19: Self-Assembly
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Cooperative self-assembly refers to the the spontaneous formation of sophisticated structures from many molecular units. Generally, we think of this as involving many molecules (cooperative units), although single- and bi-molecular problems can be wrapped into this description, as in the helix–coil transition. Examples include:
- Peptides and proteins
- Protein folding, binding, and association
- Amyloid fibrilization
- Assembly of multi-protein complexes
- Viral capsid self-assembly
- Nucleic acids
- DNA hybridization, DNA origami
- Folding and association of RNA structures: pseudoknots, ribozym es
- Lipids
- Bilayer structures
- Micelle formation
Although molecular structures also assemble with the input of energy, the emphasis here in on spontaneous self-assembly in the absence of external input.
- 19.1: Micelle Formation
- In particular, we will focus on micellar structures formed from a single species of amphiphilic molecule in aqueous solution. These are typically lipids or surfactants that have a charged or polar head group linked to one or more long hydrocarbon chains.