Many proteins can fold into well-defined conformations. However, intrinsically-disordered proteins (IDPs) do not possess a defined structure. Moreover, folded multi-domain proteins often digress into alternative conformations. Collectively, the conformational dynamics enables these proteins to fulfill specific functions. Thus, most experimental observables are averaged over the conformations that constitute an ensemble. In this...

Förster resonance energy transfer between 7-amino-4-methyl-3-coumarinylacetic acid, (AMCA, donor) and 5- carboxytetramethylrhodamine, (TAMRA, acceptor) bound to Lys(AMCA)-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Leu-Ser-Gly-Lys (TAMRA)-NH2 peptide is demonstrated by various spectroscopic techniques in glycerol at room temperature. In particular, nonexponential character of fluorescence intensity decay evidences the distance distribution between the donor...

A novel procedure for the application of atom probe tomography (APT) to the structural analysis of biological systems, has been recently proposed, whereby the specimen is embedded by a silica matrix and ablated by a pulsed laser source. Such a technique, requires that the silica primer be properly inert and bio-compatible, keeping the native structural features of the system at hand, while condensing into an amorphous, glass-like...