PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

这个项目的目的是研究一种广泛的 各种生物大分子，目的是将它们相互关联 性质与大分子的结构和功能有关。这个 重点放在这些物质相互作用的热力学上。 大分子以及它们的分子大小和形状。分析性 主要研究内容为超速离心法和数学模型法 使用的技术。 人类免疫缺陷病毒逆转录酶的研究主要集中在 研究分子间均相缔合的热力学 P66亚基，以及p66与p51的异质性关联 亚单位。嗜铬麦角菌素A的研究方向是确定 该蛋白的结构域负责聚集，并研究 PH和钙离子浓度对体系热力学的影响 包被这个区域的多肽的聚集性。 亮氨酸拉链多肽CEB-63和CEB-35的研究已被定向 朝着确定热力学参数的方向发展，这些参数表征了 可逆聚集。热休克蛋白和核酸的研究进展 都是为了调查它们相互作用的性质。 HIV-1RNA与核衣壳蛋白相互作用的研究 旨在更定量地理解这一点 互动。对β-淀粉样多肽的研究已被定向 了解该多肽的聚集性及其相关性质 可能与阿尔茨海默氏症有关。

The purpose of this project is to study the physical properties of a wide variety of biological macromolecules, with the goal of correlating these properties to the structure and function of the macromolecules. The emphasis is on the thermodynamics of the interactions of these macromolecules and on their molecular size and shape. Analytical ultracentrifugation and mathematical modeling are the principal research techniques used. Studies on HIV reverse transcriptase have been directed toward investigating the thermodynamics of the homogeneous association of the P66 subunit, and the heterogeneous association of P66 with the P51 subunit. Studies on chromagranin A have been directed toward determining the domain of this protein responsible for aggregation, and investigating the effects of pH and calcium ion concentration on the thermodynamics of the aggregative properties of a peptide encompassing this domain. Studies on CEB-63 and CEB-35, leucine-zipper peptides, have been directed toward determining the thermodynamic parameters characterizing their reversible aggregation. Studies on heat shock proteins and nucleic acids have been directed toward investigating the nature of their interactions. Studies on the interaction of HIV-1 RNA with nucleocapsid protein have been directed toward a more quantitative understanding of this interaction. Studies on the beta amyloid peptide have been directed toward understanding the aggregative properties of this peptide and its possible relationship to Alzheimer's disease.