U.S.-Brazil Cooperative Research: Landscape Studies on Protein Folding and on Solvent Dynamics in Electron-Transfer Reactions

University Of California-San Diego, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

In this US-Brazil award Jose N. Onuchic of the University of California, San Diego will collaborate with Vitor B. P. Leite and Jorge Chahine of Universidade Estadual Paulista in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil. Their studies will involve the application of energy landscape theory towards problems in biology such as protein folding and the solvent dependence of electron transfer reactions in biological molecules. Electron transfer reactions are central to the bioenergetic pathways of both animals and plants on earth, such as the early steps of photosynthesis. An understanding of the mechanism of protein folding impacts most of the functions in living organisms.