The 3-D Structure and Function of Biopolymers

Optical tweezers have proved useful for the study of lateral heterogeneity and order in cell structure and protein motion. For example, Bustamante, et al. (88) studied the single molecule mechanics of DNA uncoiling. The use of optical tweezers has proved especially useful for the study of lateral heterogeneity and order of lipid layers (89), and a host of problems relating to protein motions see Section 14.11.4. 

3 Studies on Synthetic Polymers Bound Poly(ethylene oxide) 

While most of the biopolymer investigations are properly part of biochemistry, molecular biology, and/or structural biology, molecules such as DNA, proteins, starch, and cellulose are also polymeric in that they are composed of one 

Cellulose and starch are frequently referred to as renewable resources, in that they are not derived from petrochemical resources. These two materials are discussed in other parts of this text see Appendix 2.1, and Sections 6.10, 6.11,14.3, and 14.4. 

DNA and proteins are sometimes referred to as the polymers of life. They are more complex in nature and performance than cellulose and starch, and demand a separate examination. In the Uvtng cell, both DNA and proteins take very specific 3-D structures, and do not form either the random coils or the rod-shaped structures of synthetic polymers. The following subsections will describe a few characteristic structures and motions of these natural polymers. 

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