Biophysical Society 59th Annual Meeting Program Guide

and, with super-resolution microscopy, improved the resolution of light microscopy to up to 20 nm. Despite all these advances, fluorescence microscopy can only show what was labelled and an EM is needed to provide the full morphological context on the ultra-structure of the cell. However, CLEM experiments still remain challenging and low through- put. Over the last years, FEI has introduced different solutions to overcome some of the challenges in CLEM experiments and to make CLEM experiments easier and more efficient. But correlative experiments are rapidly evolving – here, we will present updates on latest developments that have pushed the boundaries of correlative experiments. Presenter Meike Pedersen, Product Application Specialist, FEI Company 8:30 am –10:30 am , R oom 333 CPOW Committee Meeting 9:30 am –11:00 am , H all C, R oom A Exhibitor Presentation Pall ForteBio LLC Measuring Engineered Changes in Binding Affinity with the BLItz® Label-Free System Combining Organic Synthesis and Directed Evolution to Design Glycocluster HIV Vaccine Candidates We will describe a new method for design of carbohydrate HIV vaccines, which combines organic synthesis and directed evolution techniques. This work originates from the observation that some HIV positive individuals produce antibodies which are broadly neutralizing and protective against HIV infection. One such antibody, 2G12, recognizes and binds to a cluster of carbohydrates on the viral envelope protein gp120. Our goal is to develop synthetic carbohydrate clusters which closely mimic the viral carbohydrate cluster, and which might thus elicit a 2G12-like antibody response when used as a vaccine. In order to design carbohydrate clusters which closely mimic gp120, we have developed evolution-based strategies, in which immobilized 2G12 is used to recognize and fish out the best glycocluster mimics of gp120 from amongst large libraries of ~10 trillion different glycosylated peptide- or DNA structures. The glycocluster structures obtained by these methods are recognized by antibody 2G12 as strongly as is the viral protein itself, and are thus of great interest for vaccine studies. Tips and Tricks for Developing BLItz Assays The BLItz label-free assay system is a simple-to-use benchtop instrument for measuring binding interactions of antibodies and proteins using as little as 4µl of sample. Additional case studies of how the BLItz system is being used to qualify biophysical models will be presented, along with tips and tricks for developing kinetics assays on the BLItz system. Presenters Isaac Krauss, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Brandeis University Craig Tin, Senior Product Manager, Pall Forte Bio LLC 10:00 am –11:00 am , R oom 301/302/303 Career Center Workshop Ten Tough Industrial Interview Questions (and Ten Pretty Good Responses) You’ve been invited to interview with that drug development company that you’ve always wanted to work for. You’ve soaked up the details of the position description. You are confident in your ability to do the job, as well as answer any/all technical questions during the interview process. The day is yours…until…that first question catches you by surprise and your confidence begins to wilt. Be prepared for those non-technical questions that you will almost certainly hear at some point, know why they are asked, and learn what a good (if not great) response to each question might be by attending this workshop.

10:00 am –5:00 pm , H all C Biomolecular Discovery Dome

M O N D A Y

Visit this 3-D portable Dome, sponsored by the Public Affairs Committee, to see how difficult biophysical topics can be made accessible to high school students and the public. Short videos that communicate the excitement of looking at macromolecular complexes and understanding the molecular basis for life are being shown throughout the week. 10:00 am –5:00 pm , H all C Exhibits 10:15 am –11:00 am , H all C Coffee Break All new Biophysical Society members are invited to participate in an informal gathering to meet members of the Society’s council and committees, find out about the Society’s activities, get acquainted with other new members, and enjoy refreshments. Current members are encouraged to come meet the new members. 10:30 am –12:00 pm , H all C, R oom B Performing Positive Allosteric Modulator (PAM) Assays and Investigating Use-Dependent Inhibition of Ion Channels on Automated Electrophysiology Systems Including the IonFlux TM Benchtop Reader and the IonWorks Barracuda ® Instrument PAM Assays Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been extensively studied due to their importance in physiological processes as well as involvement in several muscle and neuronal human pathologies, and are major therapeutic targets for pharmaceutical drug discovery. Ensemble recordings on the IonFlux HT System were validated with human hnAChR recombinant cell lines developed by Eurofins Discovery Services. Response properties of the nAChRs to the endogenous ligand acetylcholine (ACh), reference agonists, antagonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) were characterized and will be presented. Ion Channel Use-Dependence Use-dependent inhibition of ion channels by potential drug candidates is an important aspect to investigate for many drug classes. Data will be presented to demonstrate the ability of automated electrophysiology systems to study the use-dependence block of Na+ channel targets by peptide toxins and known compounds. We will demonstrate the ability of the IonWorks Barracuda system to deliver complex voltage protocols and generate long assay windows which are required for these studies. Pulse trains delivered at 10Hz are used to measure the blockade of current. These experiments demonstrate stable assay windows with uniform currents for 30 minutes and longer during the delivery of periodic pulse trains. Presenter James Costantin, Product Marketing Manager, Automated Electrophysiology, Molecular Devices LLC Exhibitor Presentation Molecular Devices LLC 10:15 am –11:15 am , R oom 327/328/329 New Member Welcome Coffee

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Biophysical Society 59 th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland

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