Macromolecules in biological

Name the major classes of macromolecules in biology. Outline the molectrlar differences between them. Is enzyme like function limited to proteins ... 

While the number of possible conformers of a macromolecule is practically unlimited, it is a common observation that macromolecules in biological systems occupy only an extremely limited portion of the conformational hyperspace open to them. As a result, they exhibit well-defined shapes which confer upon them the emergent property of functionality (see Section 2.3.3). 

Silver FH. Self-assembly of connective tissue macromolecules. In Biological Materials Structure, Mechanical Properties, and Modeling of Soft Tissues. New York NYU Press, 1987 Chapter 5,150-153. 

Aizenberg, J. 1996. Stabilization of amorphous calcium carbonate by specialized macromolecules in biological and synthetic precipitates. Advanced Materials, 8 222-5. 

Campbell, N.A. Structure and function of macromolecules. In Biology, 2nd Ed. The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co. Redwood City, CA, 1990. 

II. METAL-CONTAINING MACROMOLECULES IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS A. Metal Complexes In Living Systems... 

RNA is a special macromolecule in biology because it is able to store and transmit information as well as catalyze some processes. One of these processes is protein synthesis where mRNA molecules direct the assembly of proteins on ribosomes. In contrast to DNA, it has a single strand structure. There are several types of RNA, which are differentiated by their functions. The three most common types are messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA). 

Interactions between macromolecules (protems, lipids, DNA,.. . ) or biological structures (e.g. membranes) are considerably more complex than the interactions described m the two preceding paragraphs. The sum of all biological mteractions at the molecular level is the basis of the complex mechanisms of life. In addition to computer simulations, direct force measurements [98], especially the surface forces apparatus, represent an invaluable tool to help understand the molecular interactions in biological systems. 

Fig. 1. Structure adapted hierarchical description of Coulomb interactions in biological macromolecules. Filled circles (level 0) represent atoms, structural units (li vel 1) are surrounded by a single-line border, and clusters (level 2) are surrounded by a double-line border.

The visuahzation of hundreds or thousands of connected atoms, which are found in biological macromolecules, is no longer reasonable with the molecular models described above because too much detail would be shown. First of aU the models become vague if there are more than a few himdied atoms. This problem can be solved with some simplified models, which serve primarily to represent the secondary structure of the protein or nucleic acid backbone [201]. (Compare the balls and sticks model (Figure 2-124a) and the backbone representation (Figure 2-124b) of lysozyme.)... 

Incorporation of fluorine into a biological substrate opens a spectral window for viewmg biomolecular structure and dynamics in solution With mmimal background mletference, fluonne NMR can provide clear spectral information for fluorme conlainmg macromolecules, in contrast to an indecipherable mass of signals from proton or carbon NMR Whether the fluonnated unit is termed a probe, tag, marker, or reporter group, its function is the same to act as a beacon of spectral information... 

Siegel S.M. (1957) Non-enzymic macromolecules as matrices in biological synthesis. The role of polysaccharides in peroxidase catalyzed lignin polymer formation from eugenol // J. Amer. Chem. Soc. V. 79. P. 1628-1632... 

A field of application of MD that is beginning to bear fruit is the refinement of data from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and from diffraction experiments. High-resolution NMR at frequencies around 500 MHz is able to resolve individual proton resonances of biological macromolecules in solution with molecular weights exceeding 10,000... 

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