IQGAP2 is a scaffold protein which plays central roles in cell-cell adhesion, polarity and cell motility. Rho GTPases Cdc42 and Rac1, in their GTP-bound active forms, interact with all three human IQGAP isoforms. IQGAP-Cdc42 interaction promotes metastasis by enhancing actin polymerization. However, despite their high degree of sequence identity, Cdc42 and Ra1 intrections with IQGAP show differences. We aim to reveal the interaction mechanisms of these proteins.

Publications
Unraveling the molecular mechanism of interactions of the Rho GTPases Cdc42 and Rac1 with the scaffolding protein IQGAP2. Ozdemir ES, Jang H, Gursoy A, Keskin O, Li Z, Sacks DB, Nussinov R (2018) . The Journal of Biological Chemistry. doi:10.1074/jbc.RA117.001596

Relation between Protein Intrinsic Normal Mode Weights and Pre-Existing Conformer Populations. Ozgur B^*, Ozdemir ES^*, Gursoy A, Keskin O (2017) Journal of Physical Chemistry B 121 (15):3686-3700.doi:10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b10401 *These authors contributed equally to the work.

Red emitting, cucurbituril-capped, pH-responsive conjugated oligomer-based nanoparticles for drug delivery and cellular imaging. Pennakalathil J, Jahja E, Ozdemir ES, Konu O, Tuncel D (2014) Biomacromolecules 15 (9):3366-3374. doi:10.1021/bm500839j

M.Sc. Bilkent University-Molecular Biology and Genetics

Ph.D. Koç University-Chemical and Biological Engineering