'A careful disorderliness' in biomolecular structure revealed by Raman optical activity

Barron, L. D. (2023) 'A careful disorderliness' in biomolecular structure revealed by Raman optical activity. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 300, 122959. (doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122959)

Abstract

Following its first observation 50 years ago Raman optical activity (ROA), which refers to a circular polarization dependence of Raman scattering from chiral molecules, has evolved into a powerful chiroptical spectroscopy for studying a large range of biomolecules in aqueous solution. Among other things ROA provides information about motif and fold as well as secondary structure of proteins; structure of carbohydrates and nucleic acids; polypeptide and carbohydrate structure of intact glycoproteins; and protein and nucleic acid structure of intact viruses. Quantum chemical simulations of observed Raman optical activity spectra can provide complete three-dimensional structures of biomolecules, together with information about conformational dynamics. This article reviews how ROA has provided new insight into the structure of unfolded/disordered states and sequences, ranging from the complete disorder of the random coil to the more controlled type of disorder exemplified by poly L-proline II helix in proteins, high mannose glycan chains in glycoproteins and constrained dynamic states of nucleic acids. Possible roles for this 'careful disorderliness' in biomolecular function, misfunction and disease are discussed, especially amyloid fibril formation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barron, Professor Laurence
• Authors: Barron, L. D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1386-1425
• ISSN (Online): 1873-3557
• Published Online: 31 May 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 300: 122959
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License