Tubulin nucleation and microtubule (MT) assembly are frequent events in cells. To understand the fundamental mechanisms of MT assembly it is critical to resolve the early stages of the reaction, dictating the assembly pathway. Despite years of research, tubulin nucleation is still one of the least understood steps of MT dynamics, owing to the size of tubulin and its highly dynamic character. To determine the fundamental molecular-level mechanisms directing tubulin nucleation and the early assembly states, we will reconstitute in vitro a minimal model system that mimics the key elements of cytoskeleton MT assembly. We will use time-resolved solution small angle-X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS) and our advanced analysis tools to follow in real-time, the active self-organization, dynamic structures, and bioenergetics of tubulin proteins and their regulation by fluxes of chemical energy, associated with nucleotide hydrolysis reactions.

The BAG is quite large with 24 principal investigators covering almost all groups in Israel. The scientific topics are diverse and so different that depicting them in a short Abstract is extremely difficult. In this context BAG members are studying the parameters that govern protein assemblage, structural impacts of signaling processes in different cascades. There are several projects that are directed towards molecular recognition with implementation towards drug design. In addition, we still have the ribosome project and the design of unique antibiotics with specific functional interactions from the mycinamycins family and their resistance related mechanism compared with other macrolides and the photosystem and how it converts light into energy. Since Covid-19 is still a relevant topic as are other viral infections BAG members are and have been involved in the understanding of the infection process and the means to hinder it.

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