Dresden 2014 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 5: Protein structure and dynamics I

BP 5.7: Topical Talk

Montag, 31. März 2014, 16:30–17:00, ZEU 250

Particle-based stochastic computer simulations of biological systems — •Ulrich Schwarz — Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Evolution is a tinkerer and biological systems have evolved because they work, not because they are beautiful or optimal. Although some biological systems show striking examples of pattern formation, self-assembly or control circuits that occur in a similar manner in physical or engineered systems, very often these aspects are strongly intertwined in biological systems. From the modelling point of view, particle-based stochastic computer simulations are a very fruitful approach to investigate these different aspects of biological systems in one unifying framework. We will first discuss this point for the Min-proteins, which have been shown to develop beautiful spatio-temporal oscillations patterns in reconstitution assays, but which are also related to bacterial regulation. We will then discuss self-assembly of viral capsids, which in some cases might be regulated by event-driven switches in capsomere reactivity. In both cases, particle-based stochastic computer simulations have been successfully used to investigate the detailed dynamics leading to the final state.