Short Report by Brain Bender: Expression of Y2R Variants for EPR Structural Studies at Leipzig University (Aug 21 – Oct 14)

/ December 1, 2015/ Students

This fall I was awarded the opportunity to return to Leipzig University to work in the lab of Dr. Daniel Huster. This research exchange corresponded nicely with the 11th International NPY-PYY-PP Conference. At the conference I was able to interact with many people in the field of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its related peptide hormones. At this conference, people from many diverse fields came together to discuss their research. I heard talks on the role of NPY in cancer, obesity, and development of new receptor agonists. This greatly expanded on my knowledge of the physiological role of NPY and its receptors in the brain and throughout the body. One really great session explored the evolutionary history of the NPY receptors and also evolutionary interconnectedness of pre-human cultures. The night of NPY evolution was capped off by a trip to the Leipzig Zoo where we got to see many of the wonderful animals living there before enjoying dinner in a safari-like setting. It was really nice to see a number of talks about the structure of these peptides and receptors.

Following the conference I was able to dive head first into the lab with the continued excitement from the conference. In the lab my goal was to express and purify NPY type 2 receptor (Y2R) for the use in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). EPR introduces paramagnetic spin labels via nitoxides at specific amino acid residues in the protein. Introduction of two EPR labels into a protein or protein complex allows for double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy which measures the distance between these two labels. By positioning pairs of EPR tags throughout the protein, I can build a model of the receptor using these distance restraints.

Any research trip to a foreign country lends the opportunity to explore a different culture. I set out on my quest to continue exploring German pastries and beers which cumulated in a trip to “Oktoberfest” in Munich. Further, I visited Nurenberg to see the castle and a museum at the Documentation Center, a fascinating history lesson. Lastly, I visited one of Germany’s neighboring countries, Belgium, to visit a student who had done an exchange in the Meiler lab in Vanderbilt last year. While there I partook of Belgium waffles and chocolates and watched an incredible festival of lights fireworks display.