Description:

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:

Ronen Marmorstein, PhD
George W. Raiziss Professor and Vice-Chair
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Investigator, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania

Presentation: 

"Allosteric regulation of acetyl-CoA utilizing enzymes"

Abstract:

The metabolite acetyl-CoA is essential for life through participation in many biochemical reactions in protein, RNA carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism; and production of energy through the Krebs cycle.  A major focus of the laboratory is to understand the molecular basis of acetyl-CoA utilization. Three enzymes of recent interest in the laboratory are ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) and acetyl-CoA short-change synthetase 2 (ACSS2), which synthesizes nucleocytosolic acetyl-CoA; and fatty acid synthase (FASN), which uses acetyl-CoA for de novo lipogenesis. These enzymes are important for health and, in certain contexts, are also therapeutic targets for various metabolic disorders and cancer. We have used cryo-EM structural studies, in combination with biochemical, biophysical and cellular biology studies to understanding how these enzymes are allosterically regulated by cellular metabolites and small molecule inhibitors with implications for therapy. 

Host: Dr. Daniel Foltz, Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics