LINXS Guest Seminar: Petri Kursula, Bergen University

The first guest seminar in The Loop with Petri Kursula, guest researcher with the ChemLife theme!

NB - we are in our new premises! With digital participation possibility.

• More information and link to registration

Abstract

Myelin is a fascinating (supra)molecular assembly formed of lipid and protein, being crucial for rapid conduction of nerve impulses. The tightly packed proteolipid membrane multilayer, the myelin sheath, is a unique biomolecular structure relevant for normal nervous system function and disease. 

Our research focuses on several of the myelin peripheral or integral membrane proteins that apparently share a common function: stacking lipid bilayers into tight, insulating multilayers. 

I will share our recent data on the molecular organisation of myelin, highlighting the importance of diverse methods and large-scale infrastructures for our line of study. I will touch upon current and future plans of going beyond our current knowledge in understanding myelin at the molecular level, using a multidisciplinary approach. 

In addition to a high-resolution description of structure and dynamics in myelin, we wish to tackle even somewhat exotic and unprecedented ideas in the fields of protein-lipid interactions and large, heterogeneous molecular complexes. 

Multidisciplinarity and international collaborations will be crucial for these ambitions.