beta-propeller domains composed of WD repeats are highly ubiquitous and typically used as multi-site docking platforms to coordinate and integrate the activities of groups of proteins. Here, we have used extensive homology modelling of the WD40-repeat family of seven-bladed beta-propellers coupled with subsequent structural classification and clustering of these models to define subfamilies of ...

Ideas from the macroscopic world have long been translated to the microscopic world of molecules. Examples include mechanics, fluid dynamics, and electrostatics. It is sometimes said that such applications often succeed better than have any right to, given the extrapolation of size scales. Classical electrostatics in particular provides intuitive insights that help us to reason about the proper...

PCE (protein continuum electrostatics) is an online service for protein electrostatic computations presently based on the MEAD (macroscopic electrostatics with atomic detail) package initially developed by D. Bashford [(2004) Front Biosci., 9, 1082-1099]. This computer method uses a macroscopic electrostatic model for the calculation of protein electrostatic properties, such as pK(a) values of ...

Pancreatic-type ribonucleases show clinical promise as chemotherapeutic agents but are limited in efficacy by the inefficiency of their uptake by human cells. Cellular uptake can be increased by the addition of positive charges to the surface of ribonucleases, either by site-directed mutagenesis or by chemical modification. This observation has led to the hypothesis that ribonuclease uptake by ...

Recent experimental studies show that oppositely charged proteins can self-assemble to form seemingly stable microspheres in aqueous salt solutions. We here use parallel tempering Monte Carlo simulations to study protein phase separation of lysozyme/α-lactalbumin mixtures and show that anisotropic electrostatic interactions are important for driving protein self-assembly. In both dilute and con...

In this paper, results of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements of the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow velocity fields in an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) are presented. The measurements were carried out for various densities of submicron dust. The ESP was an acrylic parallelepiped with a wire discharge electrode and two plate collecting electrodes. The positive DC voltage was applied...

Continuum solvation models, such as Poisson-Boltzmann and Generalized Born methods, have become increasingly popular tools for investigating the influence of electrostatics on biomolecular structure, energetics and dynamics. However, the use of such methods requires accurate and complete structural data as well as force field parameters such as atomic charges and radii. Unfortunately, the limit...

This paper describes a novel, controllable adhesive that combines the benefits of electrostatic adhesives with gecko-like directional dry adhesives. When working in combination, the two technologies create a positive feedback cycle whose adhesion, depending on the surface type, is often greater than the sum of its parts. The directional dry adhesive brings the electrostatic adhesive closer to t...