Biophysics
Welcome to the web pages of the Biophysics section at the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences. Our research activities are focused on structural and dynamical properties of biological macromolecules. Detailed descriptions can be found in the personal web pages linked in the left column.
Development of photochromic proteins for superresolution microscopy.
| The development of genetically encoded photoswitchable fluorescent proteins is of greatest interest to expand the toolkit of fluorescent reporters suitable for super-resolution microscopy applications based on random activation of single molecules. We are exploiting YtvA, a photochromicblue light photoreceptor from Bacillus subtilis, as a fluorescent probe for superresolution microscopy. Current efforst include novel GAF domains. |  |
Protein based nanocarriers for applications in photodynamic therapy
| We exploit proteins as nanosized carriers for photosensitizers. The nanostructured materials are inherently theranostic devices, with built in terapeutic (photosensitized production of singlet oxygen) and diagnostic (through their fluorescence emission) capabilities. |  |
Ligand migration in hemeproteins
| The presence of cavities and tunnels in the interior of proteins, in conjunction with the structural plasticity arising from the coupling to the thermal fluctuations of the protein scaffold, has profound consequences on the pathways followed by ligands moving through the protein matrix. Through an integrated approach using quantitative analysis of experimental rebinding kinetics from laser flash photolysis, trapping of unstable conformational states by embedding proteins within the nanopores of silica gels, and molecular simulations we try to gain insight into the migration mechanism of ligands. |  |
Structure and dynamics of proteins by means of computational methods
| Structure and dynamics of different protein systems are investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations, molecular docking and molecular modeling techniques. |  |
Pubblicato Martedì, 6 Febbraio, 2018 - 12:07 | ultima modifica Lunedì, 21 Novembre, 2022 - 12:24
