Abstract

Proteins undertake a variety of uses within our bodies undertaking structural, signalling, catalysis and transportation functions. Some proteins display intriguing mechanical properties (spider silk) while protein malfunction/accumulation has serious implications for disease (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Alzheimer’s). While the importance of understanding protein operation has resulted in a protein modelling explosion, no tool has proven to be especially effective in elucidating protein function over larger time scales (milliseconds and seconds).

This talk will discuss the extension of structural mechanics methods for the analysis of pin-jointed structures to illuminate the operational mechanism of proteins. Whilst providing a novel and consistent approach, this tool also unifies some disparate methods currently utilised by biologists.