Resolving conformational changes in membrane receptors in response to stimuli and capturing their functionally relevant dynamics is highly challenging. Over the years, prof. Wats and his research group have addressed this using various spectroscopic approaches on functionally competent photoreceptors, often in their natural membranes or Lipodisqs™. Recently, they complemented this with functional studies, mass spectrometry, high-resolution crystallography (1.07Å), and photo-induced XFELS studies, without detergents and including natural lipids. These insights into water’s role in receptor activation-desensitization reveal that AR3’s unique internal water network is likely responsible for its faster photocycle kinetics, ~10x more efficient than bacteriorhodopsin, which may have broader implications for other receptors. For registering, click on “Read more”.
Anthony Watts (BSc, PhD, Biophysics, Leeds University, UK) is a biophysicist who, after postdoctoral work at the MPI in Göttingen (1975-1980), joined the University of Oxford as a Professor of Biochemistry (1980-2019) and C W Maplethorpe Fellow at St Hugh’s College. He served as President of EBSA (2017-2019) and is currently President of IUPAB (2024-2027). He has been involved in numerous national and international review bodies and councils, established the National Solid State NMR Labs at RAL, and is a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow (2021-2024).
https://www.bioch.ox.ac.uk/research/watts