Gilles Travé obtained a PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry from the University of Toulouse (France). After a post-doctoral work in structural biology at the EMBL-Heidelberg (Germany) he was appointed as a research scientist by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) to work at the Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (Université de Strasbourg, France). He currently leads a research team dedicated to structure-function studies on the E6 oncoproteins of human papillomaviruses (HPVs). After having struggled many years to solubilize E6 proteins, the team has solved the first structures of E6 proteins, free or in complex with several cellular targets, obtained several informations of E6 protein function, and is currently developing tools to analyze the structural basis of the large cellular interactome of these small viral proteins. Gilles Travé has published several articles dedicated to the analyzis and optimization of recombinant protein quality and he regularly teaches practical courses on this topic, in particular at the University of Bergen (Norway) where he is regularly invited as a visiting professor.
Project Title: Role of UBE3A-HERC2 Complex in Angelman Syndrome: 3D Structure and Quantitative Interactomics
Grant: $100,000 annually ($200,000 total) * This research project is jointly funded by Dup15q Alliance and Angelman Syndrome Foundation.
Summary: UBE3A is a protein that tags other proteins to be disposed of in the cell. It interacts with another protein, HERC2, which also has a similar function. Individuals with both copies of HERC2 deleted have a neurodevelopmental disorder with features similar to Angelman syndrome.
Dr. Trave will study the interaction between UBE3A and HERC2 to regulate important genes for neurodevelopment and better understand how UBE3A and HERC2 work together.
This study aims to:
- Create the first 3D structure of full-length UBE3A with and without HERC2
- Determine the other proteins that interact with the UBE3A/HERC2 complex
This should help future studies better understand how UBE3A works with HERC2 to impact brain development.
