ElectroProtein - Atomic-scale electrodynamics of protein-liquid interfaces

静电和电动力学性质是强烈影响生物分子结构和功能的基本物理性质。特别是，它们调节具有基本生物学意义的蛋白质功能，包括酶催化、蛋白质-蛋白质/配体相互作用和离子在蛋白质通道中的运输。重要的是，它们受到蛋白质表面附近或限制在离子通道内的界面水层性质的强烈影响，这与主体水中的不同。尽管产生了巨大的影响，但由于缺乏能够在分子水平上探索它们的实验工具，人们对这些性质知之甚少。核磁共振、介电敏感荧光显微镜和阻抗谱等标准技术缺乏所需的空间/时间分辨率，或者受到阻碍直接测量的几个参数的影响。此外，理论家很难预测这些性质，需要实验数据来对他们的理论进行基准测试。迫切需要一种能够在天然液体环境中在分子尺度上测量它们的技术。扫描介电显微镜(SDM)是最近引入的一种扫描探针显微镜技术，用于在纳米尺度上探测这些性质。现在的挑战是将其分辨率下推到分子水平，并将其应用于生物相关分子。在本项目中，该研究员将在以往监控器结合SDM和先进的2D晶体技术的基础上，探索液体环境中蛋白质-液体界面的电动力学。这一行动的结果将使人们能够获得新的基础知识，并形成更好的蛋白质在复杂生物过程中功能的理论。

Electrostatic and electrodynamic properties are fundamental physical properties that strongly influence biomolecular structure and functions. In particular, they regulate protein functions of fundamental biological importance, including enzymatic catalysis, protein-protein/ligand interactions, and transport of ions in protein channels. Importantly, they are strongly influenced by the properties of interfacial water layers near the protein surface or confined inside ion channels, which are different than in bulk water. Despite the huge impact, little is known about these properties due to the lack of experimental tools able to probe them on the molecular scale. Standard techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance, dielectric-sensitive fluorescence microscopy, and impedance spectroscopy, lack the required spatial/temporal resolution or are influenced by several parameters that impede direct measurement. Furthermore, theorists struggle to predict these properties and need experimental data to benchmark their theories. A technique able to measure them on the molecular scale in their native liquid environment is much needed. Scanning Dielectric Microscopy (SDM) is a scanning probe microscopy technique recently introduced to probe these properties on the nanoscale. The challenge is now to push its resolution down to the molecular level and apply it to biological relevant molecules. In this project, the fellow will build on previous breakthroughs of the supervisor combining SDM and advanced 2D crystal technology to probe the electrodynamics of protein-liquid interface in liquid environment. The results of this action will allow gaining new fundamental knowledge and formulating better theories of proteins' functioning during complex biological processes.