Biomolecules molecular recognition

As the electrostatic potential is of importance in the study of intermolecular interactions, it has received considerable attention during the past two decades (see, e.g., articles on the molecular potential of biomolecules in Politzer and Truhlar 1981). It plays a key role in the process of molecular recognition, including drug-receptor interactions, and is an important function in the evaluation of the lattice energy, not only of ionic crystals. 

The flow-through sensors described in this Section comply essentially with the definition of biosensor. This word, like every term used to designate devices of scientific and popular note, has been the object of a number of definitions of both generic and specific scope. In a broad sense, a biosensor is any instrument or technique that measures biomolecules. In stricter terms, Rechnitz defines a biosensor as "a device that incorporates a biochemical or biological component as a molecular recognition element and yields an analytical signal in response to biomolecules" [10]. In between these two... 

Figure 14.1 Immobilization of biomolecules in microarray format for the investigation of biological processes. Molecular recognition is the key event in all microarrays. (Adapted from Reference 11.) (See color insert.)...

Manipulation of DNA in such a precise manner demonstrates what can be achieved when the nature of nanoscale interactions is well understood and can be controlled. As more and more becomes known about similar molecular recognition motifs in the natural world the potential to use other biomaterials as structural components will increase. Other structural biomolecules that could be targets for unnatural manipulation include collagen [8] and clathrin proteins [9], shown in Fig. 8.2. The former is a polypeptide that forms a triple helical coil in which the individual strands are left handed but the resulting supercoil is right handed. It provides structure to bone and cartilage and has many other rigidifying functions. 

Fish RH, Jaouen G (2003) Bioorganometallic chemistry structural diversity of organometallic complexes with bioligands and molecular recognition studies of several supramolecu-lar hosts with biomolecules, alkali-metal ions, and organometallic pharmaceuticals. Organometallics 22 2166-2177... 

In this chapter, we review our recent studies on molecular recognition by protein based on the RISM and 3D-RISM theories, which have been carried out as a part of the Scientific Research in Priority Areas Water and Biomolecules during last 5 years. 

Recently, a new bioinformatics approach aiding the mapping of molecular recognition was developed. This technology, which does not necessarily require knowledge of the 3 D structure of the biomacromolecules, was termed proteochemo-metrics (abbreviated PCM) [3], Proteochemometrics contrasts with most previous bioinformatics approaches in that it starts with information derived from the chemical properties of the biomolecules. This chapter deals with various aspects of proteochemometrics, including its foundation, technical aspects of its use, examples of its application, and its potential for the future. 

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