January 28, 2021
Anthony Fehr to present Division of Biology Seminar
Submitted by Division of Biology
Anthony Fehr, assistant professor in the department of molecular biosciences at the University of Kansas, will present "On the Battlefront: Host PARP-mediated ADP-ribosylation vs. the Coronavirus Macrodomain" as part of the Division of Biology Seminar Series at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, via Zoom.
The Fehr lab focuses on understanding how protein modifications, also known as post-translational modifications, or PTMs, impact coronavirus replication and pathogenesis. Many PTMs are directed at either viral proteins to inhibit their functions or at cellular proteins during infection to activate anti-viral signaling pathways. Viruses meanwhile have developed ways to reverse these modifications and overcome cellular defenses. The lab researches a lesser-known PTM, called ADP-ribosylation. ADP-ribosylation of proteins creates a battlefield in innate immunity between the host and pathogen, where host PARP enzymes utilize NAD as a substrate to ADP-ribosylate host and viral protein and establish an "antiviral state." Coronaviruses counter this attack using a unique enzyme called a macrodomain, which can bind and remove these modifications to reverse their effects. Here, Fehr will present the lab's work describing the unique roles of PARPs, NAD, and the macrodomain in coronavirus infection, and also discuss our efforts to identify compounds that inhibit the macrodomain that could potentially be used to mitigate coronavirus disease.
If you would like to visit with Fuhr, please contact Zhilong Yang at zyang@k-state.edu.