Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/20/2024
9:00 am - 9:50 am
Category(ies)
Wenwei Zheng, PhD
Associate Professor, CISA – School of Applied Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University
Date: Friday, September 20, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 9:50 am, SCOB 210
Faculty host: Xiaojun Tian
Dr. Wenwei Zheng Seminar Flyer
Abstract: Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play crucial roles in various intracellular processes, including signaling and regulation, the formation of membrane-less organelles, and even the development of pathological aggregates. However, their lack of traditional, well-defined three-dimensional structures poses significant challenges for modeling these proteins. In this talk, I will share our explorations into the structural features of IDPs across three scenarios. First, I will discuss the dominant nonspecific interactions within disordered domains involved in transcription. Finally, I will present our findings on how the interplay between nonspecific and specific interactions drives liquid-liquid phase separation and aggregation.
Biosketch: Dr. Zheng earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Rice University in 2013, followed by a three-year postdoctoral research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. In 2017, he joined the faculty at ASU Polytechnic, where he established an independent computational chemistry lab. Dr. Zheng’s primary research focuses on uncovering the underlying principles governing intrinsically disordered proteins. His lab has made various contributions to developing computational methods for studying these proteins, utilizing a diverse array of models ranging from polymer and coarse-grained to all-atom simulators. Multiple grants from the NSF and NIH have supported his research.