Biomodellab

Team leader: prof. dr hab. Sławomir Filipek

Team leader’s e-mail address: sh.filipek@uw.edu.pl

Brief description of the research topic:

Main research directions of the Biomodellab:

Molecular modeling of the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins, as well as the influence of lipids and cholesterol on these proteins.
Study of GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors): (a) binding of low-molecular weight ligands and peptides, (b) mechanism of receptor activation by changing states of its microswitches, (c) mechanism of signal transduction to effector proteins. GPCRs are responsible for transmitting most signals across cell membranes, especially in neurons.
Study of the mechanism of substrate cleavage (currently over 150 protein substrates are known) in the membrane enzyme gamma-secretase. The best-known substrate of this enzyme is APP, from which the amyloid-beta is produced. Excess of this amyloid causes the formation of deposits in neurons and leads to Alzheimer’s disease.
Development of new methods for coarse-grained modeling of membrane proteins in continuous solvent.