Theoretical Sciences Unit Seminar - 2 November 2022

Theoretical Sciences Unit Seminar

Date: 2nd November 2022 (Wednesday)

Time: 02:00 PM (Tea/Coffee: 01:45 PM)

Venue: Kanada Auditorium, JNCASR

Title: Lifetime of Actin-Dependent Protein Nanocluster: Is the Plasma Membrane a Soft Glassy Material?

Speaker: Dr. Sumantra Sarkar

Affiliation: IISc, Bangalore

Abstract:

Protein nanoclusters (PNCs) are dynamic collections of a few proteins that spatially organize in nanometer-length clusters. PNCs are one of the principal forms of spatial organization of membrane proteins and have been shown or hypothesized to be crucial in various cellular processes, including cell signaling. These clusters exhibit remarkable diversity in size, shape, and lifetime, with lifetimes varying over a wide range of timescales.

While the diversity in size and shape can be attributed to interactions with the actin cytoskeleton or lipid membrane, very little is known about the factors influencing the lifetime of nanoclusters. In this talk, Dr. Sumantra Sarkar will discuss the biophysical processes governing the lifetime of actin-dependent PNCs. Specifically, he will demonstrate how cell-membrane disorder plays a significant role in the lifetime distribution, raising an intriguing question: Is the cell membrane a glassy material?

All are cordially invited.