Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes02:58

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Protein Organization01:24

Protein Organization

Proteins are polymers of amino acid residues. They are versatile and responsible for different cellular functions, including DNA replication, molecular transport, catalysis, and structural support. Proteins have a hierarchical structure comprising at least three levels of organization: primary, secondary, and tertiary structure. Some large proteins have a quaternary structure where individual protein subunits are linked together.
The primary structure of a protein is its amino acid sequence.
Globular and Fibrous Proteins02:21

Globular and Fibrous Proteins

Many proteins can be classified into two distinct subtypes - globular or fibrous. These two types differ in their shapes and solubilities.
Globular proteins are also known as spheroproteins and typically are approximately round in shape. They contain a mix of amino acid types and contain differing sequences in their primary structures. Globular proteins have many different functions, such as enzymes, cellular messengers, and molecular transporters. These roles often require the proteins to be...
Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Crystal Density01:19

Crystal Density

The crystal lattice structure of a material allows us to determine how many molecules exist in its unit cell. With this information, alongside the unit-cell parameters - three distance parameters (a, b, c) and three angular parameters (α, β, γ).Density (ρ) = (Z × M) / (a × b × c × NA)where:Z is the number of formula units per unit cellM is the molar mass of the substancea, b, and c are the edge lengths of the unit cellNA is Avogadro’s numberFor a simple cubic lattice, atoms are located only at...
Protein and Protein Structure02:15

Protein and Protein Structure

Proteins are one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules. Proteins may be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective. They may serve in transport, storage, or membranes; or they may be toxins or enzymes. Their structures, like their functions, vary greatly. They are all, however, amino acid polymers arranged in a linear sequence.
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme can...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evaluating beta-tubulin variants as predictors of benzimidazole resistance across Caenorhabditis nematodes.

PLoS pathogens·2026
Same author

Examining selection dynamics and limitations in multi-round protein selection of high diversity libraries.

Protein engineering, design & selection : PEDS·2026
Same author

Structure-based design and synthesis of group A streptogramins that bind to the nascent peptide exit tunnel of the ribosome.

European journal of medicinal chemistry·2026
Same author

Toward a Random Background for Ligand Optimization.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Mapping the avoid-ome: a systematic open-science approach to predictive ADMET.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Coronavirus protein interaction mapping in bat and human cells reveals network rewiring governing immune evasion and zoonotic potential.

Cell host & microbe·2026
Same journal

Ablation of the renal tubular gluconeogenic enzyme PCK1 drives AKI-to-CKD transition by negatively regulating the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2026
Same journal

LncRNA modulates Dpp-mediated wing development to influence flight in Aedes aegypti.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2026
Same journal

TROP2 promotes bone metastasis of colorectal cancer through interaction with the fibronectin-integrin axis.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2026
Same journal

PRMT5-Cacna1d axis maintains calcium homeostasis to regulate postnatal motor development in mice.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2026
Same journal

Advances and clinical potential of epigenome editing.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2026
Same journal

Correction to: SIRT3 activation protects from nabumetone-induced mitochondrial toxicity in adult human cardiomyocytes.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Neutron Crystallography Data Collection and Processing for Modelling Hydrogen Atoms in Protein Structures
10:10

Neutron Crystallography Data Collection and Processing for Modelling Hydrogen Atoms in Protein Structures

Published on: December 1, 2020

Mining electron density for functionally relevant protein polysterism in crystal structures.

James S Fraser1, Colin J Jackson

  • 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. jfraser@fraserlab.com

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|December 31, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding protein conformational heterogeneity is advancing. New methods reveal hidden protein substates, showing evolution shapes their landscape and interconversion dynamics for protein structure and function.

More Related Videos

Fully Autonomous Characterization and Data Collection from Crystals of Biological Macromolecules
07:11

Fully Autonomous Characterization and Data Collection from Crystals of Biological Macromolecules

Published on: March 22, 2019

Sample Preparation and Transfer Protocol for In-Vacuum Long-Wavelength Crystallography on Beamline I23 at Diamond Light Source
10:32

Sample Preparation and Transfer Protocol for In-Vacuum Long-Wavelength Crystallography on Beamline I23 at Diamond Light Source

Published on: April 23, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Neutron Crystallography Data Collection and Processing for Modelling Hydrogen Atoms in Protein Structures
10:10

Neutron Crystallography Data Collection and Processing for Modelling Hydrogen Atoms in Protein Structures

Published on: December 1, 2020

Fully Autonomous Characterization and Data Collection from Crystals of Biological Macromolecules
07:11

Fully Autonomous Characterization and Data Collection from Crystals of Biological Macromolecules

Published on: March 22, 2019

Sample Preparation and Transfer Protocol for In-Vacuum Long-Wavelength Crystallography on Beamline I23 at Diamond Light Source
10:32

Sample Preparation and Transfer Protocol for In-Vacuum Long-Wavelength Crystallography on Beamline I23 at Diamond Light Source

Published on: April 23, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Proteins exist in multiple conformational states, a phenomenon known as conformational heterogeneity.
  • Understanding this heterogeneity is crucial for comprehending protein function and dynamics.
  • Polysterism, the interconversion between conformational substates, has been a key focus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review conceptual and methodological advances in characterizing protein conformational heterogeneity.
  • To highlight new approaches for analyzing polysterism using X-ray crystallography data.
  • To discuss the functional and evolutionary implications of minor conformational substates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of X-ray crystallography data, including mining electron density maps.
  • Comparison of independent crystal structures and multiple protein chains within crystal asymmetric units.
  • Integration of functional tests to assess the biological relevance of conformational substates.

Main Results:

  • Traditional methods for analyzing polysterism relied on comparing distinct crystal structures.
  • Recent advancements enable the detection of 'hidden' minor conformational substates by mining electron density maps.
  • Functional studies indicate that evolutionary selection optimizes the entire conformational landscape, including substate distribution and interconversion rates.

Conclusions:

  • A deeper focus on polysterism and conformational heterogeneity is expected to advance protein structure-function studies.
  • The ability to characterize minor conformational substates offers new insights into protein dynamics.
  • Evolutionary pressures shape the complete conformational ensemble of proteins, not just dominant states.