Folding and Design of α-Helical Proteins and Peptides: Theory Meets Nanomaterials, Biotechnology and Health

The most common secondary structure in globular proteins is the α-helix, frequently occurring in the form of specific structural motifs such as coiled-coils and helical bundles. Being associated with a variety of functions, oligomerization states and protein topologies, the helical folding motifs have opened new avenues for the design and engineering of bio-inspired protein- or peptide-based nanostructures and functional biomaterials. Although our limited understanding of protein folding/ misfolding and oligomerization frequently presents major barriers in the development of α-helical biomaterials, recent theoretical studies and experimental approaches are beginning to chart this new territory, leading to countless possibilities for functionalization and new nanomaterials.

The aim of this Special Issue is to gather folding studies of α-helical structural motifs along with rational design experiments and applications of protein-/peptide-based biomaterials. The authors are invited to submit manuscripts presenting theoretical, experimental and applied research. Both research and review articles are welcome. We hope that this Special Issue will stimulate further research in the areas of α-helical folding/misfolding and bio-inspired materials and catalyze increased collaboration at the interface of chemistry, physics and biology to decipher basic mechanisms and applications in Materials Science, Biotechnology and Health and Disease.

Prof. Dr. Michael Kokkinidis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.