Carbohydrates: more than meets the eye

PhD ceremony: Mr. C.A. Lopez Bautista, 12.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Carbohydrates: more than meets the eye

Promotor(s): prof. S.J. Marrink, prof. L. Dijkhuizen

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

The work of César López Bautista has shown how state of the art molecular dynamics approaches can give deeper insights into the structural and dynamical behavior of a sometimes neglected bio component. His thesis pretends to be an open window, revealing important aspects of the biophysics of carbohydrates at the molecular level. The most important aspects are related with the biophysical properties in which carbohydrates are involved, he has contributed with the study of carbohydrates more from the atomic point of view. He has developed parameters for the simulation of carbohydrates and reveal important features of them in combination with other biomolecules.

Interesting for the main public are the chapters related to cholesterol depletion from membrane cells through the use of cyclodextrins. In America, there was a revolution in the medicine field, because CD dextrin may become the cure for a very rear lipidic disorder (Niemman pick type C), however the molecular mechanism by which this sugar acts is not clear.