Institute of Experimental Physics
Topic
Modulation of protein amyloid aggregation – insight into molecular mechanisms of amyloid formation and inhibition
PhD. program
Biophysics
Year of admission
2025
Name of the supervisor
doc. RNDr. Zuzana Gažová, DrSc.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Science, P.J. Safarik University
Annotation
Amyloid structures of poly/peptides have been associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, systematic amyloidoses, diabetes mellitus and others. Recently, it has been found that amyloids are important for many essential processes in organisms - from bacteria to humans. The aim of this work is to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of the formation and inhibition of protein amyloid aggregation through their modulation by various substances (inorganic and organic molecules, biomolecules, nanoparticles). Based on this, it is possible to better understand the pathological and physiological effects of amyloid structures at the molecular level. Various physico-chemical methods will be used, mainly spectroscopic, calorimetric, chromatographic techniques and atomic force microscopy.
Goals:
1. Characterization of protein conformers associated with the formation of amyloid structures
2. Modulation of amyloid fibrillization using various substances (inorganic and organic molecules, biomolecules, nanoparticles).
3. Elucidation of the effect of effective modulators on amyloid structures
Literature:
[1] Amyloid fibrils and Prefibrillar Aggregates: Molecular and Biological Properties. Edited by D. E. Otzen, Wiley-VCH and Co., 2013, ISBN: 978-3-527-33200-7
[2] Eichner T. and Radford, A. E., A diversity of Assembly Mechanisms of a generic amyloid fold, Molecular Cell, 2011, 43, 1(8), 8 – 18.
[3] Fändlich, M., Oligomeric Intermediates in Amyloid Formation: Structure Determination and Mechanism of Toxicity, Journal of Molecular Biology, 2012, 421, 427 - 440
Goals:
1. Characterization of protein conformers associated with the formation of amyloid structures
2. Modulation of amyloid fibrillization using various substances (inorganic and organic molecules, biomolecules, nanoparticles).
3. Elucidation of the effect of effective modulators on amyloid structures
Literature:
[1] Amyloid fibrils and Prefibrillar Aggregates: Molecular and Biological Properties. Edited by D. E. Otzen, Wiley-VCH and Co., 2013, ISBN: 978-3-527-33200-7
[2] Eichner T. and Radford, A. E., A diversity of Assembly Mechanisms of a generic amyloid fold, Molecular Cell, 2011, 43, 1(8), 8 – 18.
[3] Fändlich, M., Oligomeric Intermediates in Amyloid Formation: Structure Determination and Mechanism of Toxicity, Journal of Molecular Biology, 2012, 421, 427 - 440