Conformational transformations induced by the charge-curvature interaction

TL;DR

This paper presents a phenomenological model showing how charge-curvature interactions can induce conformational changes in biological macromolecules, transforming circular aggregates into polygonal shapes, with potential applications to bacteriochlorophyll aggregates.

Contribution

It introduces a simple nonlinear model linking charge interactions to conformational dynamics, highlighting a new mechanism for shape transformations in biopolymers.

Findings

Charge-curvature interactions can drive conformational changes.

Circular aggregates can transform into polygonal shapes.

Potential application to bacteriochlorophyll aggregates.

Abstract

A simple phenomenological model for describing the conformational dynamics of biological macromolecules via the nonlinearity-induced instabilities is proposed. It is shown that the interaction between charges and bending degrees of freedom of closed molecular aggregates may act as drivers giving impetus to conformational dynamics of biopolymers. It is demonstrated that initially circular aggregates may undergo transformation to polygonal shapes and possible application to aggregates of bacteriochlorophyl a molecules is considered.