Strong Reduction of the Chain Rigidity of Hyaluronan by Selective Binding of Ca <sup>2+</sup> Ions
Giulia Giubertoni, Alberto Pérez de Alba Ortíz, Fouzia Bano, Xing Zhang, Robert J. Linhardt, Dixy E. Green, Paul L. DeAngelis, Gijsje H. Koenderink, Ralf P. Richter, Bernd Ensing, Huib J. Bakker
Abstract
at neighboring binding sites, possibly as a result of enhanced conformational fluctuations and/or electrostatic repulsion effects. Our findings provide a detailed molecular picture of ion condensation and reveal the severe effect of a few, selective and localized electrostatic interactions on the rigidity of a polyelectrolyte chain.
Topics & Concepts
ChemistryDivalentHydrogen bondPolyelectrolyteIntramolecular forcePolymerCalciumCarboxylateIntermolecular forceMolecular dynamicsIonSide chainMoleculeStereochemistryComputational chemistryOrganic chemistryProteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans researchAcoustic Wave Resonator TechnologiesAdvanced Fiber Optic Sensors