CAREER: Entropic Elasticity of Fluctuating Filaments and Networks

职业：波动细丝和网络的熵弹性

• 批准号: 0953548
• 负责人: Prashant Purohit
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0953548&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Entropic; Elasticity; Fluctuating; Filaments

The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project is to combine the finite element method with path integral techniques from statistical mechanics to solve problems in which configurational entropy due to thermal fluctuations plays a significant role. The advance of mechanics towards the frontiers of biology and soft matter necessitates an understanding of entropic forces which manifest themselves as thermal fluctuations at length scales of a micrometer and below. The modeling technique will be used to investigate two specific mechanics problems motivated from biology and backed with a wealth of experimental results: (a) energetics of protein mediated loops in DNA, and (b) mechanical behavior of networks of filaments, such as, actin and fibrin. The proposed methods to analyze DNA loop formation are relevant to (i) the action of DNA binding proteins implicated in gene regulation, and (ii) mapping the human genome. An understanding of the mechanical behavior of filamentous networks will have implications on manipulating adhesion, locomotion and differentiation of cells since these are controlled by mechanical interactions between a cell and its surroundings. This activity will lead to a better understanding of how mechanical properties of cells and tissues are implicated in diseases. It will also enable design of new biomaterials and possible therapeutic interventions for curing diseases. Furthermore, there will be collaboration with a local start-up company on projects related to mapping the human genome. The project will also open up opportunities for educating graduate, undergraduate, and high school students in the interdisciplinary areas of nanotechnology and biophysics.

该教师早期职业发展（职业）项目的研究目标是将有限元方法与从统计力学的路径积分技术相结合，以解决由于热波动引起的配置熵的问题，从而起着重要作用。 力学向生物学和软物质边界的发展需要对熵力的理解，这表现为在千分尺及以下的长度尺度上的热波动。该建模技术将用于研究来自生物学动机的两个特定机制问题，并以大量的实验结果支持：（a）DNA中蛋白质介导的环的能量学，（b）细丝网络的机械行为，例如肌动蛋白等。和纤维蛋白。提出的分析DNA环形成的方法与（i）与基因调节有关的DNA结合蛋白的作用以及（ii）绘制人类基因组的作用。对丝状网络的机械行为的理解将对操纵细胞的粘附，运动和分化有影响，因为它们受细胞及其周围环境之间的机械相互作用的控制。这种活性将使人们更好地了解细胞和组织的机械性能与疾病的涉及。它还将实现新的生物材料的设计和治疗疾病的治疗干预措施。此外，将与当地一家初创公司合作，讨论与绘制人类基因组有关的项目。 该项目还将为纳米技术和生物物理学跨学科领域的毕业生，本科生和高中生教育机会。