ElectroProtein - Atomic-scale electrodynamics of protein-liquid interfaces

静电和电动力学性质是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重要性的蛋白质功能，包括酶催化、蛋白质-蛋白质/配体相互作用和蛋白质通道中离子的转运。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的性质的强烈影响，这与本体水不同。尽管影响巨大，但由于缺乏能够在分子尺度上探测它们的实验工具，人们对这些特性知之甚少。标准技术，如核磁共振，介电敏感荧光显微镜，阻抗谱，缺乏所需的空间/时间分辨率或影响的几个参数，阻碍直接测量。此外，理论家很难预测这些性质，需要实验数据来衡量他们的理论。一种能够在其天然液体环境中在分子尺度上测量它们的技术是非常需要的。扫描介电显微镜（SDM）是一种扫描探针显微镜技术，最近推出的探测这些性质的纳米尺度。现在的挑战是将其分辨率降低到分子水平，并将其应用于生物相关分子。在这个项目中，该研究员将建立在导师之前的突破基础上，结合SDM和先进的二维晶体技术来探测液体环境中蛋白质-液体界面的电动力学。这一行动的结果将允许获得新的基础知识，并制定更好的理论，蛋白质的功能在复杂的生物过程。

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.