题目：A quantum physics solution for magnetic protein biocompass model?

报告人：Can Xie（谢 灿）School of Life Sciences, Peking University

地点： 教十二-201

时间：9月23，周五，15:00-16:00

Abstract：

The molecular mechanism of animal magnetoreception, migration and navigation provides us a unique vision to explore the interface between biological world and physical world at molecular or even atomic level. The notion that animals can detect the Earth’s magnetic field was once ridiculed, but is now well-established fact. However, the nature of this enigmatic sense has remained a fascinating and unresolved biological mystery. Previously, we identified a magnetic receptor (MagR) in animals and a rod-like protein complex magnetosensor.

The magnetosensor system is a nano-scale biological compass consisting of photoreceptor Cryptochromes and magnetoreceptors, and has intrinsic magnetic polarity in alignment with magnetic fields, including the Earth’s geomagnetic field. The work was published in Nature Materials in November 16, 2015, and was described as ‘groundbreaking’ in the field. However, questions remain: What is the origin of magnetic moments of MagR？ How the light- and magneto- perceptions are coupled in our Biocompass theory? How the signals from geomagnetic field is perceived with MagR and converted to neural signals? Do animals have ‘Molecular gyroscope’ and ‘Quantum gyroscope’ to guide their navigation? And how to apply magnetic fields to modulate biological processes based on MagR? We may find answers to these biological mysteries from quantum physics.

References:

[1] Qin S, Yin H, Yang C, Dou Y, Liu Z, Zhang P, Yu H, Huang Y, Feng J, Hao J, Hao J, Deng L, Yan X, Dong X, Zhang Z, Jiang T, Wang HW, Luo SJ, Xie C (2016). (2016). "A magnetic protein biocompass." Nat Mater 15(2): 217-226. (DOI 10.1038/nature4484).

简介：

Education：

Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 2001 Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular biology Advisor: Dr. Shouyi Chen;

Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China, 1995 B.S. in Biological Sciences Advisor: Dr. Youhui Shen (Zoology);

Research Experience：

School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China, 2009- Principal Investigator: My lab at Peking University focuses on receptor biology, and is pursuing research in two major directions: (I) Magnetoreception and Animal Migration (with an emphasis on the molecular mechanism of magnetoreception, magnetoreceptor, and its applications), (II) Structural Color, Color Change and Biological Invisibility (with an emphasis on protein assembly and nonobiotechnology);

Immune Disease Institute (formerly known as CBR Institute for Biomedical Research), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 2001-2009

Research Fellow: Research focuses on integrin structure and function in immune system with Dr. Timothy A. Springer ;

Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 1996-2001;

Graduate student in Biochemistry and Molecular biology, research on the molecular cloning, spatial and temporal expression pattern, signal transduction, biochemical characterization a transmembrane receptor kinase (NTHK1) with Dr. Shouyi Chen and Dr. Jinsong Zhang;

Institute of Biological Sciences, Hunan Province, Changsha, China, 1992-1995;

Research assistant in Vertebrate Zoology Laboratory, research on zoology and ecology with Prof. Youhui Shen;

欢迎老师和同学参加！