Mathematical Modeling in Protein Folding

The proteins’ phase transition dynamics challenged researchers for the last few decades
and it continues to generate increasing interest. This problem requires a detailed
deterministic knowledge of the kinetics of the phase transition, as well as statistical -
mechanical treatments trying to capture the nucleation and propagation steps of folding.
Until recently there was also an important technology barrier which delayed the analysis
of the complex behavior of these reactions occurring within nanosecond time frames
scale.
In this talk I will give an introduction to some basic aspects of mathematical modeling in
protein folding. Specific topics will include: a brief description of the statistical
mechanical model of Zimm and Bragg as indicative for the cooperativity of the phase
transition in biopolymers; deterministic models for the dynamic cooperativity parameter
in helix - coil transitions; deterministic models leading to self - sustained and damped
oscillations in single molecule folding/unfolding kinetics. The possibility of experimental
validation of the theoretical modeling - by spectroscopic techniques - will be discussed,
too.