Structural studies with proteins related to nuclear importation: visiting professor grant

• Grant number: 15/25143-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: June 12, 2016
• End date: June 17, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Roberto de Mattos Fontes
• Grantee: Marcos Roberto de Mattos Fontes
• Visiting researcher: Bostjan Kobe
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Queensland, Brisbane (UQ), Australia
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/24705-3 - The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa as a model organism for the functional characterization of proteins/transcription factors that regulate the carbohydrate metabolism, AP.TEM

Abstract

The scientific collaboration between Prof. Bostjan Kobe and Prof. Fontes started during his post-doctoral at the University of Melbourne - Australia in May/1999. Since then, Prof. Fontes had the opportunity to return to Prof Bostjan's laboratory twice, and Prof. Bostjan also came to Brazil (Botucatu) twice. This long-term interaction resulted in the publication of 10 papers in journals such as the Journal Biological Chemistry (3), Journal of Molecular Biology (3), Acta Crystal. D (2), Biophysical J. (1), BBA (1). Some of these articles have a great number of citations (above 100). In addition, this project is linked to MSc thesis (2), PhD thesis (3) and postdoctoral (3) already completed or in progress. The current visit of Prof. Bostjan will occur at a time that we have an intense interaction between both groups, with the acceptance of a review in the Journal of Molecular Biology, submitted another article of importin-alpha structure and DNA repair related protein (XPG protein), and we are writing another article with importin-alpha and DNA repair related protein (MLH1/PMS2). The main goal of Prof Bostjan visit to our Institute is to discuss new directions to our collaborative projects and writing possible grants. In addition, we intent to finish the writing of an article (importin-alpha-MLH1/PMS2). It will also be an important moment of interaction of the Prof. Bostjan with students from our group and from the Institute, particularly with Prof. Dr. Maria Isabel group Cano. Prof. Cano's group just published a paper in collaboration with us and they are interested in studying the importation process of particular proteins to the nucleus. There is also a strong interest of Prof. Maria Isabel Bertolini (Coordinator of Tematic grant which we are linked) in the area. We also intend to offer a postgraduate course in which Prof. Bostjan will give some classes. Finally, we submitted to SBBQ (Brazilian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) a proposal to a symposium entitled "Regulation of protein import to the nucleus" to be held in the period 18-21/June 2016. This proposal was selected for the Scientific Board and will count with a seminar from Prof. Bostjan. This activity, despite not being supported by FAPESP because will be developed outside of the state of Sao Paulo, also will benefit from the coming of the Visiting Professor. (AU)