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   COLLOQUIUM OF THE LABORATORY FOR COMPUTER DESIGN OF MATERIALS
                   School of Computational Sciences
                           (CSI 898-Sec 001)
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              Using mechanical force to unfold and refold proteins 

                           Dmitri Klimov  
School of Computational Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030

Unfolding and refolding transitions in proteins driven by external mechanical
force play a critical role in a variety of  biological processes. This talk 
describes recent computer simulations ofprotein models probing the 
kinetics and thermodynamics of force-induced unfolding. Mechanical
and "traditional" thermal refolding of  proteins are then compared. Our
findings suggest that in vitro and in vivo folding of mechanical proteins may
be qualitatively different. The results of the simulations are discussed in
the light of recent experiments.

                         October 3, 4:30 pm
               Room 206, Science & Tech. I, Fairfax Campus

Refreshments will be served at 4:15 PM.
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Find the schedule at http://www.scs.gmu.edu/lcdm/seminar/schedule.html
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