Structure and conformation of biomolecules in solution: Study using X-ray scattering and synchrotron radiation

• Grant number: 07/05605-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2008
• End date: February 28, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Iris Concepcion Linares de Torriani
• Grantee: Julio Cesar da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The application of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in the study of biomolecules has become very important in the last decades mainly due to the availability of high flux photon sources such as those existing in synchrotron facilities. In the study of complex structures, composites, dense polymers and particle systems (diluted or with various types of interactions) SAXS experiments have proved to be very efficient. The SAXS technique is extremely useful when studying protein folding mechanisms. Furthermore, this technique is also important in the study of natively unfolded proteins, which in spite of being relatively unstructured, are designed to function in partially folded configuration. Two main objetives will be dealt with in this project. One is the structural characterization of proteins belonging to the group known as natively unfolded proteins, trying to obtain dimensional parameters and shape. The second subject of study will be the unfolding of protein with important medical applications, performing in situ experiments to determine conformational changes in induced denaturation SAXS experiments.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Julio Cesar da. Study of partially unstructured macromolecules using X-ray scattering. 2010. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin Campinas, SP.