Speaker
Dr
Arefeh Seyedarabi
(Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran)
Description
In an attempt to initiate macromolecular crystallography projects in Iran, the study of hemoglobin structure belonging to two sturgeon fish (from the Caspian Sea) was undertaken with minimal facility. As the first dedicated macromolecular crystallography research laboratory in Iran, the research started from crystallization screening and optimization of the two hemoglobins, followed by transport of frozen crystals to the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility for data collection and subsequent in house analysis of the data and determination of X-ray sequence and structure leading to the deposition of the two structures in the protein data bank. The structures have not only been important as the first two structures determined in Iran but have also been most novel and exciting as they unravel the cause of hemoglobin autoxidation and hemin loss which has been the focus of many international research studies for over two decades due to its great importance to cardiovascular medicine (in the field of plaque development in arteries and atherosclerosis) and the food industry (in the field of muscle prevention affecting the quality, odor and flavor of meat and ultimately affecting sales). Having said all this, structural study is lacking greatly in Iran both in research and industry since many interesting and important research studies are carried out in top Universities and research institutes in Iran, but because of the limited expertise and facilities so far, they have been put aside and other routes taken (particularly bioinformatics and non-experimental based structural research). However, it is the time for Iranian researchers to take the ultimate experimental approach, make use of the available facilities (although limited), and appreciate ILSF’s efforts in enabling researchers to be users of synchrotrons such as ALBA and Elettra in order to realize macromolecular crystallography projects in Iran.
