Past Event: Oden Institute Seminar

Minimal Biophysical Models for Cell-Membrane-Mediated Trafficking and Nano-Carrier Targeting

Ravi Radhakrishnan, University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

We focus on applications of molecular and mesoscale simulation methodologies to the cellular transport process of endocytosis, i.e., active transport mechanisms characterized by vesicle nucleation and budding of the cell membrane orchestrated by protein-interaction networks. We discuss theoretical and computational methodologies for quantitatively describing how cell-membrane topologies are actively mediated and manipulated by intracellular protein assemblies. We describe the development and application of the kinetic Monte Carlo time-dependent Ginzburg Landau (KMC-TDGL) algorithm for unified dynamics of curvature-inducing proteins and membranes. We also describe a minimal models that capture design principles behind the self-assembly and adaptive morphogenesis of the clathrin coat as well as those that govern the targeting of nanocarriers in drug delivery. Together, these models provide mechanistic insight into the "hidden" traffic rules in intracellular trafficking mechanisms. *Refreshments served at 2:15 pm Host: R. Elber