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B Fain

Publications and source records attributed to B Fain.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A novel method for sampling alpha-helical protein backbones.

We present a novel technique of sampling the configurations of helical proteins. Assuming knowledge of native secondary structure, we employ assembly rules gathered from a database of existing structures to enumerate the geometrically possible three-dimensional arrangements of the constituent helices. We produce a library of possible folds for 25 helical protein cores. In each case, our method finds significant numbers of conformations close to the native structure. In addition, we assign coordinates to all atoms for four of the 25 proteins and show that this has a small effect on the number of near-native conformations. In the context of database driven exhaustive enumeration our method performs extremely well, yielding significant percentages of conformations (between 0.02% and 82%) within 6 A of the native structure. The method's speed and efficiency make it a valuable tool for predicting protein structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Conformations of closed DNA.

We examine the conformations of a model for a short segment of closed DNA. The molecule is represented as a cylindrically symmetric elastic rod with a constraint corresponding to a specification of the linking number. We obtain analytic expressions leading to the spatial configuration of a family of solutions representing distortions that interpolate between the circular form of DNA and a figure-eight form that represents the onset of interwinding. We are also able to generate knotted loops. We suggest ways to use our approach to produce other configurations relevant to studies of DNA structure. The stability of the distorted configurations is assessed, along with the effects of fluctuations on the free energy of the various configurations.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1991

[Tension activity of pulmonary surfactant: adsorption of liposomes of model phospholipids].

One peculiarity of pulmonary surfactant, which is the tensioactive material physiologically present at the surface of alveoli, lies in its very quick localization at in the air-water interface. This being one of the limiting factors of artificial exogenous surfactants for the treatment of patients suffering of respiratory distress syndromes, we have studied the mechanisms which are intervening in the adsorption kinetics of a pure liquid--phase phospholipid, the dioleylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), and of mixtures of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and phosphatidic acid (PA) in presence of divalent cations (Ca++ and Mg++). The adsorption kinetics of liposomal suspensions of DOPC, which were studied by the Wilhelmy plate method, are determined by the existence of a barrier potential which height depends on the temperature and medium osmolarity, and on the deformability of vesicules. The study of PA-DPPC liposomes was performed with the help of a pulsating bubble surfactometer, a physicochemical instrumentation which mimics the pulmonary alveoli. To obtain performant responses with this model, high concentrations of PA and of divalent cations Ca++ and Mg++ are needed. These results, which are similar to those observed during the study of liposomal fusion, allow to propose a model, according to which adsorption of liposomes at the air-water interface is comparable to liposomal fusion and may be related to the presence of a thin aqueous film.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1989

Fain replies.

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Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Adult tethered cord syndrome. A case report.

A patient with adult onset of the tethered cord syndrome is described. The significance of the clinical presentation and the myelographic and computed tomographic findings are discussed.

Adult↗