Proteins At Work 2007 (PAW2007)
Venue: Hotel Giò
Event Date/Time: May 28, 2007 | End Date/Time: May 30, 2007 |
Registration Date: May 28, 2007 | |
Early Registration Date: Mar 31, 2007 | |
Abstract Submission Date: Apr 28, 2007 |
Description
Present-day experiments are performed either on diluted protein solutions, or on hydrated protein powders, while data on biomolecules in their physiological state are scarce. This workshop will highlight the most recent results obtained via small angle (SANS), quasielastic (QENS) and inelastic (INS) neutron scattering investigations of structure and dynamics of proteins in solution, thanks to improvements on instrumentation, data analysis methods and modelling techniques. The structural information gathered from SANS experiments is particularly important given the challenge of the ‘post-genomic’ era, in which a large numbers of protein sequences-structures become available. On the other hand, QENS and INS provide crucial insights on the dynamical changes in response to variations of external conditions (temperature, pressure, pH, presence of co-solvents). The scope of the proposed workshop is to investigate to which extent SANS, QENS and INS provide the essential details that help us understand the intimate relationship between structure, dynamics and biological function of proteins at physiological conditions.
In this framework, a full section of the workshop will be devoted to the investigation of structural and dynamical properties of enzymes immobilised on special supports (nanoparticles, functionalised layers, polymeric matrices). In fact, these systems have an enormous potential in chemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical and medical fields, as catalysts, bioreactors, drugs and biosensors. This will provide further elements of discussion for an additional section of the workshop that will be reserved to favour interaction between universities, research institutes and biochemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical industry in order to define issues and problems that neutron scattering techniques can potentially solve.