Protein structure local backbone potential

Figure 2 Schematic illustration of the different types of potential terms derived from statistical analyses of known protein structures, (a) The residue-residue interaction potential computed from the frequencies of finding specific residue pairs at a given. spatial distance d from each other in known protein. structures, (b) The local backbone potential, representing the influence of amino acids on the backbone conformation of neighboring residues along the sequence, (c) The profile-like, or environment, potential, representing the interactions of individual residues with the field provided by their environment in the protein...

An effective method for localizing causes of redox potentials is to plot the total backbone and side chain contributions to ( ) per residue for homologous proteins as functions of the residue number using a consensus sequence, with insertions treated by summing the contribution of the entire insertion as one residue. The results for homologous proteins should be examined for differences in the contributions to ( ) per residue that correlate with observed redox potential differences. These differences can then be correlated with any other sequence-redox potential data for proteins that lack crystal or NMR structures. In addition, any sequences of homologous proteins that lack both redox potentials and structures should be examined, because residues important in defining the redox potential are likely to have semi-sequence conservation of a few key amino acid types. 

Polyphosphazenes are a relatively new class of biodegradable polymers. Their hydrolytic stability or instability is determined not by changes in the backbone structure but by changes in the side groups attached to an unconventional macromolecular backbone. Synthetic flexibility and versatile adaptability of polyphosphazenes make them unique for drug delivery applications. For example, Veronese et al.18 prepared polyphos-phazene microspheres with phenylalanine ethyl ester as a phosphorous substituent and loaded it with succinylsulphathiazole or naproxen. The kinetics of release from these matrices were very convenient in yielding local concentrations of the two drugs that are useful per se or when mixed with hydroxyapatite for better bone formation. Polyphosphazene matrices are also considered as potential vehicles for the delivery of proteins and vaccines.19... 

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