Structure-function studies of proteins involved in infectious and neurodegenerative diseases

Presenter

Andreas Hofmann, Griffith University

Abstract

Research in the Structural Chemistry Program operates at the interface of chemistry, biology and the 'omics technologies, with a focus on protein structure-function in the context of novel therapeutics for infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.

In a recent endeavour together with our collaborators based in Cologne, we engaged in studies of proteasome regulation pathways. The proteasome as the central degradation machinery of eukaryotes is intimately linked with longevity, and this is leveraged in anti-cancer drugs such as Bortezomib. However, diseases characterised by deleterious build-up of protein aggregates may also be targeted through proteasome regulation by activation of the (down-regulated) proteolytic activity.

This presentation will highlight recent results of research in the Structural Chemistry Program in structure-function studies of protein systems in infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.

Bio

Andreas received his doctorate from the Technical University Munich for research under the supervision of Robert Huber at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried. After a postdoctoral stay with Alex Wlodawer at the National Cancer Institute in the Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Andreas held a Lectureship in Structural Biochemistry at The University of Edinburgh. In 2006, he moved to Griffith University where he established and leads the Structural Chemistry Program at the Eskitis Institute. He holds an Honorary Senior Research Fellowship at the University of Melbourne and a Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy (UK). Andreas has won several prizes and awards, including the prestigious EULAR Young Investigator Award in 2002. He has been serving as editor for a number of journals in the Life Sciences since 2004, and published several text books and book chapters which have sold more than 10,000 copies to date.