Thomas Ursby on what to expect from the 2nd Time-Resolved Structural Biology workshop
Two years have passed since the first workshop on time-resolved methods to study dynamics in integrative structural biology. Now, Thomas Ursby and his working group is getting ready for the follow-up event, which aims to bring people together to discuss science, methods and future opportunities in the field.
Thomas Ursby; researcher, and project manager for the MicroMAX beamline at MAX IV, and a LINXS fellow.
Thomas Ursby, researcher, and project manager for the MicroMAX beamline at MAX IV, and LINXS fellow, explains that this year’s programme will have a slightly stronger focus on X-ray crystallography, the experimental science of determining the 3D arrangement of atoms in biological molecules such as proteins. Yet, a broad palette of methods and techniques such as NMR, Cryo-EM and SAXS, together with examples of what could be achieved with different types of approaches, will be presented over the course of the three days.
– We hope to have a lot of discussion, and to create a space where people can ask questions, and present not fully-formed ideas. Attending the workshop should give people a sense of added value, that you cannot get from simply listening to a seminar or reading a paper.
Thomas Ursby emphasises that he wants the main take-away from the event to be a sense of excitement and inspiration in terms of what is currently possible related to the science.
Visit to the MicroMAX beamline at MAX IV
The programme will also feature a visit to the MicroMAX beamline at MAX IV since its main application is time-resolved experiments. During the visit, Thomas Ursby and his colleagues at MAX IV will highlight what you can do at the beamline, and collate input on the types of experiments researchers would like to conduct with its help.
More workshops planned for the future
A two-year time gap between workshops is quite optimal, according to Thomas Ursby, since structural biology is a field that is developing fast. He hopes to be able to organise yet another event in 2024, although the WG at LINXS is about to finish up its work.
One example of such developments is the introduction of the AI system, AlphaFold, that can predict a protein’s 3D structure from its amino acid sequence. The system has enabled quick leaps in structural biology research since it allows researchers to circumvent some of the preparatory experiments otherwise needed.
– People are reflecting on what this could mean, and how to make use of this computational system in the best possible way. Systems like these can never substitute methods like crystallography but it is important to discuss how to combine approaches.
Another trend is a shift to study protein complexes, as opposed to just individual proteins. Combining methods such as cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), a technique applied on samples cooled to cryogenic temperatures, with X-ray imaging techniques, whereby you can look at whole cells, could yield interesting and very important results in terms of understanding how individual proteins functions in its context.
– The goal with all of these methods is to understand more about protein function. Finding out more about why proteins move, how, and when, can help us boost computational models in the future, and ultimately develop better drugs.
A desire to progress fundamental science
The task of progressing fundamental science is also one of Thomas Ursby’s key drivers; both for this workshop, his activities related to LINXS, and in his work at MAX IV.
– Large scale experiments make it possible to see how the atoms in the protein are moving on a computer screen, and in turn how those movements are actually catalysing a reaction in the protein. It is pretty incredible that we can study how protein and enzymes behave on such a molecular level, he concludes.