Bookmarks
Concepts
Activity
Courses
Learning Plans
Courses
Log In
Sign up
Menu
About
Guest User
Sign in to save progress
Sign In
Sign up
Menu
⚙️
→
About
Guest User
Sign in to save progress
Sign In
Sign up
Learning Plans
Courses
Log In
Sign up
🏠
Bookmarks
🔍
Concepts
📚
Activity
×
CUSTOMIZE YOUR LEARNING
→
TIME COMMITMENT
YOUR LEVEL
LET'S Start Learning
Menu
About
Guest User
Sign in to save progress
Sign In
Sign up
Menu
⚙️
→
About
Guest User
Sign in to save progress
Sign In
Sign up
Learning Plans
Courses
Log In
Sign up
🏠
Bookmarks
🔍
Concepts
📚
Activity
×
CUSTOMIZE YOUR LEARNING
→
TIME COMMITMENT
YOUR LEVEL
LET'S Start Learning
New Course
Concept
Helical Parameters
Helical parameters
describe the geometric and
spatial properties of
helical structures
, such as DNA, proteins, or
synthetic polymers
, providing insights into their stability, functionality, and interactions. These parameters are crucial for understanding the biological and
chemical implications of helices
in various scientific fields, including
molecular biology
and
materials science
.
Relevant Fields:
General Mechanics 71%
Topology 29%
Generate Assignment Link
Lessons
Concepts
Suggested Topics
Foundational Courses
Learning Plans
All
Followed
Recommended
Assigned
Concept
Helix Pitch
Concept
Helix Radius
The
helix radius
is the
distance from the center of the helix
to any point on its
spiral path
, playing a crucial role in defining the
helix's geometry
. It is essential in various fields such as
molecular biology
, physics, and engineering, where
helical structures
are analyzed for their
spatial properties
and applications.
Concept
Helix Angle
The
helix angle
is a critical parameter in
helical gears
and screws, describing the angle between the
axis of the gear
or screw and the
tangent of the helix
on the
pitch cylinder
. It significantly impacts the
operational efficiency
, noise, and
load distribution properties
of the
mechanical systems
it is part of.
Concept
Base Pair Step Parameters
Base pair step parameters
describe the
relative positioning
and
orientation of adjacent base pairs
in
nucleic acid structures
, providing
insights into DNA
and
RNA flexibility
, stability, and recognition by proteins. These parameters are crucial for understanding the
three-dimensional conformation of nucleic acids
and their
interactions with other biomolecules
.
Concept
Twist Angle
A
twist angle
refers to the angle formed between two
overlapping structures
, often used in the context of
layered materials
like graphene or
DNA helices
. This angle can significantly affect the
physical properties
of the material, such as
electronic behavior
in
twisted bilayer graphene
or the
structural stability
in
DNA strands
.
Concept
Rise Per Base Pair
Rise per base pair
is a measure of the
vertical distance between consecutive base pairs
in the
DNA double helix
, crucial for understanding
DNA's structural configuration
and stability. This parameter influences the
helical pitch
and is significant in the study of
DNA-protein interactions
and the
mechanics of DNA replication
and transcription.
Concept
Helical Axis
The
helical axis
is a
line in three-dimensional space
around which an
object rotates
and translates simultaneously, combining linear and
angular motion
into a
single movement
. It is a
fundamental concept
in biomechanics and robotics for analyzing and
simulating complex motions
, such as those of joints or
mechanical parts
.
Concept
Major And Minor Grooves
Major and minor grooves
are the two
distinct indentations
that run along the
DNA double helix
, resulting from the
asymmetric arrangement of the backbone
. These grooves play a crucial role in
DNA-protein interactions
, including
transcription factor binding
, by providing
unique chemical environments
for
molecular recognition
.
Concept
Chirality
Chirality refers to the
geometric property
of a structure that is not superimposable on its
mirror image
, much like
left and right hands
. It is a
fundamental concept
in fields like chemistry and biology, where it affects
molecular interactions
and reactions, influencing properties such as
drug efficacy
and taste.
Concept
Helical Symmetry
Helical symmetry
is a
type of symmetry
where an object is
invariant under a combination
of
translation and rotation
along an axis, resembling the
structure of a helix
. This symmetry is prominently observed in
biological structures
, such as the
arrangement of subunits
in
viral capsids
and the
configuration of DNA molecules
.
Concept
Backbone Torsion Angles
Backbone torsion angles
, specifically phi (φ) and psi (ψ), are crucial in determining the
three-dimensional structure of proteins
by defining the
rotation around the bonds
in the
protein backbone
. These angles influence the
protein's secondary structure
, such as
alpha helices
and
beta sheets
, and are essential for understanding
protein folding
and stability.
Concept
Alpha Helix
The
alpha helix
is a common
structural motif in proteins
, characterized by a
right-handed coiled shape
stabilized by
hydrogen bonds
between the
backbone amide hydrogen
and
carbonyl oxygen
of every fourth
amino acid
. This structure is crucial for the stability and functionality of many proteins, contributing to their ability to perform a wide range of
biological functions
.
3