Michael Thorpe
Encyclopedia
Michael Thorpe is an English-American physicist
. He received his PhD from Oxford University in 1968 in condensed matter physics. His early research was on network glasses, but has recently focused on applying his knowledge to the study of protein
dynamics
.
In 2003, Michael Thorpe joined Arizona State University
from Michigan State University
. His research interests are in the theory of disordered systems, with a special emphasis on properties that are determined by geometry and topology
. He has a research background in condensed matter theory
, and in recent years has developed the mathematical theory of flexibility and mobility for use in glassy networks.
His most recent work has been in biological physics
. The flexible regions in protein
s and protein complexes are determined from the x-ray
structure as determined crystallographically
. These are used to determine dynamical pathways between different protein conformations using Monte Carlo method
s. Proteins are stable enough to maintain a three-dimensional structure, but flexible enough for biological function. The aim of this research work is to find underlying principles and unifying concepts, to better understand the evolution and function of proteins and protein complexes.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
. He received his PhD from Oxford University in 1968 in condensed matter physics. His early research was on network glasses, but has recently focused on applying his knowledge to the study of protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
dynamics
Molecular dynamics
Molecular dynamics is a computer simulation of physical movements of atoms and molecules. The atoms and molecules are allowed to interact for a period of time, giving a view of the motion of the atoms...
.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. His research interests are in the theory of disordered systems, with a special emphasis on properties that are determined by geometry and topology
Topology
Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...
. He has a research background in condensed matter theory
Condensed matter physics
Condensed matter physics deals with the physical properties of condensed phases of matter. These properties appear when a number of atoms at the supramolecular and macromolecular scale interact strongly and adhere to each other or are otherwise highly concentrated in a system. The most familiar...
, and in recent years has developed the mathematical theory of flexibility and mobility for use in glassy networks.
His most recent work has been in biological physics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
. The flexible regions in protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s and protein complexes are determined from the x-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
structure as determined crystallographically
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
. These are used to determine dynamical pathways between different protein conformations using Monte Carlo method
Monte Carlo method
Monte Carlo methods are a class of computational algorithms that rely on repeated random sampling to compute their results. Monte Carlo methods are often used in computer simulations of physical and mathematical systems...
s. Proteins are stable enough to maintain a three-dimensional structure, but flexible enough for biological function. The aim of this research work is to find underlying principles and unifying concepts, to better understand the evolution and function of proteins and protein complexes.
Recent publications
- Gohlke, H., & Thorpe, M.F. (2006). A Natural Coarse Graining for Simulating Large Biomolecular Motion. Biophysics Journal, 9, 2115-2120.
- Sartbaeva, A., Wells, S.A., Thorpe, M.F., Bozin, E.S., & Billinge, S.J.L. (2006). Geometric Modeling of Perovskite Frameworks with Jahn-Teller Distortions: Application to Cubic Manganites. Phys. Rev. Lett., 97, 065501.
- Wells, S., Menor, S., Hespenheide, B., & Thorpe, M.F. (2005). Constrained Geometric Simulation of Diffusive Motion in Proteins. Physical Biology, 2, S127-S136.
- A.R. Day, A.R. Grant, A.J. Sievers and M.F. Thorpe, “Spectral Function of Composites from Reflectivity Measurements,” Physical Review Letters, 84 1978–1982 (2000).