Introduction to protein folding for physicists

Details Introduction to protein folding for physicists Introduction to protein folding for physicists

2007-05-13

arxiv.org/abs/0705.1845v1

Contemporary Physics 48 (2007) 81-108

Physics

Biological Physics

53 pages, 18 figures, the figures are at a low resolution due to arXiv restrictions, for high-res figures, go to http://www.pa

Scientific paper

10.1080/00107510701520843

The prediction of the three-dimensional native structure of proteins from the knowledge of their amino acid sequence, known as the protein folding problem, is one of the most important yet unsolved issues of modern science. Since the conformational behaviour of flexible molecules is nothing more than a complex physical problem, increasingly more physicists are moving into the study of protein systems, bringing with them powerful mathematical and computational tools, as well as the sharp intuition and deep images inherent to the physics discipline. This work attempts to facilitate the first steps of such a transition. In order to achieve this goal, we provide an exhaustive account of the reasons underlying the protein folding problem enormous relevance and summarize the present-day status of the methods aimed to solving it. We also provide an introduction to the particular structure of these biological heteropolymers, and we physically define the problem stating the assumptions behind this (commonly implicit) definition. Finally, we review the 'special flavor' of statistical mechanics that is typically used to study the astronomically large phase spaces of macromolecules. Throughout the whole work, much material that is found scattered in the literature has been put together here to improve comprehension and to serve as a handy reference.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Introduction to protein folding for physicists does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Introduction to protein folding for physicists, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Introduction to protein folding for physicists will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-458119