Martin Blackledge, from the Institute de Biologie Structurale at IRIG, receives a grant for his project on the description in atomic resolution of highly dynamic molecular assemblies and their role in viral replication. Its project entitled "DynamicAssemblies" will receive financial support over 5 years.

In particular, the project will describe the structural and dynamic behavior of highly disordered viral replication machines, their interaction kinetics with host and viral partners, the effects of post-translational modifications, their assembly and functional mechanisms. The project will also identify the role of these intrinsically disordered proteins in functional liquid droplets that provide a highly efficient means to spatially and temporally control essential molecular processes.
The primary research interest of the Blackledge group is the study of protein dynamics by NMR, often combined with complementary biophysical techniques and advanced molecular simulation, to characterize the role of conformational flexibility in biological function.