Lessons in molecular gymnastics

Molecular gymnastics at the herpesvirus surface.

This review analyses recent structural results that provide clues about a possible molecular mechanism for the transmission of a fusogenic signal among the envelope glycoproteins of the herpes simplex virus on receptor binding by glycoprotein gD. This signal triggers the membrane-fusion machinery of the virus--contained in glycoproteins gB, gH and gL--to induce the merging of viral and cellular...

Exercises in molecular gymnastics--bending, stretching and twisting porphyrins.

The functional versatility of tetrapyrroles as natural cofactors is related to their conformational flexibility where manipulation of the macrocycle conformation allows a fine-tuning of their physicochemical properties. This feature article gives a personal account of the synthesis and solid state structural characterization of highly substituted, non-planar porphyrins. Their conformational ana...

Rotational Preference in Gymnastics

In gymnastics, most skills incorporate rotations about one or more body axes. At present, the question remains open if factors such as lateral preference and/or vestibulo-spinal asymmetry are related to gymnast's rotational preference. Therefore, we sought to explore relationships in gymnast's rotation direction between different gymnastic skills. Furthermore, we sought to explore relationships...

Modeling a Springboard in Gymnastics

For development and optimization of elements in gymnastics` vault, the knowledge of the angular momentum, take-off velocity and thus the forces on the springboard are of interest. A multi-body model was developed for the determination of forces. The following article describes the creation of a springboard model and therefore the identification and evaluation of physical parameters acting durin...

Baby Gymnastics