Molekulární simulace povrchů vodních roztoků

This thesis consists of 18 papers, in which we investigated the behavior of molecules and ions at aqueous interfaces by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We started our simulations with the surface of neat water, where we investigated the behavior of hydronium and hydroxide ions, i.e., the products of autolysis of water that are of 10�7M concentration in pure water. The results, ranging from ab initio high level calculations on water clusters and ab initio dynamics on small systems to statistically converged classical molecular dynamics simulations are mutually consistent47,48,50. The observed surface adsorption of hydronium is also consistent with the surface selective spectroscopy experiments (VSFG, SHG, PES)45,51,55{59, surface tension measurements60, and with _-potential measurements of acidic solutions62,63. The spectroscopy and surface tension experiments are also in agreement with the weak surface repulsion/non-accumulation of hydroxide observed in our simulations. However, there are macroscopic measurements, such as higher pH electrophoretic mobility measurements, titration of oil emulsions, and thin _lm stability experiments that indicate a negative charge on air/water and oil/water interfaces 61{71. Even though these experiments do not directly reveal the chemical nature or...This thesis consists of 18 papers, in which we investigated the behavior of molecules and ions at aqueous interfaces by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We started our simulations with the surface of neat water, where we investigated the behavior of hydronium and hydroxide ions, i.e., the products of autolysis of water that are of 10�7M concentration in pure water. The results, ranging from ab initio high level calculations on water clusters and ab initio dynamics on small systems to statistically converged classical molecular dynamics simulations are mutually consistent47,48,50. The observed surface adsorption of hydronium is also consistent with the surface selective spectroscopy experiments (VSFG, SHG, PES)45,51,55{59, surface tension measurements60, and with _-potential measurements of acidic solutions62,63. The spectroscopy and surface tension experiments are also in agreement with the weak surface repulsion/non-accumulation of hydroxide observed in our simulations. However, there are macroscopic measurements, such as higher pH electrophoretic mobility measurements, titration of oil emulsions, and thin _lm stability experiments that indicate a negative charge on air/water and oil/water interfaces 61{71. Even though these experiments do not directly reveal the chemical nature or...Department of Physical and Macromolecular ChemistryKatedra fyzikální a makromol. chemieFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

Cardiolipin-containing lipid membranes attract the bacterial cell division protein diviva

DivIVA is a protein initially identified as a spatial regulator of cell division in the model organism Bacillus subtilis, but its homologues are present in many other Gram-positive bacteria, including Clostridia species. Besides its role as topological regulator of the Min system during bacterial cell division, DivIVA is involved in chromosome segregation during sporulation, genetic competence, and cell wall synthesis. DivIVA localizes to regions of high membrane curvature, such as the cell poles and cell division site, where it recruits distinct binding partners. Previously, it was suggested that negative curvature sensing is the main mechanism by which DivIVA binds to these specific regions. Here, we show that Clostridioides difficile DivIVA binds preferably to membranes containing negatively charged phospholipids, especially cardiolipin. Strikingly, we observed that upon binding, DivIVA modifies the lipid distribution and induces changes to lipid bilayers containing cardiolipin. Our observations indicate that DivIVA might play a more complex and so far unknown active role during the formation of the cell division septal membrane

Abstract OR-7: Genome Release Mechanism of Picorna-Like Viruses

Protein capsids protect the genomes of viruses from degradation in the extracellular environment. However, virus capsids must release genomes into a host cell to initiate infection. We used cryo-electron microscopy to characterize the genome release of viruses from the order Picornavirales: picornaviruses, dicistroviruses, and iflaviruses. These virus families include numerous human and animal pathogens. The viruses have non-enveloped virions and capsids organized with icosahedral symmetry. Their genome release can be induced in vitro by exposure to acidic pH, mimicking conditions in endosomes. We show that conformational changes of capsids and expansion of viral RNA genomes, which are induced by acidic pH, trigger the opening of picorna-like virus particles. The capsids of the studied viruses crack into pieces or open like flowers to release their genomes. The large openings of capsids enable the virus genomes to exit within microseconds, which limits the probability of their degradation by the RNases. Characterization of the virus genome release is the first step towards developing inhibitors of the process

Anticipated knowledge from the ecology in textbooks of grammary school

This bachelor thesis is divided on a theoretical and practical part. In the theoretical part it describes the general educational program - its definition and content. Especially it focuses on the educational field Biology and on a cross-cutting theme Nature environmental education. In the thesis is defined a notion textbook, there are described functions of a textbook in learning process and ways of analyzing textbooks. The theoretical part also deals with didactic tests. The practical part is devoted to analysis and comparison of selected series of textbooks. It presents a design of a simple test in the research of knowledge from the ecology at basic school students and it evaluates the results of the experimental pilot survey

Molecular Simulations of Surfaces of Aqueous Solutions

This thesis consists of 18 papers, in which we investigated the behavior of molecules and ions at aqueous interfaces by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We started our simulations with the surface of neat water, where we investigated the behavior of hydronium and hydroxide ions, i.e., the products of autolysis of water that are of 10�7M concentration in pure water. The results, ranging from ab initio high level calculations on water clusters and ab initio dynamics on small systems to statistically converged classical molecular dynamics simulations are mutually consistent47,48,50. The observed surface adsorption of hydronium is also consistent with the surface selective spectroscopy experiments (VSFG, SHG, PES)45,51,55{59, surface tension measurements60, and with _-potential measurements of acidic solutions62,63. The spectroscopy and surface tension experiments are also in agreement with the weak surface repulsion/non-accumulation of hydroxide observed in our simulations. However, there are macroscopic measurements, such as higher pH electrophoretic mobility measurements, titration of oil emulsions, and thin _lm stability experiments that indicate a negative charge on air/water and oil/water interfaces 61{71. Even though these experiments do not directly reveal the chemical nature or..

Molecular simulations of interactions of molecules and ions at the air/water interface

Katedra chemické fyziky a optikyDepartment of Chemical Physics and OpticsMatematicko-fyzikální fakultaFaculty of Mathematics and Physic

Effect of membrane composition on DivIVA-membrane interaction

DivIVA is a crucial membrane-binding protein that helps to localize other proteins to negatively curved membranes at cellular poles and division septa in Gram-positive bacteria. The N-terminal domain of DivIVA is responsible for membrane binding. However, to which lipids the domain binds or how it recognizes the membrane negative curvature remains elusive. Using computer simulations, we demonstrate that the N-terminal domain of Streptomyces coelicolor DivIVA adsorbs to membranes with affinity and orientation dependent on the lipid composition. The domain interacts non-specifically with lipid phosphates via its arginine-rich tip and the strongest interaction is with cardiolipin. Moreover, we observed a specific attraction between a negatively charged side patch of the domain and ethanolamine lipids, which addition caused the change of the domain orientation from perpendicular to parallel alignment to the membrane plane. Similar but less electrostatically dependent behavior was observed for the N-terminal domain of Bacillus subtilis. The domain propensity for lipids which prefer negatively curved membranes could be a mechanism for the cellular localization of DivIVA protein