In a cell, proteins exist in crowded environments; these environments influence their stability and dynamics. Similarly, for an enzyme molecule encapsulated in an inorganic cavity as in biosensors or biocatalysts, confinement and even surface effects play important roles in its stability and dynamics. Using a minimalist model (two-dimensional HP lattice model), we have carried out Monte Carlo simulations to study confinement effects on protein stability. We have calculated heat capacity as a function of temperature using the histogram method and results obtained show that confinement tends to stabilize the folded conformations, consistent with experimental results (some reported here) and previous theoretical analyses. Furthermore, for a protein molecule tethered to a solid surface the stabilization effect can be even greater. We have also investigated the effects of confinement on the kinetics of the refolding and unfolding processes as functions of temperature and box size. As expected, unfolding time increases as box size decreases, however, confinement affects folding times in a more complicated way. Our theoretical results agree with our experimentally observed trends that thermal stability of horseradish peroxidase and acid phosphatase, encapsulated in mesoporous silica, increases as the pore size of the silica matrix decreases.

In cells, proteins execute specific tasks in crowded environments; these environments influence their stability and dynamics. Similarly, for an enzyme molecule encapsulated in an inorganic cavity as in biosensors or biocatalysts, confinement or excluded volume plays an important role in its stability and dynamics. In this article we present results of our experimental and theoretical investigations of the confinement and macromolecular crowding effects on protein. On the experimental side we study the stability of encapsulated cytochrome c against unfolding induced by the presence of denaturants, such as urea. Results show that, as the pore size in which protein is trapped is reduced, protein shows higher stability against denaturant-induced unfolding. On the theoretical side, after reviewing our previous study of the confinement effects on the equilibrium and dynamic properties of protein using a minimalist (two-dimensional lattice, Monte Carlo, Brownian dynamics) model, we have extended the model so that the effects of macromolecular crowding on such properties can be studied. Our simulations show that both folding and unfolding times increase with the number of crowders in solution, however, the equilibrium constant is affected such that the equilibrium is shifted towards the folded state. Furthermore, our results show that, for a fixed number of crowders as the size of crowder (or excluded volume) increases, the average size of protein at equilibrium decreases.

No abstract

In this paper, we report on the tribological and wear properties of Ti3SiC2 and its derivatives. Coarse-grained Ti3SiC2 was not wear resistant at room temperature. Preoxidation of the material at 700 °C for 5 h also failed to ameliorate the situation at room temperature. Addition of 20 vol.% Cu in the matrix improved the wear rate for up to 1500 m; beyond that distance the friction and wear increased. Ti3SiC2 tested at 500 °C showed improved wear resistance most probably due to the formation of oxide tribofilms. More work is being done to understand the basic mechanism behind this behavior.

No abstract