Objectif This research addresses questions raised by attempts to design proteins de novo. Such polypeptides are often compact and they have a pronounced secondary structure as a rule, but a definite organisation of side chains is usually, but not always, absent. The thermodynamics of forming a protein-like structure involves competition between the favourable hydrophobic and the van der Waals effects of forming a tightly packed core versus the unfavourable entropic effect of restriction conformation. Rules for these effects to guide the systematic design of proteins are required. It will then be necessary to show that these rules can be applied to guide the synthesis of a folded protein-like molecule. The objectives of the research are firstly, to provide the basis for the rational design of novel proteins based on the selection of residues suitable to favour thermodynamically the folded conformation, with two aspects to be considered: the close packing of residues between secondary structures compatible with a core that excludes solvent and is favoured by the hydrophobic effect; and the effect of restricting side chain mobility and its effect on the conformational entropy of protein folding. Secondly, guided by the empirical rules the sequence of Albebetin that has previously been synthesised and expressed in milligram quantities will be examined to suggest changes that might lead to the formation of a solid core in the folded protein; and finally, other sequences of novel proteins for synthesis will be designed. Programme(s) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Thème(s) 36 - Biochemistry and New Pharmaceutical Compounds Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement Data not available Coordinateur Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2A 3PX London Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (3) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2A 3PX London Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée MRC Centre for Protein Engineering Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Hills Road CB2 2QH Cambridge Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Russian Academy of Sciences Russie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 142292 Pushchino, Moscow Region Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée