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Alexey Shaytan
Natural polyelectrolytes are essential building blocks of all living organisms. All major classes of biological macromolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and polysaccharides) incorporate charged and ionizable groups that are essential for their structure and function. This lecture will introduce these main classes of biological polyelectrolytes, discuss their structure and properties. I will describe several examples from my own research where physical interactions between charged biomacromolecules are essential for the biological function.
Lecture plan:
1) Main types of biological macromolecules. Specific nature of biological macromolecules. Interplay of various types of interactions, evolutionary selection of sequences, self-assembly. Correspondence between sequence, 3D shape and properties. Role of charged groups in biomacromolecules
2) Proteins: structure, properties and functions. Influence of local environment on ionization.
3) DNA and RNA: structure, properties and functions. Screening of charge interactions. Example: packing of DNA in the cell nucleus from nucleosomes to higher order chromatin structure.
4) Lipids: structure and properties. Self-assembly of lipid bilayers. Example: interaction of charged protein fibrils with charged membranes enhances viral transfection.
5) Polysaccharides: structure, properties and function. Examples: heparin – biological molecule with highest negative charge density, an anticoagulant drug.