Objectives
The directional and concerted transfer of electrons, protons and small molecular groups is at the basis of biological activity. These elementary biological events are intrinsically coupled to ultrafast motions of molecular groups of low-frequency degrees of freedom. These low-frequency motions may couple a local ultrafast event to a collective process resulting in large functional motions occurring on a much longer timescale.
The programme aims to (1) identify these elementary biological events, (2) identify the low frequency degrees of freedom to which they are coupled, (3) discover how a local event may initiate a collective process, and (4) contribute to the establishment of a physical model for biological activity.
New linear and non-linear measurement techniques such as multi-dimensional and multi-pulse IR spectroscopy and THz microscopy and imaging will be developed to this purpose.
Background, relevance and implementation
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the ultrafast dynamics of biomolecules such as proteins and nuclei acids. It is increasingly acknowledged that these dynamics play an essential role in the working mechanism and biological function of these molecules. Well-known examples are the electron and proton transfer processes taking place in photosynthesis and vision. However, more recently, strong indications were obtained that ultrafast processes play a much more general role in the working mechanism of biomolecules. For instance, it was found that conformational fluctuations of polytpeptides are a key factor in the determination of the spatial structure (folding), in the catalytic action of enzymes, and in the dynamical properties of membranes. At present the role of ultrafast fluctuations in the structure and function of proteins and DNA is a largely unexplored area. Most of the information obtained so far stems from molecular dynamics simulations. Fortunately, new spectroscopic techniques like multi-dimensional and multi-pulse infrared spectroscopy and THz imaging are being developed that will allow the experimental investigation of the relevant conformational dynamics in a variety of biomolecular systems. |
