Visiting Scholars: "Mobility isn't optional!"

How did your collaboration with the IBGC begin?

Saron Catak: Two years ago, Muriel Priault contacted me following one of my publications. We are both interested in the same process, deamidation, and the same protein, Bcl-xL, but from different angles. I use computational tools and her team uses an experimental techniques. Taking an atomistic and mechanical approach, I run simulations that attempt to describe the processes that lead to the observations her team makes in the laboratory.

The primary objective of this first contact was to build a consortium bringing together several research teams from different European countries around the topic of deamidation, in order to apply for the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) programme. Having heard about the Visiting Scholars programme last year, we seized the opportunity to capitalise on my sabbatical year and lay the foundations for a long-term collaboration.

Why study deamidation, and Bcl-xL deamidation in particular?

S. C.: Deamidation is a biochemical reaction that occurs spontaneously in living cells, without any external intervention, and which disrupts protein function. Bcl-xL is an anti-apoptotic protein, meaning that it prevents cell death (apoptosis). When Bcl-xL undergoes deamidation, it loses its anti-apoptotic property, which triggers a series of events leading to cell death. Of course, deamidation is continually counter-balanced by a natural repair mechanism. This is an evolutionary process encoded in our genes that allows healthy cells to function and diseased cells to be eliminated.

The worry is that cancer cells have found a way to inhibit Bcl-xL deamidation and continue to live. We are trying to understand how they manage to do this. Deamidation affects hundreds of other proteins and, depending on the target, is also one of the causes of protein aggregation in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. It is also suspected of playing a role in the development of cataracts.

How has your stay been?

S. C.: It was an extremely rewarding year. Normally, I work behind a computer. During my mobility I spent time in the laboratory with my host, her colleagues, her Master and PhD students to understand their approach. In turn, I gave presentations in group meetings on computational tools, which helped them to understand our point of view. Today, I'm able to read articles in their field and they're able to read articles in mine with a much better understanding.

We are currently preparing two joint publications using our complementary skills. At the start of my stay we applied for the COST programme. Although our project was not selected this year, we are very optimistic about next year, having received a very good score and positive comments from the evaluators. At the end of May, we applied for a CNRS-IRN (International Research Network) including five other countries, and are currently in the process of finalising an application for a bilateral programme between Turkey and France (PHC-Bosphorus). If our application is successful, we will be able to fund the mobility of researchers and students for three years.

Did you also offer any educational activities?

S. C.: Yes, indeed. This was one of the parts of my mobility that I enjoyed the most. I gave lectures on molecular dynamics to Master students in bioinformatics and biochemistry. This subject is not part of their programme at the moment, but it's essential. The students asked a lot of questions. This enabled them to understand the structure of proteins as well as their function.  

I also organised two workshops with the technical support of the bioinformatics department. I had prepared a booklet that would enable them to carry out simple molecular dynamics simulations on their own. I gave five seminars on different subjects, which enabled me to reach a very varied audience of researchers, have some very interesting exchanges and forge new collaborations.

Is mobility important for a researcher?

S. C.: Very important! Mobility allows you to see things differently, to compare, to learn from others and to network. It's a great motivator. For me, mobility isn't optional! In fact, I'm very grateful to the University of Bordeaux for making me feel so welcome. Few universities offer such opportunities!