The Green's Function of Proteins: A mechanical view of protein evolution

07.04.2017 14:15 – 15:00

In order to facilitate certain reactions, some proteins change their shape when specific molecules attach to them. We study, in simple models, how evolution adapts the gene sequence--which defines the protein--so that the protein can change its shape and transmit forces. This is then a problem of amorphous material which adapts to a task as the corresponding gene mutates. One can derive a host of properties of the combined system of gene and protein. The relevant parameters emerge as maximal eigenvalues of a Laplacian in a mostly random environment. The results suggest that only mutations at specific positions in the gene sequence are critical in fulfilling such a task. (Work mostly done with Tsvi Tlusty)

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Bâtiment: Ecole de Physique

Auditoire Stueckelberg, 24 quai Ernest-Ansermet

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