Visualization of protein complexes: from protein interactions to cellular processes (Guest Talk)

Most of the cellular processes are driven by protein activities. For example, chemical energy is generated by ATP synthases, replication is driven by PCNA clamp, transcription is regulated by transcription factors, DNA is structured by histones and SMC proteins etc. Most of the cellular proteins, however, exist and function as multi-subunit complexes (such as ATP pump, replisome, enhanceosome, nucleosome etc.). Such complexes are assembled thru multiple protein interactions, which determine their architecture, function and dynamics.

In this lecture, several protein complexes will be shown in a bottom up way i.e. starting from single protein/subunit interactions to complexes and further to large molecular assemblies. I will review state-of-the-art experimental methods for protein/complex analysis and their output formats, including animations of molecular machines. Use of visualization techniques for protein complex animations and their potential for description of dynamic cellular processes will be discussed.