, often, selective protein-binding epitope.