Proteomics: Sequence, Structure, Function

Lectures on Nano-Biotechnology

Series of 3 lectures:

Monday, May 17 11:00-12:00
Wednesday, May 19 11:00-12:00
Friday, May 21 11:00-12:00
IPAM Lecture Room 1200
Giovanni Zocchi
UCLA Department of Physics

Learning nanotechnology from the biological world

One approach to nano-technology is "miniaturization": as physicist Richard Feynman put it in 1959 (!) [www.zyvex.com/nanotech/feynman.html], one might build a small tool or machine, which itself could be used to build a smaller tool, and so on. Another possibility is to start at the other end, perhaps through the self-assembly of molecular components. The living example of – and inspiration for – the feasibility of this approach is of course the cell. In this short series of lectures we will discuss ideas and developments concerning artificial nanoscale devices assembled from bio-molecular components.

Allosteric control is the fundamental regulatory mechanism at the molecular level; one could call it the "transistor" of the cell. We will discuss approaches and attempts at building artificial allosteric control – the essence of a chemical nanodevice. Similarly, conformational changes of biological macromolecules can form the basis for extremely sensitive molecular detectors; this is the subject of the second lecture. In the final lecture we will discuss the unique role of DNA as a model system to improve our understanding of - and control over - polymers' conformations and dynamics.

Lecture 1. Allosteric control: the biological transistor

Lecture 2. Detectors and devices based on conformational motion

Lecture 3. DNA as a tool