Structural Features in Mini-Fluorescence Activating Proteins affecting Chromophore Bond Rotation Times

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Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Thursday, July 30th 1:15-2:30pm EDT

Justin Nguyen
Justin Nguyen

Justin Nguyen is a rising sophomore (’23) planning to live in the Well-being house. Born and raised in Gardner, Massachusetts, he is a graduate of Gardner High School. During his first semester at Wesleyan, he was elected to the 41st Wesleyan Student Assembly as a senator; he also is the Wesleyan Barbell Club treasurer and a member of the Wesleyan Math and Science Scholars (WesMASS) program. He is also a Questbridge Scholar, and identifies as a first-generation, low-income student. His other interests include video games and watching videos on Youtube and other streaming platforms. He is a prospective Biology and/or Chemistry major and his post-graduate plans are to be determined.

Abstract: Dou et al engineered the first fluorescence-activating beta barrel that binds a small GFP derived chromophore known as DFHBI. The Smith Lab subsequently developed a more comprehensive and rational explanation for why one variant of the beta barrel structure differed from another in terms of fluorescence. Quantum mechanical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations have shown that that, in most cases, slower chromophore bond rotation times are correlated with variant brightness. We will present mechanisms by which particular conformations of the proteins produce different bond rotation time.

SummerPosterSession2020_final-Justin-Nguyen

Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Thursday, July 30th 1:15-2:30pm EDT

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