Another avenue of research of Dr. Golub aims to expand the scope of known protein-DNA interactions while focusing on non-canonical G-quadruplex DNA structures. He says that although these structures are abundant in nature and associated with fundamental biological processes, the biomolecular interactions that control their affinity and specificity towards proteins are still largely underexplored. “Our approach is twofold: one, to elucidate new structures of protein-G-quadruplex complexes; two, to explore the protein as the molecular basis for G-quadruplex recognition. Through this approach, we hope to lay the foundation for developing new methods to target DNA structures in cells, and design additional tools for the self-assembly of nanostructures and new proteinbased nanomaterials.” Dr. Golub uses a broad range of research tools to characterize biophysical and photophysical properties, including chemical synthesis, molecular biology, spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray crystallography and other techniques. “Multidisciplinary approaches and cross-disciplinary teamwork are a prerequisite to cutting-edge science and the foundation of novel discoveries,” he says. “This strategy is at the core of BINA, it facilitates many fruitful and efficient communications and collaborations and enables me to aspire to do the best science.” Dr. Eyal Golub, an expert in protein engineering and DNA nanobiotechnology, joined BINA in 2022. During his training he explored several disciplines, from physical chemistry and photovoltaics in his graduate studies in Prof. Arie Zaban’s lab at the BIU to DNA nanobiotechnology in his PhD, which he completed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He then went on to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, USA, where he uniquely combined protein engineering with classic inorganic chemistry. “This course of training has given me a broad overview and inspired me to establish an interdisciplinary research lab,” explains Dr. Golub. “It allows me to combine chemistry and synthetic biology to explore how the assembly of biomolecules brings about the structural and functional tremendous diversity that is present in all life forms,” he says. “While an individual protein and DNA molecules exhibit an impressive set of properties, their assemblies are far more elaborate and sophisticated. They can create unique interfaces and microenvironments that are distinct from their surroundings. However, pinning down or predicting the origins of any synergistic interactions is challenging due to the constructs’ complexity and the inability to discern between identical subcomponents.” To meet these challenges, Dr. Golub and his group aim to develop new methods and approaches to design and produce controlled assembly of biomolecules that exhibit novel characteristics. The applications are endless, from sensing and catalysis technologies to the design of smart membranes. Dr. Eyal Golub “This course of training has given me a broad overview and inspired me to establish an interdisciplinary research lab” 14
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