June 14, 2023 • 34 mins
#10 — Gökhan Tolun is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience at the University of Wollongong in Australia, and Research Group Leader at the Molecular Horizons Research Institute. In this episode of Cryo-Talk, Gökhan joins Eva Amsen to talk about his research, funding challenges in different countries, and how Molecular Horizons' new facility was built with microscopy in mind. They also talk about photography, archery, and the two-body problem in science. Watch or listen to all episodes of the Cryo-Talk podcast here: cryo-talk.bitesizebio.com
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(00:24):
and Research group leader at the molecular Horizons Research Institute.
Eva Amsen (00:28):
So how are you today?
Gokhan Tolun (00:30):
Fine, and you
Eva Amsen (00:31):
i'm Good. So I mean it's it's morning for me, and it's evening for you in Australia.
Now, the first question we tend to ask our guests is, Can you tell us a little bit about your career so far?
Gokhan Tolun (00:46):
Yeah. So I'm originally from Turkey, so i'm Turkish.
So I started my career back in Turkey, so I I attended an undergrad there to
by the Department of.
and then I actually started my graduate studies there. So
at the time doing a master's where it was a Pre. Because it for a Phd. So I have a masters in biotechnology.
(01:16):
And then I actually started my Phd. Back in Turkey. and did a couple of years there. I'm done.
Meanwhile we were applying for Phd.
Positions in the Us.
And we we we got an offer. So when I say we, me and my wife, she's also a scientist.
So
(01:36):
what we did we just, you know. left our program.
and then went to the Us. And started from Scratch another Phd. So
I got my Phd. From University of Miami in Florida.
and then
moved to North Carolina to, you know. So North Carolina in Chapel Hill for my first postdoc.
(02:00):
where I started with electron microscopy.
So that was more classical. I am. We were doing what is called the shadow testing.
I am so you you mount your molecules. You start. You still work with purified molecules like we doing, cry as we are going to talk about. But in this method, although you are working with purified samples mounted on to the Em grades.
(02:26):
we are actually evaporating metal
on to the sample. So that's why it's it's called shadowing. So we shadow test
the molecules by covering them by.
and also negative standing, which is a pretty common technique in
electron microscopy.
(02:46):
So after that I moved on to learning, cry here. and for that I move to National Institute of Health in a
Maryland in Us. Film.
And then I was there for more than a couple of years.
(03:07):
and then I moved to another institute within the Nih to continue my post-doctoral framing
to project this time
N Ci National Cancer Institute on the
my
and then, after that I got my first independent position in Australia.
(03:29):
close to the beginning of 2,018,
and came here and established my and a research group. With the help of my first postdoc, Joe, the rooster. who is
moving to an industry position tomorrow. Actually
Eva Amsen (03:45):
so
Gokhan Tolun (03:47):
I think. in in a nutshell. That's that's been my career. So far.
Eva Amsen (03:53):
so it's been very international before.
So so what are what have you found? The the differences to be in the the research environment between Australia, the Us. And even Turkey, where you did part of your first research.
Gokhan Tolun (04:13):
Yeah. So
of course, there are some funding considerations and limitations. So you know, Turkey. The time funding into a key is a lot more limited than in us and Australia.
Of course they
Eva Amsen (04:34):
most funding is available in the Us, I would say.
Gokhan Tolun (04:38):
and then Australia.
But still you know, people, of course, do the best they can everywhere. So it's our scientists, you know they're enthusiastic about the questions they want to answer, and then
they do their best. So when when I was in Turkey
we would use a lot of homemade handmade equipment, for example, like you know, Lexi glass glued to to make
(05:02):
containers for running gels and things like that.
or, you know, homemade instruments for doing the electr operation to transform bacteria and things like that. So the even even though funding is limited, people find ways to do science, which is great.
But I wish there was more.
Us.
(05:24):
of course, is, you know. big country and
doing well financially.
So because of that there is, of course, more funding for science.
So Australia is also pretty good.
The issue with.
you know all of these is of the
(05:45):
percentage of funding compared to the number of available scientists who would like to do research. So
I wish there was more resources being put by the Federal governments everywhere
all over the world for doing more science. So
I was very lucky to be awarded an Hmrc ideas. Grant
(06:12):
A year after coming to Australia.
So that was more than 600,000 Australian dollars.
It is sort of equal to the
Nih Ro. One grants the major grants
so, but the success rate was 11%.
Eva Amsen (06:30):
So that means out of the 10 people applying for the Grants 9 researchers are not funded. Right?
Gokhan Tolun (06:40):
Yes, it was the first one really lucky, great
So and then i'm also a part of another grantee. It's called a Rc. Australian Research Council. So that is equivalent to the National Science Foundation, Nsf. In the Us.
So I'm. Also part of that Grant, together with another lead academic.
(07:05):
So yeah, that that's the difference in funding
as the
scientific.
What is the word?
Hmm.
My people goes. Of course Australia is much smaller right, like one tenth of us. So of course, we attend the meeting in the Us.
(07:28):
And also people tend to go more to us, if not internationally, for meetings.
So I get to see, you know, a lot more people, and then connect with a lot of more people when you attend meetings in the Us. But again, Australia, although being removed, it's not too bad. So
Eva Amsen (07:46):
yeah, I was gonna ask you about international meetings, actually, because your most most international conferences tend to be in the Us. Or in Europe, and you're quite far removed from it now. So is it? Do you really have to decide like. Oh, is this conference going to be worth it? It's it's it's a long journey.
Gokhan Tolun (08:05):
It's not only long journey, As I said, the funding is the right. I I wouldn't mind the long journeys for attending good meetings. Usually it comes down to, you know, since as Australia so removed
yeah for going to any meeting outside of Australia. You need to fly long distances which turns out. you know, being expensive. So you you know I can fund funding
(08:30):
in addition to time
Eva Amsen (08:33):
that becomes a limiting factor sometimes.
Gokhan Tolun (08:37):
But yes, I I do. I do, miss, you know, going to those meetings in the Us. And meeting all those people.
Eva Amsen (08:46):
Yeah. And and and what are you? What's your research focusing on at the moment?
Gokhan Tolun (08:52):
So my research is studying
pathways in, I would say generally nuclear as it metabolism. So studying DNA Rna
in general. so more specifically.
my group is interested in studying a reaction. We call single strand and healing a homologous DNA recombination. So hello!
(09:19):
This reaction takes place pretty much in all life. So it's a very conserved mechanism of
stitching DNA together when it's broken.
So it's one of the DNA repair pathways.
So what happens is that when 2 DNA molecules are broken with some homology between them.
(09:41):
the system
to them up, and then stitch them back together to to make an intact piece of DNA.
And this is, as I said, found in organisms as simple as the bacteria of ages. So back to your phases are viruses that, in fact, bacteria.
So they are. You know that low.
and it will be
(10:03):
evolution. And then also as humans. So this reaction takes place, like I said, in all of the organisms. So
so that's what we are studying, and you may think that for a reaction that is so conserved and found in all life.
We we would know a lot about it right because we don't know a lot about it. So so my group is focusing on studying that. And to do that we are using to my model systems
(10:32):
Mainly so. One is the bacteria pages that I mentioned. So we are setting a few different bacteria pages, and then also Herpes viruses, so that, as if the human
so mostly viral DNA recombination, but.
as I said, it's not just limited to that. For example, one of the collaboration
(10:55):
projects that we published relatively recently, was studying Rna.
That's about zoom so transcription.
And that was also
an interesting project where we learned
how the machinery that synthesizes the Rna message from DNA Template
gets when it gets stuck. It's a problem, because then it becomes a road block on the DNA.
Eva Amsen (11:22):
So something needs to remove that. Take it off.
Gokhan Tolun (11:25):
So otherwise you know another transcription machinery that comes bumps into that, and it
cannot go through, or even worse, if the DNA replication machinery
it comes to that, and it's it's a disaster.
So the South developed ways of rescuing these stalled
transcription complexes.
So
(11:46):
we studied one from a bacterium and
short, how.
in fact, to call another protein, and
that interacts with the Rna Polymerase synthesizing the Rna
signs to this complex.
and it actually it looks like we we used to call it like a gorilla or hulk, which looks like it has 2 arms on the head and the body.
(12:10):
So what it does is it puts its right arm all the way into Rna polymerase into the active sites
to kick out the my DNA and and the Rna from there, and with its left arm or hand it grabs the Rna polymerase, and pushes it to open it up.
so that you know it can be removed from from the DNA template that it's stuck on, so we sure that by using cry, am.
Eva Amsen (12:37):
Yeah, yeah, that was gonna be my next question. Actually. So what were you using? Cryo am for that? Yeah.
Gokhan Tolun (12:44):
yes, we used to cry for that, and we are mainly using cry. I am also to to study these
viral DNA recombination complexes
by determining the three-dimensional structures of these
machinery, I call them by on the machines. So they are these
(13:05):
fascinating complexes that carry out these processes.
Yeah.
Eva Amsen (13:11):
hmm. And and how many people are in your research group now, because your your group is about 5 years old, I think.
Gokhan Tolun (13:18):
Yeah. So yeah, as I said, I, I came here beginning of 2,018, so
I was like to looking at the numbers recently, so I drove them down here so far. My group
train 2 post talks 6 IP. 6 Phd students and honor students and 7 undergraduate students.
(13:43):
So you know, some of them, of course, like the undergrads, and honest to that, they come and go to stay for a semester a year. But I still have the Phd students, and one of them is
just submitted his thesis. So he's finishing. And like, as I said, one of the posts just moved to a company.
Hmm. So yeah. yeah, do you have any lab traditions.
Eva Amsen (14:10):
not traditions? We have.
Gokhan Tolun (14:12):
We have lab launches.
and then
usually once or twice a year, we go somewhere outside the campus again. Usually it's, you know, lunch, or
if we can manage it.
Eva Amsen (14:33):
Sometimes we meet up, hit our place, so it just like I just invite all of my lab to our house, and then just have a nice day.
And what can you tell me a little bit about molecular horizons? Because I read a bit about it, and it sounds like it's
going to do some great things.
Gokhan Tolun (14:55):
Well, hopefully, we already have been doing something.
So molecular horizons is the largest investment by University of Wolongong.
So it was more than 80 million dollars to build that from from scratch
(15:15):
did.
Huh?
Interesting thing about is that it was designed from the ground up for cry, am
Eva Amsen (15:24):
the main me for
Gokhan Tolun (15:26):
but housing. Let's say the microscope select microscopes.
So
when they were looking for a place to build it, they had to find on campus, the area where
the electrical interference was lovest. We can only put the microscop here.
(15:46):
so they had to build it there and then. When they were building the building. They they didn't use various materials, for example, so that it's very
I tech. So they have these special polymers in the a concrete instead of the steel bars.
and instead of the
still eyes. they use plastic ziplocks.
Eva Amsen (16:11):
Hmm.
So sometimes, you know, when I give it talk, I joke about oh, this is a building held up by zoom.
Gokhan Tolun (16:20):
So it's a very high tech building and design, like, I said, from the ground up to provide the best environment for these very sensitive cry electron microscopes.
So therefore, our microscopes are performing quite well.
Eva Amsen (16:35):
Yeah, and so was the were the microscopes that they have to be moved from one part of the campus to another, or are they mostly new?
Gokhan Tolun (16:44):
So when I came
the medium
and let's say microscope of Arctica that was on campus, but it was in another building that was
in a room that was retrofit.
(17:05):
So it was performing. Okay, but it wasn't, you know, doing its best, so they had to install some active field cancellation systems, and
the room temperature wasn't as strictly controlled
there weren't any dampness in in in the room
walls.
(17:26):
So it had to be moved from that building to our building and the our high-end microscope, the big microscope height and creos
that was located in the electron microscopy facility of
Eva Amsen (17:41):
Hmm. So
Gokhan Tolun (17:44):
that's about I don't know, like 45 min drive from a long run. So that had to be.
you know, sort of taken apart.
We'll go on campus and put together again.
So that was a stressful time. But you know all this working, so
our facility is run by Dr. James Power. who is also from America. So he came here from, you know. So California, San Diego.
(18:14):
and
he's doing a great job, keeping our facility. Running tip, top shape.
Eva Amsen (18:21):
Great
special build place for cryoem, and everyone is this kind of making do with what, whatever space they have. That's the that's the special thing about molecular horizons. Absolutely. You are absolutely right.
And and what do you do when you're not working, do you have any hobbies, or
Gokhan Tolun (18:46):
I have
some hobbies? The thing is when you're a teaching and research academic.
This is much so what I what I used to do. Let's say what I what I used to do. Let's say what I to do other things that science.
(19:08):
so i'm.
I'm a to a photographer. So i'm not only taking pictures of molecules. I actually love taking, you know, photos, mostly
nature animals, things like that.
So I do a photography. But I have time.
And I grew up in these
(19:28):
seventies eighties. So hi! I'm in computer generation.
So I actually love playing video games. But again, you know.
Oh.
unfortunately they they take up too much time.
(19:57):
and I it's nih in Maryland. I started doing archery.
Eva Amsen (20:03):
I was doing, Archer, and then I still have my archer equipment here.
Gokhan Tolun (20:08):
So there is an auxiliary group here that I have so often
go there, and you know, shoot with them on on on weekends, but but again it's usually a few times a year on the portrait.
Eva Amsen (20:21):
and I love small, clean
Gokhan Tolun (20:23):
swimming, like laps, wearing or or snarkling.
and by King, and things like that.
Eva Amsen (20:30):
Yeah. Well, you are close to the coast. So you have a place to go snorkeling, I guess. Okay. And do you ever combine your hobbies? Have you taken photos of our 3? Or
Gokhan Tolun (20:43):
I did a little bit of that? Yes.
you! You! You end up with some cool shot, sometimes like catching arrows in flight in the air. And yeah, I can imagine I was trying to. I was. I was trying to imagine our 3 in my head when you were talking about it. That's why I was asking if you ever photographed it. Because it does look interesting.
(21:04):
Yeah.
Eva Amsen (21:05):
And do you like to read? Do you have any book recommendations for our listeners?
Gokhan Tolun (21:10):
Yeah. And it's the same thing I I used to read when I was younger
me reading things like Jul Barn, so I think I I I read all books by Jul, by when I was a kid.
and then I started
(21:32):
breathing live customers.
More action.
like, you know, like novels, and from classy. I like Tom. I see books.
and
when you ask me I was thinking, well, what else? What else did I like when I was reading more? And I remember this book called Shibuni
(21:54):
from the
That was an interesting book. For example.
Come on
Eva Amsen (22:01):
cool.
We have to check that out.
And and what about things on screen? Fill more TV. Do you have any
anything that you've seen recently that you enjoyed.
Gokhan Tolun (22:13):
Yeah, we usually yeah.
we used to go to movies. But although we still do at this often, most of the time, you know, we are just streaming movies at home now on the weekends. Usually we pick something
instead of going to block master and
Eva Amsen (22:31):
picking up a Vhs.
Gokhan Tolun (22:35):
So it depends on our mode. But
you know, being a highly doing a highly stressful job, we usually go for lighter things when we have time to relax a little bit. So usually we we call for comedies like things
like action movies.
And
(22:56):
again, when when you asked, I was thinking about what other movies like, you know
which are not
so light that I liked. And one thing that came into my mind was minority record. So
it's still sort of an action-ish movie. But I think
that's an interesting message. And it was I. I thought it was well done. Well done, features to moving. So yeah.
Eva Amsen (23:22):
do you do you like to cook, do you? Are you ever in the kitchen, or no time for that, either?
Gokhan Tolun (23:29):
Not Not really so. Usually My wife is the one who cooks when we go. I i'm not much of a cook.
Eva Amsen (23:36):
I mean.
Gokhan Tolun (23:37):
I do like my best. Meal is breakfast.
so like all we can when we are paying breakfast. I'm the usual one who cooks to eggs and things like that. But other than that i'm. I'm not. Really. I I don't think I can call myself a cook, though, and I was single back in Turkey
attending the University. I I used to cook.
Eva Amsen (24:00):
so I can actually cook
Gokhan Tolun (24:02):
a a good number of Turkish dishes
Eva Amsen (24:06):
and and breakfast, they say, is the most important meal of the day. So you've got that covered. and and do you have any any favorite music. Do you listen to music?
Gokhan Tolun (24:17):
I do. I have an hour commute on the way. So you know.
2 h every day I have an opportunity to listen to some music
again. Like with the movies.
It depends on on our on my mood what I listen to. I listen to all sorts of music. So it's not like I like this. I don't like that. I I love pretty much all channels.
(24:43):
But
yeah, it depends on my mode. So
I also, you know, every so often feel like listening to
music from my time, like, you know, eighties, nineties
I but everyone loves the eighties and nineties using.
(25:04):
but I also listen to much newer ones like I don't know, like to me, trumpet.
Eva Amsen (25:11):
and and this is a question I love asking people If if you were not a scientist, what would you be? What would your your other alternative life career be
Gokhan Tolun (25:22):
so interesting? Question
So these independent positions are not easy to find or easy to get.
So you you think about what would be plan B, if if this doesn't work out.
So since I, as I said, I do photography.
(25:45):
that was, of course, one of the things I thought of, you know, because these especially like wedding photographers, they they do earn quite nice money. I heard. So if I was gonna do something just for money
that, you know, being a photographer probably would be an alternative. And i'm also
(26:06):
fairly good with computers.
So I can actually do a lot of the it jobs probably.
So again, you know. that's a probably
Eva Amsen (26:18):
Yeah, if you haven't gotten your it hadn't gotten your grants you had some backup.
and but my last question is, do you have any advice that you tend to give to your students, or maybe advice that you've gotten that you'd like to share with our listeners anything career-wise.
(26:42):
anything. Career, wise
Gokhan Tolun (26:45):
science. If you decide to do something, it has to be something you love. So you know you can't do science. If you don't absolutely love it, it's it's not easy. And, as I said, like funding is getting lower and lower. Unfortunately
so, and
you know it's it's
(27:06):
As I said, the positions are not that
available? Not many positions are available.
So
you really need to
love what you do. For example, when I was in the back in the Us.
First of all, as I said, we sacrificed a lot right like I. I left my family and friends and went to the Us. To do a Phd.
(27:31):
And then, you know, moved on again. We left everything there, our our home, you know
all of pretty much our positions and our friends. Unfortunately they most of Australia now.
So it takes some sacrifice to to do to to do that.
And
in addition to
(27:52):
these, when I was
at the Nih for about 5 years.
My wife was in North Carolina still, because she she had a pretty good job there. So, and initially, I was planning to do only
Eva Amsen (28:07):
the post that for a couple of years. So we said, okay, so we can manage for a couple of years. And it ended up being 3 years on the 4 years and then 5 years. So we actually lived in 2 different states.
Gokhan Tolun (28:19):
each other like once a month or so for a weekend.
Yeah, and it's it's not too far. But I guess yeah, if you have to do it often, then for just a few days it becomes a big. It was like 5 4 6 h drive. So we we usually the flu.
But yeah, that was a sacrifice, for example, right? So
(28:43):
since she is also a scientist.
we we have what people call the 2 body problem, so they both be science jobs that are not easy to find. So sometimes it requires some sacrifice.
Eva Amsen (28:56):
Yeah. So you really you have to. You have to love science to make the sacrifice. That's that's kind of the lesson.
Well, thank you so much you can. That brings us to the end of our episode today, and thank you. Everyone for listening or watching prior talk.
and Research group leader at the molecular Horizons Research Institute.
Eva Amsen (00:28):
So how are you today?
Gokhan Tolun (00:30):
Fine, and you
Eva Amsen (00:31):
i'm Good. So I mean it's it's morning for me, and it's evening for you in Australia.
Now, the first question we tend to ask our guests is, Can you tell us a little bit about your career so far?
Gokhan Tolun (00:46):
Yeah. So I'm originally from Turkey, so i'm Turkish.
So I started my career back in Turkey, so I I attended an undergrad there to
by the Department of.
and then I actually started my graduate studies there. So
at the time doing a master's where it was a Pre. Because it for a Phd. So I have a masters in biotechnology.
(01:16):
And then I actually started my Phd. Back in Turkey. and did a couple of years there. I'm done.
Meanwhile we were applying for Phd.
Positions in the Us.
And we we we got an offer. So when I say we, me and my wife, she's also a scientist.
So
(01:36):
what we did we just, you know. left our program.
and then went to the Us. And started from Scratch another Phd. So
I got my Phd. From University of Miami in Florida.
and then
moved to North Carolina to, you know. So North Carolina in Chapel Hill for my first postdoc.
(02:00):
where I started with electron microscopy.
So that was more classical. I am. We were doing what is called the shadow testing.
I am so you you mount your molecules. You start. You still work with purified molecules like we doing, cry as we are going to talk about. But in this method, although you are working with purified samples mounted on to the Em grades.
(02:26):
we are actually evaporating metal
on to the sample. So that's why it's it's called shadowing. So we shadow test
the molecules by covering them by.
and also negative standing, which is a pretty common technique in
electron microscopy.
(02:46):
So after that I moved on to learning, cry here. and for that I move to National Institute of Health in a
Maryland in Us. Film.
And then I was there for more than a couple of years.
(03:07):
and then I moved to another institute within the Nih to continue my post-doctoral framing
to project this time
N Ci National Cancer Institute on the
my
and then, after that I got my first independent position in Australia.
(03:29):
close to the beginning of 2,018,
and came here and established my and a research group. With the help of my first postdoc, Joe, the rooster. who is
moving to an industry position tomorrow. Actually
Eva Amsen (03:45):
so
Gokhan Tolun (03:47):
I think. in in a nutshell. That's that's been my career. So far.
Eva Amsen (03:53):
so it's been very international before.
So so what are what have you found? The the differences to be in the the research environment between Australia, the Us. And even Turkey, where you did part of your first research.
Gokhan Tolun (04:13):
Yeah. So
of course, there are some funding considerations and limitations. So you know, Turkey. The time funding into a key is a lot more limited than in us and Australia.
Of course they
Eva Amsen (04:34):
most funding is available in the Us, I would say.
Gokhan Tolun (04:38):
and then Australia.
But still you know, people, of course, do the best they can everywhere. So it's our scientists, you know they're enthusiastic about the questions they want to answer, and then
they do their best. So when when I was in Turkey
we would use a lot of homemade handmade equipment, for example, like you know, Lexi glass glued to to make
(05:02):
containers for running gels and things like that.
or, you know, homemade instruments for doing the electr operation to transform bacteria and things like that. So the even even though funding is limited, people find ways to do science, which is great.
But I wish there was more.
Us.
(05:24):
of course, is, you know. big country and
doing well financially.
So because of that there is, of course, more funding for science.
So Australia is also pretty good.
The issue with.
you know all of these is of the
(05:45):
percentage of funding compared to the number of available scientists who would like to do research. So
I wish there was more resources being put by the Federal governments everywhere
all over the world for doing more science. So
I was very lucky to be awarded an Hmrc ideas. Grant
(06:12):
A year after coming to Australia.
So that was more than 600,000 Australian dollars.
It is sort of equal to the
Nih Ro. One grants the major grants
so, but the success rate was 11%.
Eva Amsen (06:30):
So that means out of the 10 people applying for the Grants 9 researchers are not funded. Right?
Gokhan Tolun (06:40):
Yes, it was the first one really lucky, great
So and then i'm also a part of another grantee. It's called a Rc. Australian Research Council. So that is equivalent to the National Science Foundation, Nsf. In the Us.
So I'm. Also part of that Grant, together with another lead academic.
(07:05):
So yeah, that that's the difference in funding
as the
scientific.
What is the word?
Hmm.
My people goes. Of course Australia is much smaller right, like one tenth of us. So of course, we attend the meeting in the Us.
(07:28):
And also people tend to go more to us, if not internationally, for meetings.
So I get to see, you know, a lot more people, and then connect with a lot of more people when you attend meetings in the Us. But again, Australia, although being removed, it's not too bad. So
Eva Amsen (07:46):
yeah, I was gonna ask you about international meetings, actually, because your most most international conferences tend to be in the Us. Or in Europe, and you're quite far removed from it now. So is it? Do you really have to decide like. Oh, is this conference going to be worth it? It's it's it's a long journey.
Gokhan Tolun (08:05):
It's not only long journey, As I said, the funding is the right. I I wouldn't mind the long journeys for attending good meetings. Usually it comes down to, you know, since as Australia so removed
yeah for going to any meeting outside of Australia. You need to fly long distances which turns out. you know, being expensive. So you you know I can fund funding
(08:30):
in addition to time
Eva Amsen (08:33):
that becomes a limiting factor sometimes.
Gokhan Tolun (08:37):
But yes, I I do. I do, miss, you know, going to those meetings in the Us. And meeting all those people.
Eva Amsen (08:46):
Yeah. And and and what are you? What's your research focusing on at the moment?
Gokhan Tolun (08:52):
So my research is studying
pathways in, I would say generally nuclear as it metabolism. So studying DNA Rna
in general. so more specifically.
my group is interested in studying a reaction. We call single strand and healing a homologous DNA recombination. So hello!
(09:19):
This reaction takes place pretty much in all life. So it's a very conserved mechanism of
stitching DNA together when it's broken.
So it's one of the DNA repair pathways.
So what happens is that when 2 DNA molecules are broken with some homology between them.
(09:41):
the system
to them up, and then stitch them back together to to make an intact piece of DNA.
And this is, as I said, found in organisms as simple as the bacteria of ages. So back to your phases are viruses that, in fact, bacteria.
So they are. You know that low.
and it will be
(10:03):
evolution. And then also as humans. So this reaction takes place, like I said, in all of the organisms. So
so that's what we are studying, and you may think that for a reaction that is so conserved and found in all life.
We we would know a lot about it right because we don't know a lot about it. So so my group is focusing on studying that. And to do that we are using to my model systems
(10:32):
Mainly so. One is the bacteria pages that I mentioned. So we are setting a few different bacteria pages, and then also Herpes viruses, so that, as if the human
so mostly viral DNA recombination, but.
as I said, it's not just limited to that. For example, one of the collaboration
(10:55):
projects that we published relatively recently, was studying Rna.
That's about zoom so transcription.
And that was also
an interesting project where we learned
how the machinery that synthesizes the Rna message from DNA Template
gets when it gets stuck. It's a problem, because then it becomes a road block on the DNA.
Eva Amsen (11:22):
So something needs to remove that. Take it off.
Gokhan Tolun (11:25):
So otherwise you know another transcription machinery that comes bumps into that, and it
cannot go through, or even worse, if the DNA replication machinery
it comes to that, and it's it's a disaster.
So the South developed ways of rescuing these stalled
transcription complexes.
So
(11:46):
we studied one from a bacterium and
short, how.
in fact, to call another protein, and
that interacts with the Rna Polymerase synthesizing the Rna
signs to this complex.
and it actually it looks like we we used to call it like a gorilla or hulk, which looks like it has 2 arms on the head and the body.
(12:10):
So what it does is it puts its right arm all the way into Rna polymerase into the active sites
to kick out the my DNA and and the Rna from there, and with its left arm or hand it grabs the Rna polymerase, and pushes it to open it up.
so that you know it can be removed from from the DNA template that it's stuck on, so we sure that by using cry, am.
Eva Amsen (12:37):
Yeah, yeah, that was gonna be my next question. Actually. So what were you using? Cryo am for that? Yeah.
Gokhan Tolun (12:44):
yes, we used to cry for that, and we are mainly using cry. I am also to to study these
viral DNA recombination complexes
by determining the three-dimensional structures of these
machinery, I call them by on the machines. So they are these
(13:05):
fascinating complexes that carry out these processes.
Yeah.
Eva Amsen (13:11):
hmm. And and how many people are in your research group now, because your your group is about 5 years old, I think.
Gokhan Tolun (13:18):
Yeah. So yeah, as I said, I, I came here beginning of 2,018, so
I was like to looking at the numbers recently, so I drove them down here so far. My group
train 2 post talks 6 IP. 6 Phd students and honor students and 7 undergraduate students.
(13:43):
So you know, some of them, of course, like the undergrads, and honest to that, they come and go to stay for a semester a year. But I still have the Phd students, and one of them is
just submitted his thesis. So he's finishing. And like, as I said, one of the posts just moved to a company.
Hmm. So yeah. yeah, do you have any lab traditions.
Eva Amsen (14:10):
not traditions? We have.
Gokhan Tolun (14:12):
We have lab launches.
and then
usually once or twice a year, we go somewhere outside the campus again. Usually it's, you know, lunch, or
if we can manage it.
Eva Amsen (14:33):
Sometimes we meet up, hit our place, so it just like I just invite all of my lab to our house, and then just have a nice day.
And what can you tell me a little bit about molecular horizons? Because I read a bit about it, and it sounds like it's
going to do some great things.
Gokhan Tolun (14:55):
Well, hopefully, we already have been doing something.
So molecular horizons is the largest investment by University of Wolongong.
So it was more than 80 million dollars to build that from from scratch
(15:15):
did.
Huh?
Interesting thing about is that it was designed from the ground up for cry, am
Eva Amsen (15:24):
the main me for
Gokhan Tolun (15:26):
but housing. Let's say the microscope select microscopes.
So
when they were looking for a place to build it, they had to find on campus, the area where
the electrical interference was lovest. We can only put the microscop here.
(15:46):
so they had to build it there and then. When they were building the building. They they didn't use various materials, for example, so that it's very
I tech. So they have these special polymers in the a concrete instead of the steel bars.
and instead of the
still eyes. they use plastic ziplocks.
Eva Amsen (16:11):
Hmm.
So sometimes, you know, when I give it talk, I joke about oh, this is a building held up by zoom.
Gokhan Tolun (16:20):
So it's a very high tech building and design, like, I said, from the ground up to provide the best environment for these very sensitive cry electron microscopes.
So therefore, our microscopes are performing quite well.
Eva Amsen (16:35):
Yeah, and so was the were the microscopes that they have to be moved from one part of the campus to another, or are they mostly new?
Gokhan Tolun (16:44):
So when I came
the medium
and let's say microscope of Arctica that was on campus, but it was in another building that was
in a room that was retrofit.
(17:05):
So it was performing. Okay, but it wasn't, you know, doing its best, so they had to install some active field cancellation systems, and
the room temperature wasn't as strictly controlled
there weren't any dampness in in in the room
walls.
(17:26):
So it had to be moved from that building to our building and the our high-end microscope, the big microscope height and creos
that was located in the electron microscopy facility of
Eva Amsen (17:41):
Hmm. So
Gokhan Tolun (17:44):
that's about I don't know, like 45 min drive from a long run. So that had to be.
you know, sort of taken apart.
We'll go on campus and put together again.
So that was a stressful time. But you know all this working, so
our facility is run by Dr. James Power. who is also from America. So he came here from, you know. So California, San Diego.
(18:14):
and
he's doing a great job, keeping our facility. Running tip, top shape.
Eva Amsen (18:21):
Great
special build place for cryoem, and everyone is this kind of making do with what, whatever space they have. That's the that's the special thing about molecular horizons. Absolutely. You are absolutely right.
And and what do you do when you're not working, do you have any hobbies, or
Gokhan Tolun (18:46):
I have
some hobbies? The thing is when you're a teaching and research academic.
This is much so what I what I used to do. Let's say what I what I used to do. Let's say what I to do other things that science.
(19:08):
so i'm.
I'm a to a photographer. So i'm not only taking pictures of molecules. I actually love taking, you know, photos, mostly
nature animals, things like that.
So I do a photography. But I have time.
And I grew up in these
(19:28):
seventies eighties. So hi! I'm in computer generation.
So I actually love playing video games. But again, you know.
Oh.
unfortunately they they take up too much time.
(19:57):
and I it's nih in Maryland. I started doing archery.
Eva Amsen (20:03):
I was doing, Archer, and then I still have my archer equipment here.
Gokhan Tolun (20:08):
So there is an auxiliary group here that I have so often
go there, and you know, shoot with them on on on weekends, but but again it's usually a few times a year on the portrait.
Eva Amsen (20:21):
and I love small, clean
Gokhan Tolun (20:23):
swimming, like laps, wearing or or snarkling.
and by King, and things like that.
Eva Amsen (20:30):
Yeah. Well, you are close to the coast. So you have a place to go snorkeling, I guess. Okay. And do you ever combine your hobbies? Have you taken photos of our 3? Or
Gokhan Tolun (20:43):
I did a little bit of that? Yes.
you! You! You end up with some cool shot, sometimes like catching arrows in flight in the air. And yeah, I can imagine I was trying to. I was. I was trying to imagine our 3 in my head when you were talking about it. That's why I was asking if you ever photographed it. Because it does look interesting.
(21:04):
Yeah.
Eva Amsen (21:05):
And do you like to read? Do you have any book recommendations for our listeners?
Gokhan Tolun (21:10):
Yeah. And it's the same thing I I used to read when I was younger
me reading things like Jul Barn, so I think I I I read all books by Jul, by when I was a kid.
and then I started
(21:32):
breathing live customers.
More action.
like, you know, like novels, and from classy. I like Tom. I see books.
and
when you ask me I was thinking, well, what else? What else did I like when I was reading more? And I remember this book called Shibuni
(21:54):
from the
That was an interesting book. For example.
Come on
Eva Amsen (22:01):
cool.
We have to check that out.
And and what about things on screen? Fill more TV. Do you have any
anything that you've seen recently that you enjoyed.
Gokhan Tolun (22:13):
Yeah, we usually yeah.
we used to go to movies. But although we still do at this often, most of the time, you know, we are just streaming movies at home now on the weekends. Usually we pick something
instead of going to block master and
Eva Amsen (22:31):
picking up a Vhs.
Gokhan Tolun (22:35):
So it depends on our mode. But
you know, being a highly doing a highly stressful job, we usually go for lighter things when we have time to relax a little bit. So usually we we call for comedies like things
like action movies.
And
(22:56):
again, when when you asked, I was thinking about what other movies like, you know
which are not
so light that I liked. And one thing that came into my mind was minority record. So
it's still sort of an action-ish movie. But I think
that's an interesting message. And it was I. I thought it was well done. Well done, features to moving. So yeah.
Eva Amsen (23:22):
do you do you like to cook, do you? Are you ever in the kitchen, or no time for that, either?
Gokhan Tolun (23:29):
Not Not really so. Usually My wife is the one who cooks when we go. I i'm not much of a cook.
Eva Amsen (23:36):
I mean.
Gokhan Tolun (23:37):
I do like my best. Meal is breakfast.
so like all we can when we are paying breakfast. I'm the usual one who cooks to eggs and things like that. But other than that i'm. I'm not. Really. I I don't think I can call myself a cook, though, and I was single back in Turkey
attending the University. I I used to cook.
Eva Amsen (24:00):
so I can actually cook
Gokhan Tolun (24:02):
a a good number of Turkish dishes
Eva Amsen (24:06):
and and breakfast, they say, is the most important meal of the day. So you've got that covered. and and do you have any any favorite music. Do you listen to music?
Gokhan Tolun (24:17):
I do. I have an hour commute on the way. So you know.
2 h every day I have an opportunity to listen to some music
again. Like with the movies.
It depends on on our on my mood what I listen to. I listen to all sorts of music. So it's not like I like this. I don't like that. I I love pretty much all channels.
(24:43):
But
yeah, it depends on my mode. So
I also, you know, every so often feel like listening to
music from my time, like, you know, eighties, nineties
I but everyone loves the eighties and nineties using.
(25:04):
but I also listen to much newer ones like I don't know, like to me, trumpet.
Eva Amsen (25:11):
and and this is a question I love asking people If if you were not a scientist, what would you be? What would your your other alternative life career be
Gokhan Tolun (25:22):
so interesting? Question
So these independent positions are not easy to find or easy to get.
So you you think about what would be plan B, if if this doesn't work out.
So since I, as I said, I do photography.
(25:45):
that was, of course, one of the things I thought of, you know, because these especially like wedding photographers, they they do earn quite nice money. I heard. So if I was gonna do something just for money
that, you know, being a photographer probably would be an alternative. And i'm also
(26:06):
fairly good with computers.
So I can actually do a lot of the it jobs probably.
So again, you know. that's a probably
Eva Amsen (26:18):
Yeah, if you haven't gotten your it hadn't gotten your grants you had some backup.
and but my last question is, do you have any advice that you tend to give to your students, or maybe advice that you've gotten that you'd like to share with our listeners anything career-wise.
(26:42):
anything. Career, wise
Gokhan Tolun (26:45):
science. If you decide to do something, it has to be something you love. So you know you can't do science. If you don't absolutely love it, it's it's not easy. And, as I said, like funding is getting lower and lower. Unfortunately
so, and
you know it's it's
(27:06):
As I said, the positions are not that
available? Not many positions are available.
So
you really need to
love what you do. For example, when I was in the back in the Us.
First of all, as I said, we sacrificed a lot right like I. I left my family and friends and went to the Us. To do a Phd.
(27:31):
And then, you know, moved on again. We left everything there, our our home, you know
all of pretty much our positions and our friends. Unfortunately they most of Australia now.
So it takes some sacrifice to to do to to do that.
And
in addition to
(27:52):
these, when I was
at the Nih for about 5 years.
My wife was in North Carolina still, because she she had a pretty good job there. So, and initially, I was planning to do only
Eva Amsen (28:07):
the post that for a couple of years. So we said, okay, so we can manage for a couple of years. And it ended up being 3 years on the 4 years and then 5 years. So we actually lived in 2 different states.
Gokhan Tolun (28:19):
each other like once a month or so for a weekend.
Yeah, and it's it's not too far. But I guess yeah, if you have to do it often, then for just a few days it becomes a big. It was like 5 4 6 h drive. So we we usually the flu.
But yeah, that was a sacrifice, for example, right? So
(28:43):
since she is also a scientist.
we we have what people call the 2 body problem, so they both be science jobs that are not easy to find. So sometimes it requires some sacrifice.
Eva Amsen (28:56):
Yeah. So you really you have to. You have to love science to make the sacrifice. That's that's kind of the lesson.
Well, thank you so much you can. That brings us to the end of our episode today, and thank you. Everyone for listening or watching prior talk.
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