Intermolecular interactions in proteins

Intermolecular Interactions in Proteins - Abstract Mgr. Jiří Kysilka Non-covalent interactions are responsible for the protein folding and the molecular recognition during the protein interaction with other molecules, including various ligands, other proteins and solvent molecules. In order to understand these processes, exhibited by protein molecules, a proper description of non-covalent interactions is needful. Most methods that are computationally available for the systems of biological interest have difficulties handling with the dispersion term. In this thesis, a density functional theory / coupled clusters (DFT/CC) correction scheme is utilized for a set of small molecules, interacting with a graphitic surface. The results serve as a benchmark for the interaction of the functional groups of proteins with hydrophobic environment. In the following part of this thesis, the role of non-covalent interactions in proteins was studied for the processes of protein-protein interaction and protein hydration. Interaction interfaces has been localized in a set of 69 protein dimers and their composition has been characterized. Interfaces has been shown to prefer branched-chain hydrophobic amino acids (Ile, Leu, Val), aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr) and exclude the charged amino acids except of Arg. It was..