Lindy Hop and Charleston Routine about phosducin for "Dance Your PhD 2009"

"Dance your PhD 2009" contest entry
Rachelle Gaudet

Michael Richters (aka transducin beta-gamma) and I (aka phosducin) use Lindy Hop and Charleston to illustrate my PhD thesis: Structural analysis of phosducin and its phosphorylation-regulated interaction with transducin beta-gamma. These proteins function in our eyes, as part of the retinal proteins that transmit visual signals to the brain. In a bright environment, phosducin binds to transducin beta-gamma and the two are found in the cytoplasm. Upon dark-adaptation, phosducin becomes phosphorylated, while transducin beta-gamma returns to the cellular membranes to increase the responses to small amounts of light.

During my PhD, I determined the crystal structure of the complex of phosducin and transducin beta-gamma. In this complex, phosducin's N-terminal half interacts extensively with beta-gamma, illustrated in our Lindy Hop dance, a partner dance which relies on intricate lead-follow technique. We dance the Lindy Hop under bright lights in the back of the room, because the complex phosducin/transducin beta-gamma forms when our eyes are adapted to bright light. When eyes adapt to the dark (illustrated by our transition to the darkened front of the room), phosducin is released from beta-gamma and becomes phosphorylated (represented by the hat). In the second half of my thesis project, I went on to show that phosphorylated phosducin has a particularly flexible or mobile N-terminal half. This is illustrated by the solo Charleston dance, which features big arm movements. Upon return to the light, phosducin loses its phosphorylation and returns to its interaction with beta-gamma. The dark-light cycles continue until beta-gamma is targeted for destruction. Finally, the song choice speaks for itself!

If you like this video, you might also like this one, illustrating some of my lab's current research:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqtHvTDjznA

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Lindy
• Hop
• Charleston
• phosducin
• transducin
• biology
• G-proteins
• vision
• Yale
• Harvard
• science
• PhD
• eyes
• signal
• transduction
• dance
• swing
• AAAS
• Science
• Partner
• dancing
• Ballroom
• jazz
• hat
• Ella
• Fitzgerald

[captinkirkstartrek]

Does anyone know who is singing this version of Them There Eyes?

[geniehop]

This one is by Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald, and it on the "Ella and Basie!" Album. We sped it up significantly, and it was cut too.

[hakirby]

There's nothing about this which isn't awesome

[Seab1rd11]

Really Cool! The best phosducin presentation ever!

[AboS7m]

i guess they didnt win cuz they suck

[mphello]

As entertaining as this is, this is colossally the DUMBEST idea for a dance contest, as dancing conveys NO information as to what is related in the people's theses.

Yes: I read all the notes above and how it relates to the dancing. The PhD research is AWESOME. But, no one would be able to know what the dancing represents WITHOUT reading the notes!

The main objection: where are poor PhD students or post-PhDers supposed to get dancers?

[mphello]

I fail to see the dancers perform post-RNA-transcriptional methylation. :) :)

[veggieboy321]

added to my favorites, love your light and breezy style.

for the record - how the heck does this get a dislike? someone please explain.

[grizabella626]

*thunderous applause*

[TidaleINK]

Everytime i watch this it makes me wanna learn the Lindy Hop :D

Im Now gonna learn it so i can be as good as you two

(btw im 13 male so it must be pretty good) :P

[veronicachic]

Wow i can't believe you could illustrate phosducin through this routine, its soooo cool! You're smart, creative, AND you can dance :D

how awesome is that

[MakeMeAChannel]

You make me want to understand phosducin. How does this routine illustrate phosducin's structure and interactions?

[wdinau]

awesome entertainment!!!

great technique and ook very relaxing and enjoyable

5 stars!!!!

[swampfox27]

That was cute