Sai Venkatesh Pingali
Dr. Sai Venkatesh Pingali have been working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Department of Energy Laboratory since 2008 under various capacities, as an expert on using scattering techniques to probe nano- to mesoscale structure and morphology of biological and chemical systems. Primary focus is to understand structure-function correlation. His responsibilities include two parts- facilitating the use of the biological small-angle neutron scattering instrument (Bio-SANS) for scientific research and driving an independent research program which is currently the study of structure and morphology of materials relevant for biofuels and biomedicine and advanced functionality. Dr. Pingali’s doctoral degree is from the University of Illinois at Chicago in physics and his postdoctoral training under Dr. Thiyagarajan Pappannan, at the Argonne National Laboratory and Dr. Volker S. Urban at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Pingali has been driving the structural and morphological study of Lignocellulose materials, especially to understand the deconstruction and assembly process at the nanoscale using scattering techniques.
Structural Studies of Complex Biological Systems using Neutron Scattering
Abstract:
The Center for Structural Molecular Biology (CSMB) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a national user facility funded to support and develop the user access and science research program of the Biological Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (Bio-SANS) instrument at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). Bio-SANS is dedicated to the analysis of the structure, function and dynamics of complex biological systems. The CSMB also operates a Bio-Deuteration Laboratory located at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) for deuterium labeling of biological macromolecules in support of the biology neutron scattering program. This resource complements capabilities at other Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) facilities for structural biology, and also supports studies of biomass recalcitrance and biomembranes as part of the DOE Genomic Science Program.
A major challenge is developing a predictive understanding in the behavior of complex systems. Neutron scattering can provide unique contributions including understanding membrane-associated biological and industrial chemical processes and the dynamic assembly and regulation of large biochemical and biological complexes. Neutrons scatter differently from hydrogen and its isotope deuterium, so that in multi-component systems, individual components and the solvent can be selectively enriched with deuterium, making it possible to independently probe their structure, position and dynamics within a complex assembly. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) provides detailed structural information on how biological and biochemical macromolecules behave in almost any form such as solution, solid or gel. Without requirement for freezing or crystallizing molecules, SANS with neutron contrast variation is ideally suited for studying multi-component assemblies, flexibility in macromolecules, and even hierarchical structures. When combined with the high flux neutron beams and the negligible radiation damage caused by neutrons, SANS is also capable of in situ analysis of time-dependent processes. Applications in biology range from mapping low-resolution structure and structural transitions of individual proteins and large macromolecular complexes in solution to studies of dynamic processes of biomass breakdown and pharmaceutical drug delivery in biotechnology and other biocompatible or bio-inspired materials for advanced biomaterials.