11/06/2023
By Kwok Fan Chow
The Kennedy College of Science, Department of Chemistry, invites you to attend a Ph.D. Dissertation defense by Meizhen Li entitled “Looking into the Disulfide Bond Dynamics of Protein Therapeutics.”
Degree: Doctoral
Location: Perry Hall, Room 415
Date: Friday, Nov. 17, 2023
Time: 1:45 p.m.
Committee:
- Chair: Prof. Jin Xu, Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Prof. Matthew Gage, Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Prof. Carl Lawton, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Prof. Dongming Xie, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Abstract:
Consistency in disulfide bonding structure is paramount for the quality of protein therapeutics. Disulfide bonds, arising from the interaction of sulfhydryl functional groups in cysteine residues, are integral to a protein's primary structure. They not only stabilize tertiary and quaternary structures but also play a pivotal role in maintaining the biological activity of the protein.
Nonetheless, the inherent high reactivity of sulfhydryl groups (-SH) can pose a potential challenge by triggering disulfide bond shuffling. This shuffling process can result in the misalignment of disulfide linkages, leading to the disassembly of multimeric proteins and aggregation. Paradoxically, there are instances where the high reactivity of sulfhydryl groups can be beneficial.
In summary, the formation of disulfide bonds is contingent upon the reactivity of sulfhydryl groups, which can have either detrimental or advantageous consequences in the context of therapeutic proteins. This research will be dedicated to the development of strategies aimed at characterizing disulfide bonding structures and investigating covalent aggregation stemming from unpaired cysteines.
All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend.