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Crystallization of charged proteins

Objectif

Protein crystallization is a very active field of current scientific interest, but also heavily used in biotechnological processes. Protein crystals are for example necessary to elucidate the structure of proteins by means of spectroscopic methods. The knowledge of protein structure will boost the development of new biotechnological materials and drugs.

However, currently, the number of proteins that can be crystallized is very small, and the conditions under which crystallization occurs are unpredictable. To achieve European leadership in biotechnology, it is crucial to improve the methods used in protein crystallization, which requires knowledge of the physical mechanisms behind it. Crystallization can be described by classical nucleation theory.

This requires information on the surface energies, which cannot be obtained through experiments. Analytic estimates based on mean-field approaches exist, but many crystallization precipitants are multivalent salts, which these theories fail to describe. We therefore propose to study protein nucleation directly by computer simulations.

We will develop the necessary simulation methods by employing recently developed Monte Carlo methods, such as the sampling of rejected states. For MC algorithmic development, the work group of Professor Frenkel is world leading. In addition, the AMOLF has a strong biophysics group. Therefore the applicant will receive excellent training in MC techniques and broaden his scientific background to include biophysics.

In addition, the project will strengthen his communicative skills by exposure to an interdisciplinary Dutch research group. This will allow the applicant to start a career as an independent junior researcher. As a long-term effect, the project will create permanent intra-European research links between the Dutch institute AMOLF and Research groups in Germany.

Champ scientifique (EuroSciVoc)

Mots‑clés

Thème(s)

Appel à propositions

FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
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Régime de financement

EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships

Coordinateur

STICHTING VOOR FUNDAMENTEEL ONDERZOEK DER MATERIE
Contribution de l’UE
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