Biophysical Chemistry Seminar: Dr. William Huang, Stanford University
Host: Tom Markland
"Mechanistic insights on membrane signaling reactions from reconstitution: a physical perspective"
About the Seminar
The cell membrane is a primary site of signal integration in cellular signaling. Cell membranes, coupled with non-equilibrium biochemical reactions, enable a rich array of coordination that is generally absent in solution. While the significance of this signaling configuration is generally recognized, mechanistic, quantitative descriptions of the signaling processes remain surprisingly limited. I will discuss our recent efforts in closing this gap using a reconstitution approach—with a strong physical perspective. Through the example of Ras activation by SOS in the MAPK pathway, I will argue how reconstitution leads to insights on the molecular timing of SOS activation, protein condensates on membranes, and signaling reactions in 2D vs. 3D. I will conclude the discourse with a reflection on the challenge toward a physical understanding of cellular signaling and the opportunities that novel reconstitution methods offer.
About the Speaker
William Y. C. Huang is primarily interested in elucidating the physical principles of how biochemical reactions function in living systems, especially reactions that occur on biological membranes. Cell membranes offer an additional dimension to coordinate reactions in space and time that is rarely encountered in solution chemistry. Specific emphasis is directed toward understanding how the membrane configuration enables cellular signaling to function robustly. William received a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. His Ph.D. study with Professor Jay Groves investigated real-time activation processes of membrane-associated proteins. To this end, he has developed extensive imaging-based membrane assays that map complex signaling reactions into quantifiable reconstituted systems. His interest in infusing systems approaches to further resolve signaling reactions led him to pursue postdoctoral research with Professor James Ferrell at Stanford University. His postdoctoral work expands on studying how membrane reactions are dynamically coupled to the cytosol by a total reconstitution approach integrating cell extracts and model membranes. The overarching goal of this hybrid approach is to formulate a physical, quantitative understanding of cellular signaling. William’s notable awards include NIH K99 Pathway to Independence Award and the Yuan-Tseh Lee Award in chemistry.