Olga Gursky, PhD
Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics

PhD, Brandeis University
MS, Moscow State University



Our research focus is on protein folding, structure and stability. It includes the analysis of the energetic-structure-function relationship and folding pathways in proteins and peptides by circular dichroism spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence, x-ray crystallography, and site-directed mutagenesis.

Our on-going NIH-funded work is aimed at understanding the energetic and structural basis for the conformational plasticity of apolipoproteins. These are protein constituents of lipoproteins that mediate lipid transport and metabolism and are central in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, stroke, and certain forms of amyloidosis. Apolipoproteins are distinct in their structural adaptability to various lipoprotein particles and to plasma. We try to understand in molecular detail the energetic and structural basis for this adaptability.

A major focus of our research is on the molecular mechanisms of lipoprotein stabilization and fusion. In 2002 we revealed that lipoprotein stability is determined by kinetic barriers. Similar barriers may modulate in-vivo lipoprotein transformations. Our goal is to obtain key molecular determinants for these energy barriers.

Member
Boston University
Amyloidosis Center


Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences




Apolipoprotein conformation in amyloid and cardiovascular diseases
09/01/2021 - 08/31/2025 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5R01GM067260-21

Structure and Function of Serum Amyloid A in Health and Disease
01/01/2020 - 12/31/2023 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5R01GM135158-04

Apolipoprotein conformation in amyloid and cardiovascular diseases
09/15/2017 - 08/31/2021 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
5R01GM067260-18

Structural Stability and Functional Remodeling of High-density Lipoproteins
07/01/2016 - 09/14/2017 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
4R01GM067260-14

Structural and biochemical basis of protein amyloid evolution
08/01/2014 - 07/31/2017 (Key Person / Mentor)
University of Algarve EU Com/Marie Curie F


Structural Stability and Functional Remodeling of High-density Lipoproteins
09/01/2013 - 06/30/2016 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
3R01GM067260-13S1

Structural Thermodynamics of Human Apolipoprotein C-1
12/20/2002 - 05/31/2008 (PI)
NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences
3 R01 GM67260 08S1

Structural Thermodynamics of Human Apolipoprotein C-1
12/15/1998 - 11/30/2002 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5 R29 HL61429 04



Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2024 Structure and Function of Serum Amyloid A in Health and Disease 2R01GM135158-05
2023 Structure and Function of Serum Amyloid A in Health and Disease 5R01GM135158-04
2023 Apolipoprotein conformation in amyloid and cardiovascular diseases 3R01GM067260-21S1
2023 Apolipoprotein conformation in amyloid and cardiovascular diseases 3R01GM067260-20S1
2023 Apolipoprotein conformation in amyloid and cardiovascular diseases 5R01GM067260-21
2022 Structure and Function of Serum Amyloid A in Health and Disease 5R01GM135158-03
2022 Structure and Function of Serum Amyloid A in Health and Disease 3R01GM135158-03S1
2022 Structure and Function of Serum Amyloid A in Health and Disease 3R01GM135158-03S2
2022 Apolipoprotein conformation in amyloid and cardiovascular diseases 5R01GM067260-20
2021 Structure and Function of Serum Amyloid A in Health and Disease 5R01GM135158-02
Showing 10 of 37 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Lewkowicz E, Nakamura MN, Rynkiewicz MJ, Gursky O. Molecular modeling of apoE in complexes with Alzheimer's amyloid-ß fibrils from human brain suggests a structural basis for apolipoprotein co-deposition with amyloids. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2023 Nov 27; 80(12):376.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38010414
     
  2. Jayaraman S, Pérez A, Miñambres I, Sánchez-Quesada JL, Gursky O. LDL binding to cell receptors and extracellular matrix is proatherogenic in obesity but improves after bariatric surgery. J Lipid Res. 2023 Nov; 64(11):100451.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37777014; PMCID: PMC10665669; DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100451;
     
  3. Jayaraman S, Urdaneta A, Bullitt E, Fändrich M, Gursky O. Lipid clearance and amyloid formation by serum amyloid A: exploring the links between beneficial and pathologic actions of an enigmatic protein. J Lipid Res. 2023 Sep; 64(9):100429.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37604227; PMCID: PMC10509712; DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100429;
     
  4. Lewkowicz E, Nakamura MN, Rynkiewicz MJ, Gursky O. Molecular modeling of apoE in complexes with Alzheimer's amyloid-ß fibrils from human brain suggests a structural basis for apolipoprotein co-deposition with amyloids. bioRxiv. 2023 Aug 06.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37577501; PMCID: PMC10418262; DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.551703;
     
  5. Sud K, Narula N, Aikawa E, Arbustini E, Pibarot P, Merlini G, Rosenson RS, Seshan SV, Argulian E, Ahmadi A, Zhou F, Moreira AL, Côté N, Tsimikas S, Fuster V, Gandy S, Bonow RO, Gursky O, Narula J. Author Correction: The contribution of amyloid deposition in the aortic valve to calcification and aortic stenosis. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2023 Jun; 20(6):429. PMID: 36807395
     
  6. Klimtchuk ES, Peterle D, Bullitt E, Connors LH, Engen JR, Gursky O. Role of complementarity-determining regions 1 and 3 in pathologic amyloid formation by human immunoglobulin ?1 light chains. Amyloid. 2023 Dec; 30(4):364-378.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37216473; PMCID: PMC10663386; DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2023.2212397;
     
  7. Klimtchuk ES, Peterle D, Bullitt EA, Connors LH, Engen JR, Gursky O. Role of Complementarity-Determining Regions 1 and 3 in Pathologic Amyloid Formation by Human Immunoglobulin ?1 Light Chains. bioRxiv. 2023 Feb 03.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36778378; PMCID: PMC9915687; DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.01.526662;
     
  8. Sud K, Narula N, Aikawa E, Arbustini E, Pibarot P, Merlini G, Rosenson RS, Seshan SV, Argulian E, Ahmadi A, Zhou F, Moreira AL, Côté N, Tsimikas S, Fuster V, Gandy S, Bonow RO, Gursky O, Narula J. The contribution of amyloid deposition in the aortic valve to calcification and aortic stenosis. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2023 Jun; 20(6):418-428. PMID: 36624274; PMCID: PMC10199673; DOI: 10.1038/s41569-022-00818-2;
     
  9. Brender JR, Ramamoorthy A, Gursky O, Bhunia A. Intrinsic disorder and structural biology: Searching where the light isn't. Biophys Chem. 2023 Jan; 292:106912. PMID: 36335754
     
  10. Peterle D, Klimtchuk ES, Wales TE, Georgescauld F, Connors LH, Engen JR, Gursky O. A Conservative Point Mutation in a Dynamic Antigen-binding Loop of Human Immunoglobulin ?6 Light Chain Promotes Pathologic Amyloid Formation. J Mol Biol. 2021 12 03; 433(24):167310.View Related Profiles. PMID: 34678302; PMCID: PMC8627465; DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167310;
     
Showing 10 of 97 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 96 publications over 30 distinct years, with a maximum of 8 publications in 2023

YearPublications
19892
19923
19943
19962
19981
19991
20002
20011
20022
20034
20041
20055
20062
20075
20083
20092
20103
20114
20125
20133
20142
20156
20166
20175
20184
20192
20204
20214
20221
20238


I have the expertise to mentor pre- and post-doctoral trainees in fundamental research and its application to cardiovascular, metabolic and amyloid diseases. Our laboratory is fully committed to attracting and retaining women and minorities in science, includes two T32-supported members who are URM, and is known for its supportive family-friendly atmosphere. Our trainees master quantitative biophysical, biochemical and structural biology techniques. They benefit from our local, national and international collaborations in cell, molecular and structural biology, including cutting-edge methods in mass spectrometry, computational biology, and clinical studies. These collaborations greatly enrich the training experience. All trainees are active in teaching at the undergraduate or graduate levels, and are actively obtaining funding for research and conference travel. Our past trainees have received multiple Young Investigator Awards from the Protein Society, Gordon conferences and other venues. All our trainees have multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals. All trainees have moved on to their own successful careers in life sciences, including industry, academia, consulting and venture capital.

My commitment to graduate students’ mentoring is evident from my service for nearly 20 years on the Students Admissions and Affairs Committee in the Department; 5 years on MD/PhD admissions committee at the Boston University School of Medicine; 15 years on Students Achievement Day committee. I also serve on the Admissions Committee for the Program in Biological Sciences (PiBS), an umbrella program in Graduate Medical Sciences at the School of Medicine. I have years of service as a facilitator of the NIH-mandated Responsible Conduct of Research training; on students’ ethics violations committees; on approximately 50 PhD thesis defense committees, and on PhD qualifying exams for over 50 students. For years, I have been teaching three graduate-level courses at the department and the school.

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Advisor
  • Career Mentor
  • Co-Mentor or Peer Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:
  • Email (see 'Contact Info')

700 Albany St Ctr for Adv Biomed Res
Boston MA 02118
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