GBMSDG website

SPONSORED BY:

Who: Prof. John R. Engen, Northeastern University

What: "Protein Conformation and Dynamics by Mass Spectrometry"

When: Wednesday, January 31
           Reception (with drinks!) starts at 5:30pm followed by dinner.  Lecture starts at 7:00pm.

Where: Raytheon Amphitheater, Egan Research Center, Northeastern University
            (see directions below)

Why: Reception, dinner, networking, seminar by a top scientist in the field

BIO FOR PROF. ENGEN

John R. Engen is an Associate Professor of Chemistry & Chemical Biology at Northeastern University in Boston.  He also holds the position of Faculty Fellow in the Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis.  Prior to coming to Northeastern, he was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and a Member of the University of New Mexico Cancer Center.  Professor Engen holds two BS degrees (molecular biology and biochemistry) from Union College and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska (working with David L. Smith).  He completed postdoctoral work at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany and at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  He is a Fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). 

Professor Engen has become a recognized expert in the area of understanding proteins and protein conformation with mass spectrometry.  He uses hydrogen-deuterium exchange to probe conformation and dynamics during various activation states.  Proteins that are not amenable to mainstream structural techniques such as X-ray diffraction and NMR can be probed with such methods.  Such experiments, among other things, can reveal the effects and locations of binding, be diagnostic for proper protein folding, and be used to determine conformational changes during protein function.  He has published over 30 papers on the topic of hydrogen exchange in recent years and given an equal number of invited lectures.  He co-organized the 2006 Sanibel conference on studying proteins with hydrogen exchange and now leads an interest group on the topic for the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.  Current research projects in his laboratory include investigations of the Src-family of tyrosine kinases to understand their regulation and aberrant signaling in various disease states including cancer.  The conformation of viral accessory proteins from HIV and several Herpesviruses are also being investigated. 

WHERE IS THIS PLACE?

Please CLICK HERE for a 3-page .pdf file of maps/directions on how to find the Egan Research Center on the campus, where to park, etc.  The building is 50 steps north of Ruggles Station, served by the Orange Line and Commuter Rail.  The Green Line stops 2 blocks to the north. 

Public pay parking in the Renaissance Garage is located about 1 block south of Ruggles Station.

DIRECTIONS TO NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

From the north; (via Route I-93 or Route 1)
Take the Storrow Drive exit, and proceed to the Fenway exit. Follow signs for Boylston Street inbound, and bear right onto Westland Avenue. Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue, proceed to the third traffic light, and turn right onto Columbus Avenue. The Renaissance Parking Garage is at 835 Columbus Ave.

From the west; (via Route 90, Massachusetts Turnpike)
Take Exit 22 (Copley Square), and bear right. Proceed to the first traffic light, and turn right onto Dartmouth Street. Take the next right onto Columbus Avenue. The Renaissance Parking Garage is at 835 Columbus Ave.

From the west; (via Route 9)
Proceed east on Route 9; it will become Huntington Avenue. Turn right onto Ruggles Street. At the fourth traffic light, turn left onto Tremont Street. At the second set of lights, turn left onto Melnea Cass Boulevard, and then turn left onto Columbus Avenue. The Renaissance Parking Garage is at 835 Columbus Ave.

From the south; (via Route 3, Southeast Expressway)
Take Exit 18 (Massachusetts Avenue), and proceed onto Melnea Cass Boulevard. Continue for approximately two miles, and turn left onto Columbus Avenue. The Renaissance Parking Garage is at 835 Columbus Ave.

Via public transportation
Northeastern is accessible by subway via the Green Line of the MBTA. From downtown Boston, take an "E" train outbound to the Northeastern stop, the first stop above ground. The campus can also be reached from downtown via the Orange Line by taking any train going outbound to Forest Hills and getting off at Ruggles Station. Commuter rail lines connect with the Orange Line at Back Bay Station and North Station. Visit www.mbta.com for more information on subway, bus and commuter rail schedules.

Parking
Visitors may park at the Northeastern University Renaissance Parking Garage at 835 Columbus Ave.

Campus Map
NU's campus map can help you locate the parking garage and academic and administrative building.