The self-assembly of the tooth enamel protein, amelogenin
The self-assembly of the tooth enamel protein, amelogenin
- Event time: 1:00pm
- Event date: 11th March 2013
- Speaker: Keith Bromley (Formerly School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
- Location: Room 2511, James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Teeth consist of highly organized columns and sheets of nanocrystals of hydroxyapatite that can grow up to millimetres in length, but with a limited width and breadth of around 50nm. The growth of these crystals utilizes a self-assembled extracellular amelogenin matrix for organization and direction. As well as forming a macroscale matrix, amelogenin can also self-assemble into smaller structures called nanospheres, which have a hydrodynamic radius of about 15-20nm and are made up of 50-100 protein monomers. In this talk, I will discuss recent biophysical research on the substructure of nanospheres and how this might affect how they function. In addition, I will discuss the destabilization of amelogenin via two missense mutations (T21I and P40T) that are known to cause amelogenesis imperfecta, a hereditary disease.
About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars
This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..