Strain tensor field in proteins.
The tensor fields of pressure strain imposed on protein molecules have been visualized by computer graphics and computational geometry. The pressure-induced deformations of lysozyme and myoglobin were analyzed by the present method, which regards each molecule as a patchwork of microscopic continuous bodies of Delaunay tetrahedra. The strain tensor describes the deformation of each tetrahedron. The illustrated deformations turned out to be complex and inhomogeneous ones in which local expansions and contractions concomitantly occurred. Not only the pressure deformation but also any other type of moderate deformation can be analyzed by this method.
Yamato
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Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan.
D003196:Computer Graphics; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D011489:Protein Denaturation
D009211:Myoglobin; D009113:Muramidase