Olga Gursky, PhD
Professor, Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics
Biography
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.
Other Positions
- Member, Amyloidosis Center, Boston University
- Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences
Education
- Brandeis University, PhD
- Moscow State University, MS
Publications
- Published on 2/13/2025
Jayaraman S, Urdaneta A, Fandrich M, Gursky O. Serum Amyloid A Binding to Glycosaminoglycans is Synergistic with Amyloid Formation: Therapeutic Targeting in the Inflammation-linked Amyloidosis. J Mol Biol. 2025 Apr 15; 437(8):169007. PMID: 39954777.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 12/17/2024
Abraham CB, Lewkowicz E, Gursky O, Straub JE. Elucidating the Mechanism of Recognition and Binding of Heparin to Amyloid Fibrils of Serum Amyloid A. Biochemistry. 2025 Jan 07; 64(1):266-276. PMID: 39688935.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/28/2024
Klimtchuk ES, Prokaeva T, Spencer BH, Wong S, Ghosh S, Urdaneta A, Morgan G, Wales TE, Gursky O. Conformational Differences in the Light Chain Constant Domain of Immunoglobulin G and Free Light Chain May Influence Proteolysis in AL Amyloidosis. J Mol Biol. 2024 Dec 01; 436(23):168837. PMID: 39490919.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 8/20/2024
Lewkowicz E, Jayaraman S, Gursky O. Molecular basis for non-invasive diagnostics of cardiac amyloids using bone tracers. Biomater Sci. 2024 Aug 20; 12(17):4275-4282. PMID: 39046441.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 6/5/2024
Jayaraman S, Narula N, Narula J, Gursky O. Amyloid and collagen templates in aortic valve calcification. Trends Mol Med. 2024 Nov; 30(11):1010-1019. PMID: 38845326.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 11/27/2023
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. PMID: 38010414.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 9/28/2023
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. PMID: 37777014.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 8/19/2023
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. PMID: 37604227.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 8/6/2023
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. PMID: 37577501.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 6/1/2023
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.
Read at: PubMed
View 92 more publications: View full profile at BUMC