The interaction of proteins with solid surfaces.
The interaction of proteins with solid surfaces is a fundamental phenomenon with implications for nanotechnology, biomaterials and biotechnological processes. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies have long indicated that significant conformational changes may occur as a protein encounters a surface; new techniques are measuring and modeling these changes. Combinatorial and directed evolution techniques have created new peptide sequences that bind specifically to solid surfaces, similar to the natural proteins that regulate crystal growth. Modeling efforts capture kinetics and thermodynamics on the colloidal scale, but detailed treatments of atomic structure are still in development and face the usual challenges of protein modeling. Opportunities abound for fundamental discovery, as well as breakthroughs in biomaterials, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Gray
Jeffrey J
JJ
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. jgray@jhu.edu
D000327:Adsorption; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
D011506:Proteins