- Home
- Middle East
- UAE
- Emirati biophysicist joins select club of researchers to be published in leading scientific journal ..
Emirati Biophysicist Joins Select Club Of Researchers To Be Published In Leading Scientific Journal Nature Communications
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published February 01, 2021 | 11:15 AM
DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 01st Feb, 2021) Dr. Saif Al Qassim, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) has published a breakthrough study on molecular mechanisms in the human body.
Dr. Al Qassim and a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania conducted the research titled ‘A tunable LIC1-adaptor interaction modulates dynein activity in a cargo specific manner’ on Dynein, a molecular motor that is responsible for the transportation of various cellular cargo and plays a critical role in cell division. Dynein is hijacked by viruses during infection.
Malfunction of the Dynein machinery is linked to developmental and neurodegenerative disorders. In the study, Dr. Al Qassim and co-authors combine crystal structures with biophysical quantitative binding and motility experiments to provide crucial insights into the molecular basis of activation of Dynein’s processive motility, bringing immense biological significance.
Structural and biophysical approaches are crucial for understanding molecular function in the context of disease and pathogenic infection, contributing directly to drug and therapeutic development. Their importance has been brought into the spotlight through the rapid development of the various vaccines against COVID-19 that would not have been possible without an in-depth understanding of the atomic resolution structure of the virus’ molecules.
The study by Dr. Al Qassim and his co-researchers was published in Nature Communications, renowned as one of the most distinguished open access journals in the world that publishes scientifically rigorous research, employing an extremely strict acceptance rate of just under eight percent.
"I am honoured to be a part of this research project that has produced thought-provoking results and shines a light on a fundamental interaction that regulates dynein transport machinery, which will provide a solid foundation for development of treatment methodologies for a variety of associated diseases," said Dr.
Al Qassim who received his doctoral degree in biophysics & biophysical chemistry at the renowned Johns Hopkins University school of Medicine and served as visiting faculty at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
"I am immensely grateful to MBRU for the faith shown in me. This study provides a foundation for me to conduct other studies that utilise structural biology and biophysical approaches in the UAE to better understand disease at the molecular level, thereby helping advance healthcare in our country and the region, in line with the vision of MBRU," he added.
Dr. Amer Sharif, Vice Chancellor, MBRU, said, "Promoting excellence in research is one of our core values, and the fact that another member of our faculty has been involved in an innovative study that will have a far-reaching impact in medical science reinforces the work we do at MBRU."
"We’re very much committed to developing our UAE National workforce, an example is Dr. Saif, who was supported by MBRU while he was a visiting faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League research university, which in turn allowed such research to emanate from his time there," he said.
"We hope that the publication of this study in this distinguished journal will serve as a catalyst for the UAE’s research community to aim higher and encourage collaborations with researchers at elite medical and scientific institutions across the world."
The full study can be accessed here - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19538-7.pdf?origin=ppub
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
More Stories From Middle East
-
UAE announces ‘Zero Bureaucracy Program’ to reduce bureaucracy
3 months ago -
COP28 President-Designate welcomes Transitional Committee agreement to operationalise Loss and Damag ..
6 months ago -
Global Media Congress 2023 to feature Co-Production Majlis as a new networking platform
6 months ago -
Young female athletes shine at Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
6 months ago -
King of Jordan receives Abdullah bin Zayed and ministers participating in Arab coordination meeting
6 months ago -
Abdullah bin Zayed participates in coordination meeting of Arab foreign ministers, joint meeting wit ..
6 months ago
-
3rd annual conference of Emirates Society of Clinical Microbiology kicks off in Dubai
6 months ago -
SIBF 2023 hosts Nobel laureate to discuss emergence of ‘Afrofuturism’ in global discourse
6 months ago -
ALC announces winners of Kanz Al Jeel Award 2023
6 months ago -
SIBF turns spotlight on remarkable contributions of women
6 months ago -
Global assets in spot bitcoin ETFs hit $4.16 billion
6 months ago -
Rescuers struggle to find Nepal quake survivors as deaths reach 157
6 months ago