Molecular chaperones: how cells stop proteins from misbehaving
England (London)
31.05.2011
6.30pm - 7.30pm
Emeritus Professor John Ellis FRS, University of Warwick will be delivering this, the Croonian Prize Lecture. The Croonian Lecture is the Royal Society's premier lecture in the biological sciences.
Proteins are the action molecules of all cells, and to function properly, protein chains must fold and assemble correctly. But each chain of every protein runs the risk that it will combine with one or more identical chains to form nonfunctional aggregates. Some protein aggregates are toxic to cells, such as neurones, and thus contribute to neurodegenerative and other human diseases. The probability of aggregation is increased by the highly crowded state of most intracellular compartments, but is reduced by the activities of a diverse group of proteins acting as ‘molecular chaperones’. Professor Ellis will present a historical and personal account of some of the key concepts and basic evidence.