DEPARTMENT COLLOQUIUM | From Folding to Function

Speaker: Charles Brooks (U-M Chemistry)

Theory and simulation studies of protein folding have progressed significantly over the past decade. We now have a framework for discussing protein folding. The energy landscape theory provides a means of constructing models that recapitulate observed folding pathways. Additionally, simulation studies using detailed atomic-level models illustrate the nature of folding landscapes for protein molecules with differing architectures. In this talk Dr. Brooks will provide an overview of the salient features of energy landscape theory as well as review findings for the folding thermodynamics and kinetics from detailed atomic-level and coarse-grained models.