Abstract
Protein function from disorder. Insight from single molecule optical tweezers, physical models, and computation Unlike folded proteins, a large number of proteins function without a native, structured state. The project aims at characterizing an intrinsically disordered protein and understanding its function. The project allines with an international collaboration where an arsenal of experimental techniques is used to capture the structural and functional properties of this protein. The protein, TonB, is needed in gram-negative bacteria to selectively import nutrients from the environment of the cell. Import occurr when TonB compacths thus generating a force and extracting a protein plug that selectively let in specific nutrients. The national part of the project, funded by a PRIN 2022 aims at using computational approaches including simulation to chacterize the conformational properties of TonB, and optical tweezers to measure the resistance to extension that the protein has at different environmental conditions. Results so far: simulations of both atomistic and coarse-grained models of the protein show a large structural variability that depends on the model. Availability of FRET measurements from Prof. D. Brockwell at University of Leeds allowed the extraction of a meaningful sample of structures using Bayesian inference. On the experimental side, the Modena group has been able to measure elongation forces for samples of TonB kindly provided by Brockwell's group. Measurement of an elongation force for a disordered protein would be a unuque results that would provide confirmation of the mecanical function of the protein.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Emanuele Paci
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi"
Coordinator:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Total Eu Contribution: Euro (EUR) 202.480,00
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 111.364,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
05/10/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
