Molecular Modeling: Elucidation of Structure/Function Relationships of Proteins and DNA at the Atomic Resolution

While experiments provide valuable information about biological molecules, current technology cannot yet monitor atomic fluctuations at relevant time scales. Theoretical computational simulations are able to model the appropriate interactions at atomic resolution. Computational techniques have become widely used for identifying interactions in biological systems. Such methods have proven quite accurate in their ability to reproduce experimental data and also in screening and predicting pertinent activities. Molecular modeling employs theoretical and computational techniques to elucidate biologically relevant information from macromolecular structures. Three biological systems, the nucleosome core particle, myoglobin and glycosyl hydrolase family 1 beta-glucosidases will be examined with molecular modeling methods. Results of our analyses provide information about DNA flexibility and packaging, internal migration of ligands in a small protein, and substrate specificity of an enzyme system.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology

Department dc:contributor.department

Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Ruscio, Jory Zmuda

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Bevan, David R.
• Onufriev, Alexey V.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Murali, T. M.
• Sandu, Adrian
• Esen, Asim

• nucleosome core particle
• myoglobin
• beta-glucosidases
• molecular dynamics

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-04242007-134829

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/27219