Protein Data Bank in Europe (PDBe) are hosting an online art exhibition to celebrate artwork created in our PDB Art project. To register for this event, please visit .
![2020 PDB Art Exhibition Virtual Opening](/pdbe/sites/ebi.ac.uk.pdbe/files/images/new_articles/promo_image_pdb_art_virtual_exhibition.jpg" "2020 PDB Art Exhibition Virtual Opening")
About this Event
PDBe, The Art Society CANTAB and The Art Society GRANTA are working with local school art departments to create artworks inspired by the molecules of life.
PDBe maintains a free, worldwide database containing 170,968 3D shapes of biological molecules important for scientific and medical research. The molecules are too small to see even with a normal microscope, and yet can form incredibly complex structures.
In this project, PDBe scientists help students explore the PDB database and different methods of depicting these molecules. The students, with support of their teachers, then use these structures as inspiration for the creation of artworks, many of which will be on display at the exhibition.
Programme
17:00 � Welcome
17:05 � Introductory tour of virtual PDB art exhibition
17:20 � Dr Lori Passmore, Group Leader, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
17:30 � Melissa Pierce Murray, Artist
17:40 � Student testimonials on the PDB art project
17:45 � Q&A
18:00 � Meeting close
Speakers Biographies
Dr Lori Passmore, Group Leader, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology is one of the world's leading research institutes. Scientists here work to tackle fundamental, often difficult and long-term research problems. The LMB has made revolutionary contributions to science, such as pioneering X-ray crystallography and electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine protein structures, the sequencing of DNA and the development of monoclonal antibodies. Twelve Nobel Prizes have been awarded for work carried out by LMB scientists.
Lori’s group studies protein complexes that regulate gene expression. DNA must be passed on faithfully from cell to cell and across generations to maintain gene expression. DNA crosslinks can occur after exposure to chemicals including chemotherapeutic drugs or alcohol, but also as a result of normal cellular metabolism. These crosslinks block DNA replication and transcription. If crosslinks cannot be repaired, it leads to human disease including Fanconi anemia and cancer. We aim to understand how DNA crosslinks are repaired by the Fanconi anaemia DNA repair pathway.
We are using a hybrid approach to understand the molecular mechanisms of these and other multi-protein complexes. In particular, we use electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), alongside X-ray crystallographic, biophysical, biochemical and genetic techniques. Cryo-EM is rapidly evolving and we are developing new methods to help determine protein structures. Overall, our aim is to establish fundamental principles underlying the assembly of multi-protein complexes, define their structures, gain insight into their activities and regulation, and identify roles for proteins of unknown function.
Melissa Pierce Murray, Artist
Melissa Pierce Murray is a Cambridge based sculptor and visual artist. Informed by previous studies in poetry, physics and physical movement, Murray's sculptures reflect an interweaving of materials, emotions and narratives.
Drawing on her interdisciplinary background, Murray facilitates interactions between artists and scientists. In 2018 she co-produced NanoVignettes, a series of art/science microfilms for the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and Cambridge Science Festival. In 2017 she developed the Drawing on Science creativity workshops for the University of Cambridge NanoDoctoral Training Center. Murray believes that combining cultural and scientific literacy is vital to using a full creative, emotional and rational intelligence and will to enable humans to proactively address the challenges of a changing world.
She creates works with a tactile allure and precarious edginess, choosing materials for their potential to be transformed while still asserting their own stories- from steel and stone, to bubble wrap and ice. Murray holds a BA in English Literature and Physics, and an MA in Fine Arts.
Selected recent exhibitions and awards include Tumbleweeds (University College, Oxford, 2020, during a year long residency as Visitor in the Creative Arts), Awkward Objects (Wakefield Cathedral, 2019); Royal Society of Sculptors First Plinth Award (Finalist, 2019); SciArt at the Cavendish (Cambridge, 2018), Stasis (Scott Polar Museum, Cambridge, 2017) and Passion for Knowledge (San Sebastian, Spain, 2016).
