Electrostatic interactions in biological systems

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The theory of electrostatic interactions in complex biological systems should be established. The phenomena to be examined include electrostatically-driven DNA binding to lipid membranes, physical basis for DNA-protein interaction and recognition, facilitated protein diffusion on DNA, electrostatics of protein-induced DNA looping and DNA cyclization, DNA compactification in chromatin fibers, nucleosome-nucleosome electrostatic interactions, DNA spooling inside viral capsids, and some aspects of polyelectrolyte condensation. The influence of DNA electrostatic and mechanical properties in these systems will be considered. Theoretical background for the treatment of electrostatic interactions between DNA helices has been developed by the author previously. We plan now to apply this knowledge and recent developments to description of complex higher-order DNA structures. The main aim of the project is to achieve a better understanding of physical mechanisms behind DNA assembly, DNA packaging in chromatin fibers and viruses, as well as DNA interactions with DNA-binding proteins and cellular membranes.