Streptavidin + high density binding sites

1. Kinetics of Self-Assembly in the Presence of InteractionsHenry Hess, Columbia University, DMR 1015486 Molecular self-assembly and adsorption processes involving biomolecules often do not reach equilibrium due to the existence of repulsive interactions. While equilibrium adsorption models that take interactions between adsorbing molecules do exist, there were no kinetic analogs of these models. Graduate students Siheng He and Amy Lam developed a kinetic model which explains how interactions affect adsorption kinetics and predicts how nanoscale architecture might enhance or discourage adsorption. This model was used to predict the behavior of streptavidin/neutravidin adsorption onto biotinylated microtubules (Langmuir 28, 10635, 2012). Streptavidin + high density binding sites Neutravidin + high density binding sites Neutravidin + low density binding sites

2. Kinetics of Self-Assembly in the Presence of InteractionsHenry Hess, Columbia University, DMR 1015486 Five undergraduate students and one high school student have formed the “Kinesin Kings,” a team participating in the international BioMod Competition run by the Wyss Institute at Harvard. From left to right: high school student Gabriela Barth (Ridgefield High ‘13) and Columbia students Megan Armstrong (’13), Ruchir Khaitan (‘15), and Veronica Reynolds (‘14) analyzing their latest experiments fueled only by coffee and water. Deepthi Krovvidi, now entering her senior year at Edgemont Jr./Sr. High, returned as part of her school’s Science Scholars program to research microtubule transport and assembly.