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SUMMARY:Differences between non-specific and bio-specific\, and between eq
 uilibrium and non-equilibrium\, interactions in biological systems - Profe
 ssor Jacob Israelachvili\, University of Calirfornia Santa Barbara
DTSTART:20050624T131500Z
DTEND:20050624T141500Z
UID:TALK4346@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Duncan Simpson
DESCRIPTION:The interaction forces between biological molecules and surfac
 es are much more complex than those between non-biological molecules or su
 rfaces\, such as colloidal particle surfaces. This complexity is due to a 
 number of factors: (i) the simultaneous involvement of many different mole
 cules and different non-covalent forces - van der Waals\, electrostatic\, 
 solvation (hydration\, hydrophobic)\, steric\, entropic and specific\, and
  (ii) the flexibility of biological macromolecules and fluidity of membran
 es. Biological interactions are better thought of as processes that evolve
  in space and time and\, under physiological conditions\, involve a contin
 uous input of energy. Such systems are therefore not at thermodynamic equi
 librium\, or even tending towards equilibrium. Recent Surface Forces Appar
 atus and Atomic Force Microscopy measurements on supported model membrane 
 systems (protein-containing lipid bilayers) illustrate these effects. It i
 s suggested that the major theoretical challenge is to establish manageabl
 e theories or models that can describe the spatial and time evolution of s
 ystems consisting of different molecules subject to certain starting condi
 tions or energy inputs.
LOCATION:Mott Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory
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