University of Notre Dame/Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Biocomplexity/Center News

Jeff Peng
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Notre Dame

Biomolecular Motion and Recognition: Insights from Magnetic Resonance

Living systems rely on networks of protein interactions, and there is intense interest in understanding the molecular factors that govern the specificity and strength of these interactions. This has driven a nearly singular focus on protein structure to correlate structure and recognition. However, proteins and their ligands are dynamical systems. To gain a predictive understanding of protein interactions, we must further account for their inherent motions. Solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provides a uniquely powerful approach for investigating the motions of these protein machines to atomic resolution. We will provide an overview of the latest NMR approaches for relating the recognition properties of proteins with their dynamics using examples from our own research.


	Jeff Peng Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Notre Dame Biomolecular Motion and Recognition: Insights from Magnetic Resonance Living systems rely on networks of protein interactions, and there is intense interest in understanding the molecular factors that govern the specificity and strength of these interactions. This has driven a nearly singular focus on protein structure to correlate structure and recognition. However, proteins and their ligands are dynamical systems. To gain a predictive understanding of protein interactions, we must further account for their inherent motions. Solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provides a uniquely powerful approach for investigating the motions of these protein machines to atomic resolution. We will provide an overview of the latest NMR approaches for relating the recognition properties of proteins with their dynamics using examples from our own research.

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