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     COLLOQUIUM OF THE COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE CENTER
                                AND 
           THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTATIONAL & DATA SCIENCES
                            (CSI 898-Sec 001)
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 Molecular dynamics simulations of peptides relevant to Alzheimer's disease

                         Christopher Lockhart
     School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 

The progression of Alzheimer's disease has been linked to the aggregation of 
Aβ peptides. Current theories suggest that Aβ interactions with cellular 
membranes results in its neurodegenerative effect, although little is known 
of the molecular mechanism. To probe this mechanism, we performed 
replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations of Aβ peptides binding to 
a model membrane represented by a lipid bilayer. 

In this talk I will describe our investigation of the conformational change 
of Aβ peptides induced by the bilayer, the Aβ binding mechanism, and the 
impact of Aβ on bilayer structure. Our results find a correlation bettween 
the Aβ cytotoxicity and the aggregation of Aβ peptides.

                           October 26, 2015
                               4:30 pm
                    Exploratory Hall, room 3301 
                          Fairfax Campus

Refreshments will be served at 4:15 PM.
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Find the schedule at http://www.cmasc.gmu.edu/seminars.htm