Sep. 6, 2024 LC Seminar
Cancelled. It will be rescheduled.
Dr. Adrian Jinich, PhD
Assistant Professor
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
UC San Diego
12 PM
Laufer Center, Lecture Hall 101
Unveiling M. tuberculosis Essential Protein Complexes: Integrating Co-Essentiality Analysis with Structural Predictions
Abstract:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a global health challenge. Mtb survival and pathogenesis rely on complex protein interactions, yet our understanding of these functional complexes remains limited. Current methods struggle to identify which interactions are most functional and essential under infection-like conditions. We present an innovative computational approach integrating genetic co-essentiality analysis with advanced structural predictions to address this gap. Our method leverages a unique CRISPRi dataset spanning nearly 60 infection-mimicking conditions, combining:
Analysis of correlated gene essentiality profiles
Deep learning-based structural predictions of protein complexes
Preliminary results validate known interactions, including targets of frontline TB drugs, while also identifying novel protein complex candidates. This approach promises a more comprehensive map of Mtb's essential protein interactions, potentially unveiling new drug targets and advancing our understanding of Mtb biology. Our talk will highlight how integrating functional genomics with structural biology can address complex questions in infectious disease research, opening new avenues for TB therapeutic intervention.
