Smart Molecules Modify Nanotube Morphology
June 14, 2017
Natural photosynthetic complexes have evolved to successfully operate under extreme low light conditions. Their tubular structure inspired the scientists to mimic nature with artificial nanotubes made of smart molecules, which are “programmed” to self-assemble in tubes without any human intervention. Changing the nanotubes sizes, which is of great interest for potential applications, requires re-programming the molecules.
Organized but Intermittent: a liquid mimicking disordered proteins
May 19, 2017
Proteins, the engines of life, form the basis for all vital functions in all living systems. Most commonly, the biological functions of the proteins are imposed by their well-defined structures. This is not the case, however, for the so-called intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP), which e.g. are involved in DNA repair. In IDPs, the structural motifs are labile, rapidly fluctuating between conformations, which makes them very challenging to study.
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