The Science Seminar Series: Septemeber 25, 2008

The COPII coat: A self-assembling multi-subunit nanoparticle.

Dr. Scott Stagg, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biophysics,

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Place: Powell Hall
Time: 4:00 -5:00pm

Abstract:

The COPII coat is involved in transporting proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. The COPII proteins including Sar1, Sec23/24 and Sec13/31 are involved in regulating transport, selecting export competent cargo, and generating a vesicle that will serve as a transport carrier. We have solved the structures of self-assembled COPII coats and cages and will discuss models for the mechanisms by which these proteins assemble, deform the ER membrane, and create vesicles of different sizes.